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English Guest · Guest

It is truly amazing how many Americans claim to own or are descended from English or European royalty or nobility. I myself am English born and bred, as where my ancestors but I can assure you I am not related to nobility nor are 99. .9% of the people in the UK so what are the chances of anyone from another continent being related to nobility!!

By the way some of the castles mentioned here belong to the state or companies who maintain them for the british public, like national heritage.
The noble families like the Dalyngrygges who built Bodiam castle or the Fiennes who owned Herstmonceux no longer exist thus no direct family line.

Just because you may share a name with a noble family does not mean you yourself are related. Most families took the name of the area they ruled and most serfs (labour) also took the name of the lord - so the chances are you are related to a blacksmith or farm labourer, not quite so glamourus I am sure you'll agree..........

Humble American · Guest

I would never presume to come from nobility....seems they usually have major problems...and then there's that thing of in-breeding Shocked

I can, however say that I can trace my maternal ancestors back to the 1400's (bishop) and my paternal ancestors well, they are johnny-come-latelies being that I can only trace back to the 1500's. While it is extremely fascinating to know that my maiden name of Smallwood is also the name of a manor and small town in England, I am well aware that my people probably were known as the people from the "small wood" and as such have no claims to any of the lands or manor.
Not every American has those dreams of grandeur. I have too much fun being a plain ol' town-folk.
Wink

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begginer_squire · Joined: 18 Jan 2005 Posts: 1

I absolutely agree people confuse nobility and royalty a lot