I think it's interesting that most of the responses are from the "right" side of the ocean. Here in America, coming from a coal-mining family is kinda a shameful thing you might not want to admit unless you are bragging about how far you've come Like it means you are a poor hick or something. Is there that kid of bias on in the British Isles as well?

Personally, I'm proud of most of my ancestors. Poor or not, many of them had courage and perseverance I can only hope to come up with :)