And isn't it interesting how most of solely European (Western?) origin felt a need to proclaim their "Americanness" while others are still celebrating their heritages?

I'm not really sure what you find interesting about this. Are you assuming that people who "proclaim their 'Americanness'" are incapable of celebrating the heritage that is their American upbringing?

I'm an American.

It doesn't matter where my ancestors "came from."  They don't write the pages of my life, I do.

Makes ya wonder if someday people will say..."I'm American....whateva."  heh

My father's side of the family has been traced back in England to about the 1500's, some of them marrying French,  some married German,  and one married a Native American Indian.

My mom's family is from Scotland, we've traced it back to about the early 1800's,  with others from Wales, Ireland, and England.

As a child we had some German food,  German traditions,  and also English, Irish, and Scottish food. 

One of our German ancestors was a ship builder and sailed ships back and forth,  dealing also in goods.  I love genealogy  

It's interesting, that. If you believe science or religion we're all descended from the same group anyway, so why should we prejudice cultures older than 300 years over younger ones?

I've got some Celtish blood, but I'm not about to announce that I'm part-Gaul. I'm Australian with some incredibly tenuous links to Ireland (4th + generation) and Scotland (the same).

I don't even know any Irish or Scottish people. Describing myself as Irish-Australian or Scottish-Australian would be more weird than saying I'm Australian.

I'm British. Was born there and spent 20 years there. In a couple of years, I'll have spent half my life in America, and whilst I'll eventually become an American citizen, my heritage will always be British.

Past that, I really don't know. I was adopted as an infant and although I've found my birth mother she's decided that she's too selfish to give me the time of day (or a genetic medical history. Nice, aint she?).

My parents - the people who adopted me and who will always be my 'real' mum and dad - on my dad's side are directly descended from the bastard son of William the Conquerer. One of our ancestors pissed off the monarch and got themselves locked up in the Tower of London, where they carved their name in the wall. It's really pretty cool to be able to go there and see your maiden name right there in the wall. My maiden name is, btw, is pretty unusual, which was a big help when we were researching it.

To Forever: Yes, we South Africans do but it is not as big a deal as before. The government has a thing about ethnic groups but it is usually for reference purposes. SA has changed a lot since '94 and we all fill in forms without "threat" anymore.

To LW: Eventually, you cheeky, loveable creature, you admitted to some heritage. I'm impressed.

Thanks for comments all. Your posts have been so interesting!

My family were among the earliest to settle in North America so American seems appropriate as my family has been here since the original colonies that later revolted. But my ancestry is primarily Irish, colored a bit by my paternal grandmother who was Apache. Our family name is of Irish origin and our geneology has been traced back to Ireland for many generations. But we're Americans for many generations now.

Hey! I'm directly descended from that same bastard child! Who knew, we're like almost long-lost relatives or something, Karen?

Oh my. That could make my crush on you illegal......

Almost like! Long-lost! Our secret, forbidden love is not illegal, dammit!

I'm American, descended from Danish and German immigrants. My maiden name was "Matson." Looking through my grandfather's documents though, we found out that his grandfather, the one that actually immigrated and started our farm, had the last name "Madsen" when he came over from Denmark. We figure he, or someone else changed it somewhere in there so that it sounded more "American".

And here I am. I'm about as American as they come. I love being American. I count myself being very blessed indeed.

Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, oy, oy, oy... Okay, maybe not so much of the 'oy', but very much Australian. As far as ancestry goes, way back, I had some relatives who were Scottish, some who were Irish and some who were Welsh, not that it matters now.

It would when we see the pictures of you wearing the kilt.

Och Aye, Doc. It's the Clan McQueen!

Apparently there is a Mason tartan, though I've never seen it. Skirt, kilt, dress, what is it with you guys wanting to see my legs?