Have you ever been mistaken for another ethnicity?

I'm Anglo of mostly English, Scottish, and Irish background, but for some reason people here in the US ask me if I'm Jewish.

When I went to Europe, people came up to me in Germany and asked me for directions in German, and that didn't happen anywhere else, so they must have thought I looked like one of them.

Anybody had a similar experience or been misidentified even further off?

But my dad, who is mostly Irish, but has a darker complexion gets mistaken for Greek fairly often.

younger if I got a tan I could pass for Mexican.

In Tucson, a long time ago.

Me in denim with concho belt and a bit of a tan.

Me of 100% British Isles descent.

Viva la raza!!!

some other US folks mistook us for Londoners and asked us how to get to the British Museum. That was good.

I also have been mistakenly thought to be Jewish and I am a tall blue-green-eyed Iowa Norwegian with a faint Norse accent!! I guess this should go to show that appearance should count for nothing and that what is within should really define who you are. Trite as that sounds.

I've been mistaken for a Baptist, a Republican, and gay, but I'm so white I guess my race/ethnicity is unmistakeable!

Someone once told me they were certain I was at least part Asian. :shrug: Interesting woman nonetheless.

And I speak non-accented English which only further prevents confusion. Heck, unless I tell people I was born and raised in New England they have no clue, as I don't have the so-called "New England Accent".

and I've been asked if I'm Jewish several times. Every time it's been after I've said my brother's name. Ben is a pretty common name among both Jewish and non-Jewish people, so I can only think that it's the combination of his name and my name, which is also of Hebrew origin (though also common in non-Jewish circles). There's probably something about me that "looks" Jewish, too. :shrug:

I've also been asked if I'm part Native American. When I say I'm something like 1/64th or less, they always look vaguely irritated, like they were expecting me to say, "Sure, my granddad was Native American."

When I studied in Greece, people (Greeks and Xenoi alike) would ask me for directions in Greek, particularly later in the semester when I gave the impression of knowing my way around (and was more tan than I've ever been in my life, having grown up in the rainy Northwest). My favorite incident was when a German tourist asked me for directions in English, listened intently to my English response, then thanked me in Greek. I also got into a number of Greek monasteries without paying by responding in Greek to the monks and nuns taking money at the door (entry was free for Greeks, and, as a general rule, only Greeks speak Greek).

My family's name is a lot more common among blacks than whites, and my brother's name is "Mark Jerome" so often if people see his name before they meet him, they expect him to be black instead of blond haired and blue eyed.

So not another ethinicity, really.

My family had been on holiday in France for a about a week and a half (thus were getting sun-tanned), and we crossed the border to Italy for a day-trip. Whilst looking at the menu of a restaurant the owner came up to us and spoke in French - she spoke English once she realised.

Part Black; part Chinese; Irish; Hispanic; part Arabian and Italian.

I'm none of the above; I'm half Lithuanian Jew and half Welsh.

...but when I travel, I'm always singled out for special treatment at the airport.

I don't mind. At least they're not shaking down Gramma O'Hurley.

Dutch, and Jewish.

My dad is Italian and my mom is a French/Dutch/Scotch/Native American mongrel.

I'm of East Indian descent, and I've been mistaken for Middle Eastern, Hispanic and even black.

But the funniest instance was when someone asked me what I was -- I said I was Indian, then she said, "I knew it! All you guys have straight hair!"

But the next thing she said was the kicker: "What tribe you from?"

:rofl:

In 1994 when my university sent me to Germany I was asked for directions three times within the first week of my arrival. I have no clue as to why this happened; maybe I look German (I'm of Anglo-Saxon descent). However, when I speak German I am always asked if I am British. Go figure.

:shrug:

whatever that means.... I don't know what's going on in the U.S., but Italians come in all complexions and eye/hair colors and I can't believe so many people have a hard time believing I'm a natural-born Italian just because of my very fair complexion and light hair.

It's actually very frustrating when other people doubt my ethnicity and they keep saying... "Are you sure?"... well damn straight I'm sure... duh!

:nuke:

People always tell me, "nah... you must have some Irish background." I would think I'd know. :shrug:

My dad's black, my mom's white, and both are part Native American so I can understand why I get mistaken for different ethnicities. I don't gave a problem with that because it's not like they are accusing me of being anything bad but even last week I had someone go as far as to say it was obvious that he knew my family better than me. I once had someone ask me if I'm sure my mom knows who my father is.

I'm a 1/4 NA and every now and then someone picks that up. My brother is often thought to be Mexican though, sometimes half black.

and I am always mistaken for Jewish.

Barenaked Ladies. I also been accused of looking like Drew Carey now that hurt.

In high school I worked in a Japanese restaurant - and yes, there were many idiots who marveled at the fact that I could speak English so well.

:D

:shrug:

so...maybe? I know I've got a lot of Irish ancestors on one side of the family, but it gets so murky on the other side, and I have a great deal of physical characteristics that don't seem to be all too European at all. People usually consider me a run-of-the-mill white dude, though...unless I've spent a lot of time in the sun, or a couple of times when I've grown my hair past shoulder-length.

:shrug:

I have red hair and green eyes.

I am 100% Slovak. My Dad was born there and my Mom's family is 100% Slovak too. I am the only red head in the family. :shrug:

When DH and I were engaged, the HR idiot where I worked called me into his office and told me they were "concerned about me" and then asked why I was marrying someone so much older and of a different ethnic background. This was in 1974 and I was shocked and angry that he'd stick his nose into my personal life, be so racist and be so far from the truth.

My DH's grandparents were immigrants through Ellis Island in the early 1900's, coming from Austria/Poland. His family has medium skin which tans nicely and they all have dark brown/black hair. This HR man thought my hubby was from Mexico and was at least 10 yrs older than me. He is only 2 yrs older.

Me..I'm German,Scotch,Irish from my Dad and English, Swedish and a portion unknown from my Mom.

black through and through

confused with Italian. I am also occasionally asked if I both my parents are Puerto Rican since I don't "look" Puerto Rican enough for some people. Not dark enough, I guess. I always like when a white person decides what is or isn't Latino enough. :eyes:

but I am neither.

There is no mistaking my northern European look.

I'm as white as the day is long. Nationality -yes, Race-nope.