Do British people refer to themselves as British or English?

People born in England are called English or British and can say that they live in England, Britain and/or the UK. Most people in England tend to say they are British rather than English.

How has English changed from Old English?

As young people interact with others their own age, their language grows to include words, phrases, and constructions that are different from those of the older generation. The sounds of a language change over time, too. About 500 years ago, English began to undergo a major change in the way its vowels were pronounced.

When did the English start calling themselves English?

The first people to be called “English” were the Anglo-Saxons, a group of closely related Germanic tribes that began migrating to eastern and southern Great Britain, from southern Denmark and northern Germany, in the 5th century AD, after the Romans had withdrawn from Britain.

How strong is the English identity among young people?

Pride in identifying as English is weaker among the young (45\%) and stronger among the old (72\%). This is the reverse of the experience in Wales where the strength of the Welsh identity reduces with age. In Scotland, over 80\% of all age-groups say they feel strongly Scottish.

What is the difference between British and English identity?

The English identity emerges as more exclusive while the British identity is seen as more inclusive. Among those who call themselves English rather than British, only a third say the country’s diversity is an important part of their identity. Among those who describe themselves as more British than English, the figure is two-thirds.

Which generation is least likely to identify as British?

In England and Wales, the generation least likely to have ticked the box marked “British” to describe their national identity are those who lived through the war and watched the sun set on the British Empire. More than 20\% of people under 60 picked British as their sole identity. Among the over-75s, it was just 13\%.

What do the census results tell us about the UK’s identity?

What emerges from the census results is that, while a majority of people in England, Scotland and Wales pick English (60\%), Scottish (62\%) or Welsh (58\%) as their sole identity, younger and more diverse communities show higher proportions selecting a British identity.