English people
About 45,000 years ago, a Cro-Magnon population arrived in Europe as Mesolithic hunter-gatherers. These people formed the first distinct lineage of modern English ancestry. A second group migrated from Anatolia during the Neolithic Revolution approximately 9,000 years ago. They were farmers who settled across Britain and established early agricultural communities. The third lineage emerged 5,000 years ago when Yamnaya Steppe pastoralists expanded into Europe from the Pontic-Caspian steppe. Recent genetic studies suggest that Britain's Neolithic population was largely replaced by a population from North Continental Europe around 2400 BC. This replacement is associated with the Bell Beaker culture and the Yamnaya people. A 2016 study using Iron Age and Anglo-Saxon era DNA found at grave sites in Cambridgeshire calculated that ten modern day eastern English samples had 38% Anglo-Saxon ancestry on average. Another 2016 study conducted using evidence from burials found in northern England showed a significant genetic difference between bodies from the Iron Age and the Roman period versus the Anglo-Saxon period. Samples from modern-day Wales were similar to those from Iron Age and Roman burials while samples from much of modern England were closer to the Anglo-Saxon-era burial.
The first people to be called English were the Anglo-Saxons, a group of closely related Germanic tribes. They began migrating to eastern and southern Britain from southern Denmark and northern Germany in the 5th century AD. The Romans had withdrawn from Britain before their arrival. The exact nature of this migration remains a matter of historical debate. The traditional view suggests a mass invasion by various Anglo-Saxon tribes largely displaced the indigenous British population. This view is supported by writings of Gildas who described the slaughter and starvation of native Britons. However some archaeologists and historians propose a more small-scale migration based around an elite of male warriors. This theory posits that these warriors took over rule and gradually acculturated the local population. Historian Malcolm Todd writes that it is much more likely that a large proportion of the British population remained in place. He notes that they were progressively dominated by a Germanic aristocracy. In parts of Northumbria much of the native population likely remained as incomers took over as elites. A study of place names in northeastern England found migrants settled in large numbers in river valleys such as those of the Tyne and Tweed. Bethany Fox describes the process as a synthesis of mass-migration and elite-takeover models.
The English population was not politically unified until the 10th century. Before then there were a number of petty kingdoms which coalesced into a heptarchy of seven states. Mercia and Wessex were the most powerful of these early kingdoms. The nation state began to form when Anglo-Saxon kingdoms united against Danish Viking invasions starting around 800 AD. Over the following century and a half England became a politically unified entity. It remained permanently so after 954. The nation of England was formed on the 12th of July 927 by Aethelstan of Wessex. This occurred after the Treaty of Eamont Bridge. Wessex grew from a relatively small kingdom in the South West to become the founder of the Kingdom of the English. It incorporated all Anglo-Saxon kingdoms and the Danelaw. Alfred the Great signed the Treaty of Alfred and Guthrum to establish the Danelaw division between English and Danish rule. Danes occupied northern and eastern England while English kings ruled the south. Alfred's successors subsequently won military victories against the Danes incorporating much of the Danelaw into the nascent kingdom. Danish invasions continued into the 11th century with both English and Danish kings ruling during that period.
The Norman conquest of England during 1066 brought Anglo-Saxon and Danish rule to an end. New French-speaking Norman elite almost universally replaced the Anglo-Saxon aristocracy and church leaders. After the conquest English normally included all natives whether they were of Anglo-Saxon Scandinavian or Celtic ancestry. They were distinguished from the Norman invaders who were regarded as Norman for a generation or two. The Norman dynasty ruled England for 87 years until the death of King Stephen in 1154. Succession passed to Henry II House of Plantagenet based in France. England became part of the Angevin Empire until its collapse in 1214. Anglo-Norman and Latin continued to be used officially by Plantagenet kings until Edward I came to the throne. Middle English then became used in official documents alongside Anglo-Norman and Latin. Over time the English language became more important even in the court. Normans were gradually assimilated until by the 14th century rulers and subjects regarded themselves as English. Despite this assimilation the distinction between English and French people survived in some official documents long after common use fell out. A law called Presentment of Englishry required a hundred to prove an unidentified murdered body was that of an Englishman rather than a Norman if they wanted to avoid a fine. This law was abolished in 1340.
The 1990s witnessed a resurgence of English national identity. Survey data shows a rise in the number of people describing their national identity as English and a fall in those calling themselves British. Today black and minority ethnic people still generally identify as British rather than English to a greater extent than white counterparts. Groups such as the Campaign for an English Parliament suggest emergence of broader civic and multi-ethnic English nationhood. Writer Paul Johnson has suggested that like most dominant groups the English have only demonstrated interest in their ethnic self-definition when feeling oppressed. The perceived rise in self-consciousness is attributed to devolution in the late 1990s of powers to Scottish Parliament and National Assembly for Wales. In policy areas where devolved administrations hold responsibility UK Parliament votes on laws applying only to England. Because Westminster includes MPs from throughout the United Kingdom this gives rise to the West Lothian question. MPs outside England can vote on matters affecting only England while English MPs cannot vote on same matters elsewhere. A 2017 survey by YouGov found that 38% of English voters considered themselves both English and British alongside 19% who felt English but not British. Electoral support for English nationalist parties remains low even though public support exists for many policies they espouse. The English Democrats gained just 64,826 votes in the 2010 UK general election accounting for 0.3 per cent of all votes cast.
Substantial populations descended from English colonists exist in the United States Canada Australia South Africa and New Zealand. In the 2020 United States census English Americans were largest group with 46.5 million self-identifying as having some English origins representing 19.8% of White American population. This included 25.5 million who were English alone as one origin. In the Canada 2016 Census English was most common ethnic origin recorded. 6,320,085 people or 18.3% of population self-identified as wholly or partly English. From beginning of colonial era until mid-20th century vast majority of settlers to Australia were from British Isles with English being dominant group. In 2016 census 7.8 million or 36.1% of Australian population identified as English or combination including English. In New Zealand English ancestry is largest single ancestry shared by New Zealanders. Several million are estimated to have some English ancestry. From 1840 English comprised largest single group among overseas-born consistently over 50 percent total population. In 2013 there were 215,589 English-born representing 21.5% of all overseas-born residents or 5 percent of total population. In recent 2018 census 210,915 were born in England or 4.49% of total population.
The established religion of realm is Church of England whose titular head is Charles III. In 2010 Church counted 25 million baptised members out of 41 million Christians in Great Britain's population about 60 million. Around same time it claimed to baptise one in eight newborn children. Actual attendance has declined steadily since 1890 with around one million attending Sunday services regularly. Saint George is recognised as patron saint of England and flag consists of his cross. Before Edward III patron saint was St Edmund while St Alban honoured as first martyr. A survey carried out end of 2008 found population of England and Wales to be 47.0% affiliated with Church of England. English people traditionally speak English language a member of West Germanic family. Modern English evolved from Middle English form used by English people from 12th to 15th century. Middle English influenced lexically by Norman-French Old French and Latin. Early Modern English began late 15th century with introduction printing press to London and Great Vowel Shift. Through worldwide influence British Empire spread English globally from 17th to mid-20th centuries. Today English serves as international language business science communication sports aviation diplomacy. English literature begins with Anglo-Saxon literature written in Old English producing epic works such as Beowulf. Geoffrey Chaucer most famous writer of medieval period known for The Canterbury Tales.
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Common questions
When did the first distinct lineage of modern English ancestry arrive in Europe?
About 45,000 years ago a Cro-Magnon population arrived in Europe as Mesolithic hunter-gatherers. These people formed the first distinct lineage of modern English ancestry.
Who were the first people to be called English and when did they migrate to Britain?
The Anglo-Saxons were the first people to be called English. They began migrating to eastern and southern Britain from southern Denmark and northern Germany in the 5th century AD.
On what date was the nation of England officially formed by Aethelstan of Wessex?
The nation of England was formed on the 12th of July 927 by Aethelstan of Wessex. This occurred after the Treaty of Eamont Bridge following the unification of Anglo-Saxon kingdoms against Danish Viking invasions.
Which countries have substantial populations descended from English colonists today?
Substantial populations descended from English colonists exist in the United States Canada Australia South Africa and New Zealand. In the 2020 United States census English Americans were the largest group with 46.5 million self-identifying as having some English origins.
When was the law Presentment of Englishry abolished regarding the distinction between English and Norman people?
A law called Presentment of Englishry required a hundred to prove an unidentified murdered body was that of an Englishman rather than a Norman if they wanted to avoid a fine. This law was abolished in 1340.