People who grew up in England, do you see yourself as more English or more British?

34 comments

1. English, I guess… it’s literally only things like “this” that make me consider it though – it’s really not something I consider part of my “identity”.

2. Human. Like everyone else on this planet.

3. British.

4. As the name suggests, I’m British. Specifically from England, but I’m British.

5. Whichever option the form has to tick

6. I have never thought of myself as English, always thought of myself as British.

7. I always just say english. Dont think I’ve ever called myself British

8. I’ve always thought of myself as English first.

9. British.

   I have Welsh heritage although born and bred in English.

10. I’m both English and British and it feels good. I also like to hang out with French and Germans.

11. Man of Kent, then British

12. British, coz I’m not English.

13. British. I live in wales these days.

14. Definitely more British, I almost never refer to myself as English. My Gran on my mum’s side was a proud Aberdonian and as the matriarch of the family influenced us a lot. My dad’s side is Welsh heritage and our surname is anglicised Welsh so there’s a bit of all 3 GB countries going on. That said my European identity is as strong as my British identity.

15. I always find it interesting that the English have taken the British identity so easily, you ask anywhere else in the UK (except maybe NI) they’ll say the country they come from first then British (most of the time)

16. Both equally.
    Born and raised in England, which happens to be in Britain so I see myself as equally both.

17. British in that being born & bred (and still located) Geordie, I’ve always been closer to Edinburgh than London!

    Politically I consider myself a citizen of Earth, who happens to have fallen victim upon chance of birth to the cesspool of tyranny and corruption that is the British government.

    I used to enjoy being European. Many of our continental neighbours’ forebears employed an effective solution to the rich ruling classes lounging upon the backs of the working classes…

18. English definitely

19. I’ve lived abroad a fair bit, and usually said British, or “from the UK” – the phrase “UK” seems to have more instant understanding amongst non native speakers than Britain/British.

    So for long as I can remember I’ve seen myself as British, because people overseas who I spent so much time with really didn’t care about being English, so I think i sort of started to think that way.

20. English because I am old.

    When I was born, an Irish person was seen as exotic.

    Nowadays it’s so easy to travel between the different bits of the UK!

21. English, don’t like the stigma that if you call yourself English your apparently some sort of racist yob when infact your joust born in England. Welsh people call themselves Welsh scots are scots I’m english

22. English. Even though my dad’s Northern Irish but I’m born and raised here, I sound English and look english, I’m English.

23. It’s hard cos the south feels like a different country.

24. Probably both equal. I think I’d naturally say that I’m British or that I’m from England. Probably depends on how the question is worded.

25. It’s got to the point now that many people have kind of forgotten what the difference is so British and English are used interchangeably.
    More recently I’ve found myself saying I’m from the UK more than English or British

26. I consider myself British but I think that’s because my Father is Irish and my Mother is English.

27. Scouse, then European, then British, then lastly and very, very quietly English.

28. I’m an internationalist first. European second. British third. Then English. And a Londoner.

29. Tbh I see myself as Londoner first as it’s like living in a separate country. Then British and English last

30. English. The idea of “British” was to shore up the union between England and Scotland after they merged parliaments. The only reason we keep it up this facade is inertia as the reasons for Union don’t really apply anymore.

    I suppose “British” is still relevant for those with recent family history from more than one nation of the UK. But I more associate “British” with those who think they’re sophisticated, intelligent and consider Englishness to be parochial, provincial and simple-minded. I don’t like that attitude.

31. Geordie first. English second. British third.

32. I was born in England, and I’m English. If a form doesn’t have that option, I’ll tick British.

33. English

34. If people are going round the room saying “I’m French”, “I’m Greek”, etc. What would you say?

    I’d say English