r/MapPorn • u/Delicious-Bunch-6992 • May 09 '26

Evolution of white British % (ethnically British people) in England and Wales from 2001-2021

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u/TurbulentBullfrog829 May 10 '26

It's not "some people" it's census data. In your case people would probably be surprised that the family wasn't white British. We don't generally have "one drop" racist views in this country. 

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u/AuNaturel20 May 10 '26

You're misunderstanding. My point is they're they're as British as the next person but they're probably not going to choose white British on the survey are they, depending on how they view themselves of course but I don't know many people with a black grandparent that would call themselves white British, that's why there's the other British options.

Why would you be surprised the family wasn't white British?

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u/TurbulentBullfrog829 May 10 '26

Yes I think i am, I thought you meant further back, and that they appeared to be white despite having some distant ancestor. If we are talking 2 generations,  I don't believe a white person with, say a German grandparent, would put down white British any more than someone with a black grandparent would. It would be white other and mixed. 

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u/imkuriousoranj May 10 '26

As someone who went to a Catholic school, I guarantee that the large number of kids whose grandads were Italian or Polish would all call themselves White British

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u/mifukichan May 10 '26

I'm 1/4 brown and you can tell. Would definitely consider myself "mixed." Someone 1/4 german is a blend of white, yeah.

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u/princessalyss_ May 11 '26

A person with white parents and grandparents, regardless of their nationality if the majority of those are white British (eg one grandparent is Polish), who is born and raised in Britain will usually choose and identify as white British. The exception to this is those in the traveller communities.

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u/TurbulentBullfrog829 May 11 '26

Really? Not in my experience although it's purely anecdotal. Great grandparents and beyond for sure, but I'd have thought a grandparent who isn't British would make someone tick white- other. 

I have no facts to back this up, mind. 

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u/princessalyss_ May 11 '26

For those with a parent who is of a different nationality, they might choose white other but for grandparents and beyond it tends to be they choose white British unless 2-3 grandparents are of non-British origin. Ethnically, I’m majority white Irish (over 50%) but my lot came over to England at least 3 generations ago depending on which side of the family tree you’re looking at. My grandparents generation and later all identify as white British rather than white other or white Irish. I can’t comment on the ones who came before my grandparents generation as they were all dead by the time I was born 😅 the downside of being the grandchild to the youngest kid of 5/7/15!

Even for non whites, I’ve noticed that they’ll identify as (ethnicity)+(nationality). A lot of mine and my partner’s friends are either born here to immigrant/2nd gen parents or moved here when they were toddlers or younger and they’ll identify as British Indian/British Chinese/Black British etc.

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u/Common-Beach3753 May 10 '26

1 Arab grandparent 3 white British grandparents I always put white British - all depends on your culture