What's my nationality?

+7 votes
255 views
I just want to know: what's my nationality?
WikiTree profile: Twilla Rogers
in Genealogy Help by Twilla Rogers G2G Crew (800 points)
edited by Chris Whitten
It would be useful to know your mother's maiden name in order to research what nationality would be her heritage.

The assumption being that Rogers is your husband's surname. Per surnamedb.com , Rogers is English and sometimes Scottish.

It would also help to know both of your grandmother's maiden names. The more names that can be provided of direct ancestors, the better in order to get a bigger picture of your nationality.

Hi Twilla,

I found a genealogy page that shows your family line of Thorn.  It suggests that your first ancestor to migrate to America was John Thorne born in Essex, England in 1580.  Here is his WikiTree profile: John Thorne

The page suggesting the lineage (from your grandfather Joseph William up) is here:  http://www.worldfamilies.net/forum/index.php?topic=314.15;wap2  The author states that there are sources, but they are not listed on the page.  It sounds like you could contact them for source information if needed.

Before running into that page, I found almost all of the same information in public records using family search, starting with you, and was able to get back to Thomas James Thorn born 1839 without issue.

I'm sure "England" is what you were searching for, but it is worth noting that you can consider yourself American without a doubt.... your ancestors were here long before the Revolution, your 3rd great-grandfather served in the Civil War, and your grandfather in WWII.

I hope this helps.  Have a nice day :)

Thank you for your help. Your the  best! My biological grandfather was joseph thorn.
my mothers maiden name is steel. i sure could use the help

4 Answers

+7 votes
 
Best answer

Twilla, you might consider a DNA test that can tell your ethnic roots. The autosomal tests from the big three testing companies do.

by Chris Whitten G2G Astronaut (1.5m points)
selected by Mags Gaulden
+4 votes

The Thorn surname, your father's surname looks to be English per what surnamedb.com says about the name. 

Last name: Thorn

This interesting surname with variant spellings Thorne, Thornes and Thorns has two possible origins. Firstly, it is of English locational origin from one of two places called Thorne, either in Somerset or the West Riding of Yorkshire, both recorded as "Torne" in the Domesday Book of 1086. The placenames derive from the Olde English pre 7th Century "thorn" meaning thorn bush. The name may also be topographical for a "dweller by the thorn bush". The surname is first recorded in the early 13th Century (see below). One Hugh Thorne, is registered in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire (1273), Magge de Thornes, is noted in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield, Yorkshire (1275). Recordings of the surname from the London Church Registers include; Margery Thorn, who married William Knyght, on November 24th 1543, at Christchurch, Greyfriars, Newgate; the christening of John, son of John Thorne, on June 2nd 1550, at St. Leonard's, Eastcheap; on July 19th 1551, Thomas Thorne married Julyan Rawsby, at St. Andrew, Enfield; and Barbara Thorne was christened on February 18th 1560, at St. Lawrence Jewry and St. Mary Magdalene, Milk Street. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of William Thorn, which was dated 1206, in the "Curia Regis Rolls of Sussex", during the reign of King John, known as "Lackland", 1199 - 1216. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

© Copyright: Name Origin Research www.surnamedb.com 1980 - 2016



Read more: http://www.surnamedb.com/Surname/Thorn#ixzz3zh5uU4yP

by Frank Gill G2G Astronaut (2.5m points)
So if I understand, Twilla has English roots

Myself, my nationality is Canadian and have French roots.
Thank you for your help. It was great
+3 votes
Nationality is different from ethnicity and citizenship.

What specifically are you intending to discover?

Wikipedia has some good info to help tease out your question.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nationality
by Michael Stills G2G6 Pilot (519k points)
And where were you born?

And raised?
Thank you I have been going through wikipedia.
Denison Texas. I just wanted to find out what nationality my grandfather was ARNOLD jOE STEEL. His daughters were betty louise, ethel , shirley,peanut, and his sons names where junior, willy joe steel. Arnold was married to nancy steel.
+1 vote
YOUR nationality is based on what country you were born in. For example, if you are born on American soil, you are a natural-born Citizen. If you were born on Foreign (non-American) soil, your citizenship may depend on whether your birth was registered at an Embassy or Consulate of your parents native land.
Some countries recognize dual-citizenship, which means that even if your birth is properly registered with the US Department of State, and you are recognized as an American, the country you were born in also recognizes you as a citizen of that country.

I now this because while in the US Air Force assigned in Korea, Okinawa and Delaware, I had daughters born in all three places.
by

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