Hi,
I'm new here and interested in my family tree and geneaology. I want to know, why do so many Americans claim to be related to English royalty, or descended from English Royalty?
Didn't most of the immigrants who came to the states, come here because of persecution or famine or poverty in their own country?? Why would royalty or nobility immigrate to the colonies? I don't understand that. If anyone has an answer or just an idea, let me know, thanks!!
-Gemma

Fr_Chuck

While of course many poorer people came here, and many persecuted did, but then alot of rich investors, alot of people looking for political gain by getting appointed to POSTS here in the US, and you have 100's of years of various immigration also,

And also just having some claim to royalty does not make your family rich or famous, ( heck even my family married into the line of Charlemagne)
Some may have been in the wrong side of a family during a take over of power, but a 3rds cousins great grandson may have a royal line but so removed it has little effect.

magprob

How could anyone be related to the Windsors? There are only two branchs to that family tree and both are reserved for 1st cousins. (Fornicousin)
Any little girl who dreamily wishes to marry a handsome prince on a white steed is advised to marry the horse instead. The horse probably has better DNA.

Flying Blue Eagle

MY last name ,I1ve heard all my life, started back durning the war with England. AT that time , to be a British officer,you had to be of Nobility. Any how I was told that 3 British officers deserted and a farmer told them to go 3 seperate ways and take 3 different names. I have traced back to that time and hit a wall. I have even paid a prof. and they hit the same as i did. Witch one took my name I could not find out .. I was told that I could maybe find out by going thru records over in England. But how many deserted .::" WITCH ONE???????????

Emland

FBE: it is my understanding that British officers had to purchase their commission and usually the only ones that had enough money were in the peerage.

My sister has traced my family back to a gael keeper in County Anterim, Ireland. Not so exciting, huh? I bet it would be more impressive if I told you I was of Irish nobility - but I ain't, so I won't.

I also noticed years ago when all the "Past life experience" crapola was going on that the people that were able to channel their previous consciousness were always Egyptian or English or Russian nobility.

It makes people feel important and I imagine there a few people that interested enough in your family lineage to double check the accuracy.

I did find out today that Tom Hanks is related to Abraham Lincoln. Abe's mother was a Hanks.