Josh Duhamel uncovers his English connections... | Who Do You Think You Are? (U.S.)

[@paul8058]

What a lucky man to realise his European roots and English at that. That tiny little island has given the world so much. Greetings from Germany.

[@HyperDaveUK]

It didn't say English, so he could be Scottish or Welsh too.

[@johnbaird4912]

@@HyperDaveUK But his family come from Bedford

[@paul8058]

@@HyperDaveUK I'm not so familiar with Wales.

[@paul8058]

@@HyperDaveUK Also they speak English in Scotland? correct. ?

[@lyndoncmp5751]

@paul8058 Bedford is just northwest of London.

[@MaryBradley-s3s]

There's nothing wrong in being English I am one and very proud to be British also. And have Irish from my Dad who came from Southern Ireland.

[@xandra7986]

Same here. Proud to be English with a Welsh mum and Irish dad.

[@benfisher1376]

I love England. We aren't monsters

[@juliewillard1367]

Exactly the same as me. I am British and my dad was very Southern Ireland.

[@georgeschaut2178]

A third English in my case as well...

[@gaynor1721]

We don't say Southern Ireland. We say Ireland or the Irish Republic.

[@davidadams3408]

54 year old Brit here, literally no idea who Josh is (KZbin algorithm), but (weirdly for me) he comes across as instantly likeable.

[@kelvinhill9874]

He’s an actor. He was in a few TV shows along with a couple of the Transformer movies. I’m not sure what else he’s been in.

[@copiousfool]

Yes I've never heard of the man but would like to know what he found in Cambridge.

[@B-A-L]

Wow, an American with English heritage! Who would have thought it!

[@ORDEROFTHEKNIGHTSTEMPLAR13]

Don't know if your trolling or serious??

[@hughtube5154]

Depends which coast Josh is from. The northeast was mostly settled by the English at first, the Midwest by Scandinavians and Germans, the west coast has strong Mexican roots, Hawaii Polynesian, Alaska Russian and Inuit, Louisiana is historically French, with a strong Cuban influence in Florida. Not to mention the natives who were there first.

[@connorparker6461]

A lot of migrants to the US had their surname anglicised, some lied about where they were from or many just didn’t talk about where they or their ancestors came from. A lot of Americans who think they are of English descent actually turn out not to be, or at least only partially. Lots of Americans claim to have Native American ancestry and dna tests show that they don’t at all, or the over way around they think think are just pure European and find it they are part sub Saharan or Native American because people lie or it’s forgotten about.

[@jchisholm1968]

@@ORDEROFTHEKNIGHTSTEMPLAR13 No I just think they're being sarcastic.

[@JayArgonauts]

😂😂😂

[@mcmc6621]

Just so everyone knows..........there are other places in the U.K than London

[@russellmarriott9396]

Yes thought they might have gone to Bedford.

[@lyndoncmp5751]

That's a malicious lie, dammit.

[@eddiel7635]

National archives are at Kew, in London. College of Ams is on queen Victoria street in the City, near Blackfriars.

[@DMU386]

and soon London won’t exist. Well its name will change to something like West Damascus. How does it feel that after a thousand years or so, you’re part of the generation that finally lost the island?

[@eddiel7635]

@@DMU386 London is the world’s capital city, how does it feel to live in a global backwater with Iran and North Korea as your only international partners?

[@Jos-z5v]

Americans with English ancestry which is the highest number will always just say American. Whereas others will say Irish, Italian, Germany and even Scottish. It’s the same problem with British culture, because it’s become common around the world, people forget about the origin to the point where they won’t even call it culture. Look at all the sports, literature, language, theatre, industry and fashion that Britain have given to the world and some still have the cheek to say it’s not culture.

[@Techgnome21]

Well if they were born in America then they're American. It's Nationality vs. Ancestry. A lot of Europe struggles with the distinction to this day.

[@janeb871]

⁠@@Techgnome21 that’s true but it’s quite common to hear someone identify by nationality and or ancestry + American. For example Irish American, Italian American or African American etc. I’ve even heard people identify as mixed Irish-Italian American etc but I’ve genuinely never heard anyone describe themselves as British American or English American even though so many have surnames of English / British origin.

[@Techgnome21]

@@janeb871 That is a good point. Personally I feel Nationality + Ancestry makes more sense ( American Italian)

[@janeb871]

@@Techgnome21 Yes that makes sense

[@comealongcomealong4480]

@@janeb871 My guess is that the trickle down history after the War of Independence meant that the population in general looked forward to building a new nation. One free of the ancient British restrictions and barriers of Royalty, Peerage, Great Houses, Land Holdings etc. /I have noticed in online chats that Canadians are often comfortable with naming and claiming their English ancestry.

[@backtotheblak]

Duhamel is a name that comes from Normandy, which literally means “from the hamlet” in old French. Before immigrating to Canada, the ancestors on his father’s side must have been Norman…

[@bhow3262]

well he is a mix of other things as they stated in his DNA, most of us are a mix

[@Swansong321]

What a lovely man he is!❤

[@latsnojokelee6434]

I started laughing when he slapped the guy’s back. That’s so American!

[@peachyllama722]

He has more British % than me and I am English

[@Jenuyo]

Same I was born London and 85 % Irish, Scottish

[@juliewillard1367]

Same here I have half Irish, quarter Danish so barely any English.

[@stephanieyee9784]

Wow, this is a really interesting story. Josh seemed to be very surprised that his ancestors were people of substance.

[@scrabt8592]

Each time I see or hear College of Arms I know something REALLY special is about to happen 😉

[@alex2980]

Welcome to the club Josh 🇬🇧

[@AndySaenz924]

I’m fascinated by this research! He seems like a cool guy, he’s a handsome guy too.

[@CB-dl1vg]

Welcome to the tribe brother 🇬🇧

[@alanhutchins5916]

I love it when they find out their British / English ... the disappointment just shines through ....🙄🤣😉Love 🇬🇧

[@idonthavealoginname]

Nothing to be disappointed about at all.

[@mattyd3079]

I grew up thinking I was half Irish, half European. My father and i are Australian with Irish names, and my father was always ‘proudly Irish’ and always rubbished the English. Upon doing some ancestry investigation, I discovered we are in fact 50% English, and only 25% Irish 😂

[@MaryBradley-s3s]

@@mattyd3079 your rascim then ?

[@darkstarr2321]

@@mattyd3079 Haha excellent

[@darkstarr2321]

Think you might be projecting there, a lot seem fascinated

[@mummymonkey]

We have 16,384, 12 times great grandparents.

[@willrichardson519]

...assuming there were no overlaps :-)

[@HeisenStark13]

And for even one to leave a note in history is amazing

[@123kido]

Feels like Irish, Italian Americans etc kept hold of their heritage more so than British Americans, of which there must be a hell of a lot. I say this as a Brit so could be totally wrong.

[@diane_princess]

I guess that does make sense. The war of independence is against the Brits so after that proudly presenting as British might be controversial. Also language is very important in cultural attachment. So Italian and Irish and other nationalities have more to hold on to. But this is just my interpretation and I'm no expert so could be completely wrong.

[@BernardProfitendieu]

after the Revolutionary War the "Loyalists" (pro-British) weren't so welcome by their American neighbors and a lot of them were encouraged to head to Canada. The War of 1812 coming so quickly on the heels of the Revolutionary War didn't do anything to polish the brand of those that had remained. So there probably aren't as many British Americans here as you might imagine, in fact less than 10% of the current population has significant British ancestry. Would it surprise you to know that German Americans are the largest group in the US today?

[@martynnotman3467]

Less than 10% claim British ancestry however far far more have it. Almost everyone who puts American on census is really of British origin and lots who are "other" things have a lot too. Genetics dont lie. ​@@BernardProfitendieu

[@BernardProfitendieu]

@@martynnotman3467 and you have access to the nationwide genetics survey? Thought not.

[@martynnotman3467]

@@BernardProfitendieu no but ive seen the 23 and me ones

[@Alex-u1r2i]

Loved josh in the call of duty games and transformers films, didn't know he had English in him

[@B-A-L]

That's because just like every other American he never mentions it!

[@WoodlandAsh]

Only qualifies if it’s Scottish, Irish or Italian, in which case they claim to be natives & more acculturate than those actual folk who were born, raised & live in those countries.

[@robertnairn7353]

there is a small place in Bedfordshire spelled Sharpenhoe.

[@deadeyes4626]

London is the least British place in Britain

[@cambs0181]

Well, there's Bradford.

[@B-A-L]

And Birmingham.

[@bhow3262]

Try Bolton

[@brunoyvres4939]

By British he means english

[@clairenoon4070]

What does that even mean?

[@xandra7986]

It says 36% Great Britain and 9% Ireland, Scotland and Wales. How does this make any sense when Scotland and Wales are in Great Britain. Is the Great Britain part supposed to say England?!? Really bizarre if Ancestry doesn’t know basic knowledge.

[@kelvinhill9874]

My Ancestry DNA profile does not show “Great Britain” at all. It specifically shows predominantly English and Scottish ancestry, with a few percentage of welsh and Scandinavian. I think the screen they showed, was just a higher level general information screen. If they clicked on “Great Britain”, it would open another screen which breaks it down further.

[@xandra7986]

@@kelvinhill9874 oh right. Thanks for the info :)

[@B-A-L]

It says Great Britain because it's been programmed by a North American!

[@bhow3262]

They did kind of narrow it down on the show to be fair. As we know living on these islands, many of us are a mix

[@suziesearle9170]

@@xandra7986if you have English ancestry it will also include north west France , especially if your ancestry is from east anglia, or south east due to the Normans, which are would be French Viking.

[@carolynekershaw1652]

'Ancestry' DNA looks at a database of present day DNA rather than 'historic DNA'

[@BrownBrown270]

Got him at 4:16 😂😂

[@trendkill6736]

He ended up in my hometown of Cambridge.

[@ianport2185]

If it's the Cramner family the Church of England knows then... ...blimey.

[@clairenoon4070]

Another American being surprised at 'British with some Scandinavian' ancestry. They amuse me.

[@tgl1458]

By the look of his Ancestry DNA test results, these results seem to be from a few years ago...The ethnicity results have changed an awful lot since then...

[@JEREMY99218]

This is from the 10th season of Who Do You Think You Are? (U.S.) in 2018

[@05Rudey]

I knew a Norton from Bedford, a possible relation. He was about 6'3 and simular looking too.

[@Halen0224]

American as a country speaks English from the settlers from the uk.

[@comealongcomealong4480]

@Halen0224 I guess the English language won because the English troops defeated the French, before the War of Independence followed. It'd be a fascinating language today if the French had won instead.

[@lisarogers9488]

I have English ancestors who settled the americas

[@angharadswansea9343]

How did he pronounce his own surname? DooMell ? Now we know how to say it.

[@hufjournallife7218]

Cool

[@MartinT5600]

He would be a great James Bond!

[@B-A-L]

No he wouldn't.

[@nicolad8822]

@@MartinT5600 🤣🤣

[@Malik_Sylvus]

So why he's named DuHamel (which means "Of the Village" in french) they just surched one branch of the family tree.

[@clairenoon4070]

Because he clearly says on the video that that's the branch he's interested in looking at.

[@animalian01]

The College of Arms records the aristocrats.

[@ncubesays]

I have no idea what this video is about. I saw a familiar face, clicked and watched. Still don't know what it's about as I focus on the face.

[@thegroovetube3247]

Going back that far is a bit desperate.. lf it's his "12 times Great" Grandfather that's 1/(2×2×2×2×2×2×2×2×2×2×2×2×2) of his DNA , i.e. roughly one eight thousandth. He had 7999 other '12 times great' grandparents.

[@djlewis5149]

What he’s got no antecedents involved in the Irish famine or transatlantic slavery, how did he on the programme?

[@chrisbate9956]

Just think of COD: WW II when I see and hear him.

[@Steve-gc5nt]

You are where you were born.

[@cambs0181]

How does it work if you're part Western European and then part British. Seeing as the British are made up of German/French/Scandinavian and Celtic.

[@darkstarr2321]

It's Germanic, not German. Where are you from as you seem to comment a lot on this?

[@eddieglenn]

Bloody limey 😂😂

[@julben27]

Is that supposed to be an insult 😂😂😂😂😂

[@Englishman4412]

Wait so English people are actually real?! 😮

[@Æthelstān-thé-glørîøüs-96]

People who think we English don’t exist our a new kind of dummies 😂🤣

[@JohnKirwan-zp5fl]

A visitation

[@xmlgxasianx1344]

The gall of someone not allowing you to touch the piece of paper when you yourself don't have any gloves and touching it yourself...

[@Rikki442]

No gall involved. It's his job to handle the documents under his preotection.

[@joepopplewell680]

@@Rikki442 Yeah but surely you could trust someone to be careful with it, especially as he just parsed through it just to show it of it seems, so he's not that worried about completely minimizing wear/contact. He's probably not the boss and he knows his boss is the jobsworth sort like himself.

[@njemilenantan5833]

He is right. They are delicate papers and could be damaged.

[@joepopplewell680]

@@njemilenantan5833 Could being the key word, and if he cared that much about reducing risk of damage he wouldn't've have done that quick shot where he parses through them onto no particular page. He's a famous actor not some man off the street, the likelihood of him damaging a page while turning it or simply touching it is miniscule.

[@JayArgonauts]

The documents are very precious and irreplaceable so therefore access is restricted to those who know how to handle manuscripts properly. It’s just common sense!

[@stevelknievel4183]

That train in the aerial shot at the end was not in the UK. I'm not sure where it was but at a guess I'd say most likely Spain based on the colour of the train reminding me of a Spanish high speed train and the fact that it looks like its travelling through an olive grove.

[@bhow3262]

why the hell would they do that, how do you know what they were growing

[@stevelknievel4183]

@@bhow3262 I don't know for sure that they're olives. Its just a hunch based on it looking like Spain to me.

[@solitarymaninblack]

Americans mostly have European roots. Have people forgotten about colonisation?

[@seansmith445]

Have you forgotten that Americans come from all over the Europe and all over the World? There was massive immigration from both Ireland and Germany in particular.

[@lordhoot1]

This sort of DNA testing is very unreliable. The paper trail is more valuable (although prone to errors of its own).

[@johnfinbarr1160]

No French connection with ‘duhamel’

[@bdinaz]

Only thing that counts is that he is from Dakota. Those are the best....

[@123benny4]

36% doesn't make you mostly British. 64% makes you a mixture of a whole lot of something else. We are all mixed.

[@bennyboogenheimer4553]

MMMMMMMMM, Mine said, 98% German, and 2% Eastern French. Soooooooooo.

[@123benny4]

@@bennyboogenheimer4553 I'm not sure of my percentages but 1st northern Italian, 2nd Balkan, 3rd Spanish, and then French. Born and live in Canada.

[@123benny4]

@@bennyboogenheimer4553 Oh, except for you, I guess.

[@BernardProfitendieu]

@@bennyboogenheimer4553 there's a collaborator in your tree

[@bennyboogenheimer4553]

@@BernardProfitendieu I mean it's Stuttgart, why move?

[@sandrastewart3304]

But your greasy hands can touch it without gloves.🤔🙄

[@Steve-gc5nt]

How do you know he didn't clean his hands correctly before.

[@margaret426]

​@Steve-gc5nt I'm sure his hands have been well sanitised

[@janscott9151]

I thought he was just having some fun. Modern ideas vary about the best way to handle old documents - maybe not gloves now seems to be the consensus but it does change from place to place.

[@dgse83]

The advice now is for experts to handle documents with extremely clean, gloveless hands. Gloves dull your senses and makes you less careful with the pages. Keep your grease to yourself!

[@Natalie27552]

Well now we know where Josh Duhamel got his charm from.

[@anntoinetteangrum555]

You and Prince Harry can hang out!

[@jerfly9929]

So instead of British, it should be English as Scots, Welsh, and Northern Ireland are all British. Why do Americans not know this?

[@lynnhubbard844]

because we call each country by its name, not as a group, but we do know

[@jerfly9929]

@@lynnhubbard844 but they didn't in this video. So they obviously don't know

[@BB-sk9hf]

​@lynnhubbard844 but genetically speaking, English, Welsh, Scottish and Irish are all different and can easily be distinguished through dna. Nobody would describe themselves as being genetically British - they'd say which country specifically, as Great Britain was only made in 1801, by the joining of the 4 separate countries.

[@Æthelstān-thé-glørîøüs-96]

Because Americans no nothing beyond there own shore plus they think they no everything 😂 there your answer lad

[@bhow3262]

Northern Ireland are not part of Great Britain, only the UK.

[@maryjones0147]

I'm surprised or horrified that they don't use cotton gloves!!!!