In today’s episode we visited an American High school to see what they think of British Comfort Food! — Josh & Ollie @JOLLY
Approximately 80–85% of the USA’s founding stock (the European-descended population that established the country by the late 18th century) originated from the nations of the United Kingdom/British Isles — primarily England, with significant contributions from Scotland (including Ulster Scots/Scots-Irish), Wales, and Ireland (then under British rule).
This figure is based on the 1790 U.S. Census and scholarly estimates. Among the roughly 3.2 million European Americans at that time:
- English and Welsh: ~60–64%
- Scottish (direct and Scots-Irish): ~15–16%
- Irish (mostly Protestant): ~5–6%
- Total from British Isles/UK nations: ~80–86%
When leaving the large coastal cities aside, the share becomes even higher — often 85–95%+ in rural, interior, and non-coastal regions (New England countryside, Appalachian backcountry, Southern Piedmont, etc.). These areas were overwhelmingly settled by English, Scots-Irish, and other British Isles groups, who shaped much of early American culture, law, and westward expansion.
The remainder of the white population was mainly German (~9%), Dutch (~3%), and smaller groups. The founding stock refers to the colonial-era core population (pre- and around 1790) and their descendants, not later immigration waves.
British High Schoolers Try American Fried Chicken, Biscuits & Sausage Gravy
By contrast, non-coastal, rural, and interior regions –Great Lakes Midwest, Mountain and High Plain Heartland, New England countryside, Appalachian backcountry, Southern Piedmont — were overwhelmingly British in founding stock:
- New England states routinely showed 93–96% English ancestry (e.g., Connecticut ~96%).
- Scots-Irish settlers dominated the Appalachian interior and backcountry South, forming a major cultural stream distinct from coastal planter elites.
- Pennsylvania was an outlier with more Germans, but this was concentrated in certain counties rather than uniformly coastal.
- Western Michigan was the destination for Dutch expats who were driven out of New York City boroughs.
- Upper Peninsula Michigan drew Baltic/Hanseatic populations from Scandinavia
Excluding the large coastal cities therefore makes the UK-origin share even higher — often 85–95%+ in the rural/interior “heartland” founding population. These interior groups (English Puritans/Yankees, Scots-Irish borderers, etc.) were the primary expanders westward and shaped much of early American culture, law, and demographics outside the ports.
