In honor of July 4

MoFree · July 2014

Except for Native Americans we a nation of immigrants.
Where did your family and your DH's family come from.
What were their reasons for coming to the US?
Have you been back to the 'homeland'?

MoFree · July 2014

My family comes from Bohemia in what is now the Czech Relublic. They came for economic reasons to work in factories around Chicago.
DH's father's family left Poland due to pogroms and anti-Semitism that limited educational and economic opportunities.
DH's mother's family left Vienna, Austria shortly before the Nazi's would have sent them to a concentration camp, most likely to die.
DH and I took a trip to Vienna and them toured the Czech Republic by bicycle. Although we didn't visit any places where my family had lived, it was a very emotional journey for us.

TJ1979 · July 2014

My dad's dad is Native American. My dad's mom is Scottish. My mom's family came over on the mayflower. I've been to England, but not Scotland. I'd love to go though.
No clue on MH's genealogy. He doesn't know either. Isn't that awful?

sunflowermama42212 · July 2014

My parents came from Puerto Rico. Even though Puerto Rico is a territory I don't think people realize it does not get all the benefits that the states get. There are so many problems on the island from poverty to crime and a corrupt system. It's not all bad and as much as my parents love the island, they came to the US for better opportunities and a safer environment for their kids.

We visited when I was a child and can't wait to bring H. I pretend I don't speak Spanish so I can be treated like a tourist. Also to know what they are saying. I actually always pretend I don't speak Spanish lol you won't believe the conversations people have when they think you can't understand them.

DH's dad is English and Scottish? I think. and his mom is polish. They never really talk about their heritage.

imoverit · July 2014

My grandparents came from the Azores an Island off of Portugal. My DHs dad came from Northern Italy.

Ive never been to my homeland but we visited my FILs home and even saw where he lived and where his dad worked. An amazing experience.

kmc84 · July 2014

I am a Western European 'mutt' with one relative way back (6-7 generations) who was Native American. DH is Irish and his family has been here for at least 5 generations. We don't really know the whole history on either side

my mom did a ton of genealogy for her family and had so much of the history put together, but sadly most of that information was lost when she died.

DH has never been to Ireland and I toured Western Europe extensively when I was 7 months old

mdiblasi10 · July 2014

Great idea for a post, MoFree!

I don't know much about my Dad's Dad (I think he has Italian heritage), but my Dad's Moms' family is from Lebanon and Syria. I have not been and it makes me sad to think if I will ever be able to safely. My Mom's parents backgrounds are northern European, lots of Scottish. I haven't been to Scotland, just Ireland. I really want to go.

DH's Mom is Vietnamese. Her and her family came to the US during the Vietnam War on a military plane, as her family was in the military. We haven't been to Vietnam, but are planning to someday. DH's Dad is Italian. His great grandparents are from Sicily. We have been there, so that was really neat to see.

luvboston · July 2014

My family came from the Ukraine/Russia/Romania 3 generations ago, due to pogroms anti sem etc.
DH family is from Germany/Canada but live in Israel.

I have been to the Ukraine and Canada and Germany when I was little. And to Israel several times. My great grandparents are in the records of Ellis Island.

kbeach82 · July 2014

Thanks, MoFree! Great idea!

My mother's father was German, and her mother was Irish. I don't know much about my father's side of the family, but I believe at least one of his parents was French. DH's father's family came to the U.S. from Nusco in Italy, and his mother's family is from Jerusalem.

I'm not familiar with the reasons behind their migration to this country, but I hope to do some research in the future so I can tell our children more about the history of our families.

I have never been to any of the countries that our ancestors are from, but I would like to visit all of them eventually!

@imoverit - I have been dying to visit the Azores since I saw an episode of No Reservations that was filmed there. Breathtakingly beautiful!

Mrs.AmyDylan · July 2014

Fun post!

My heritage is primarily European mutt (England, Ireland, Croatia, Lithuania, Poland). My moms side has very strong ties still to Croatia and I have cousins and aunts and uncles that visit the relatives every summer in Zadar and Knin. One of these days I will make the trip!

DH is also a European mutt and his/our last name is Prussian. His moms family is French Canadian.

PennyLane26 · July 2014

So interesting to see where everyone's family originated!

I am Irish and Swedish, primarily. Also a little Welsh.

I have been to Ireland a few times, I am 3rd generation and still have lots of family there, they live in Kerry and Cork. I have also been to Wales. Would love to see Sweden! I look more Swedish than anything else- blonde/blue eyed.

DH is Irish and French Canadian. He has been to Canada, his grandparents came to the States right before they had his mom. They speak French, primarily, but it was never introduced to DH as they were hoping to americanize - so sad! Interesting to hear his Grandmother talk about "americanizing" though, seemed like they felt a lot of pressure to do so when they came here in the 50s. She said people treated her like she was stupid when they heard her accent, she's adorable and still gets upset when she tells the story!

Roxie5739 · July 2014

Me: I am Australian, but with English/Irish heritage

DH: his Dad is American with German/English heritage. His Dad was an Oakie who moved to CA just before the depression. His Mom is Guatemalan, with half Indian/Mayan and half Spanish heritage.

Therefore DS is a real mut, 50% Aussie, 25% Guatemalan and 25% American. We are all muts though aren't we??

BabyKsMommy · July 2014

Well I don't know a ton about my heritage but my dad's grandparents are from Canada and they came there from Europe somewhere. I'm white so I just claim a to be European mutt. Red hair is common on both my parents sides and my ds is a red head

My dh is Mexican but he was born here. His parents immigrated from Mexico to give their children better opportunities and they succeeded.

srveatch · July 2014

My Maternal Grandma's parents immigrated from Italy for better working opportunities. They wanted to Amerricanize and did not teach my Grandma Italian, such a shame... She only knows broken Italian. My Maternal Granfather's parents immigrated from Germany. My Fraternal side is a mix of mostly European. They immigrated early on so are mixed up pretty good

DH's Maternal Grandpa's parents immigrated from Italy and Maternal Grandmother's parents immigrated from Italy. His Fratenal side also immigrated a long time ago and is a European mix with some Natuve American. We both are a quarter Italian, quarter German and half European mix

We have been to Italy and visited where my Great Grandparents came from. Even though I am only a quarter Italian, that's been my strongest influence as I am very close to my Grandma that is 100% Italian.

Mayzie15 · July 2014

My dad's family is from Germany. They never spoke German and shortened their name due to the holocaust - they were quiet about being German. My mom was adopted so not sure of her history. DH's family is Irish/English.

phishgirl29 · July 2014

My mother is 100% Italian and her parents are from Naples and Calabria. My father's parents are 100% Irish.

DH's father is 100% Italian (Calabria) and his mom is from Norway, Sweden and France primarily.

DH had been all over Europe and we went to Italy for our honeymoon which was great. We wanted to plan a trip to Ireland but that didn't happen yet. One day!

queenbone · July 2014

DH and I both have Scottish and German ancestry. I have Irish on my dad's side and DH has Norwegian on his mom's side.

My people have all been in the US for a very long time. My dad traced one ancestor as having come over about 40 yrs after the Mayflower. I suspect most of their reasons were because they were poor and hoping for more opportunity in America.

DH's Scottish ancestor was a Covenanter, which meant they opposed the Church of England and the king, and wanted to worship freely. There were many battles. The Convenanters lost the Battle of Bothwell Bridge. The leader there had his hand cut off during the fight and he gave his sword to DH's ancestor who had to flee to America. The sword has been passed down from father to eldest son ever since. DH cousin, who is into genealogy, found/met the distant relative who currently has the sword.

I've been to Ireland twice, once on a trip I took my dad on for his 50th b-day. I lived in London on exchange. We went to Scotland for our honeymoon and went to the area's where DH's people are from, saw an old clan cemetery. He's not been to Norway.

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