How do you distinguish Germans from other Europeans? (Mexican, Chinese, grandmother)

[cat1116]

I thought the name Keitel sounded familiar... but at the time couldn't place it until now. Yeah, I remembered there was an actor by that last name:

Harvey Keitel (born May 13, 1939) is an American actor. He is widely known for the "tough-guy" characters he portrays, and for his roles in Quentin ...

[DewDropInn]

In my family we have a running joke about who has the "German nose". It even has a name: The Potato Brumbaugh Nose. Named after the character in the book, and mini-series, "Centennial". It's the nose with the round bulb on the end. I inherited mine from my dad. He got his from his mother. She got hers from her mother. And traceable right on back to the old country.

[Manolón]

Germans come in many shapes and colours. Some are nordic looking, some could pass for French or Spanish, some are strange (big heads and abrupt features). Germany is Central Europe, so everybody has been there.

For example, most Austrians and many Germans are "Alpine", many are Celts, Slavics and they must also have Italic blood since their oldest cities were Roman cities (Frankfurt. Munich, Magunz, etc). You also have some Germans that have slightly slanted eyes.

The typical "Aryan" German is a minority.

In fact, when they are in a large group mixed with other Europeans, I can't tell them apart.

I guess that the current German population does not have much in common with ancient Visigoths, Franks, etc. I supposed that the land left vacant by those tribes was occupied by Slavics, Celts, etc.

[Nighteyes]

Originally Posted by DewDropInn

In my family we have a running joke about who has the "German nose". It even has a name: The Potato Brumbaugh Nose.

On my mother's side of the family its called the "Funderburk Nose". [Funderburk is one of several Americanized versions of Von Der Berg.]

[linicx]

I have a couple of names that probably have a German ancestry. Kling, Von Bockman and Weideman.

Shwartz and Keitel are also Jewish names. in the Midwest. So is Smith for that matter. Common names are very difficult to trace.

[bjh]

Ich habe keinen Familien von Deutschland. Fast alle unsere Familien sind aus Gross Britannia. Aber wir haben ein paar Familian aus Frankreich, die Schweiz und das Niederlands.

[STLCardsBlues1989]

Is there a difference? I usually can't tell. That said, probably a lot of Americans (like myself) don't know entirely what their ancestry is. I have German, Irish, Scottish, and English blood, but possibly a lot of other things as well. It seems like a lot of the different European nationalities have similar genes, so I'm not sure what genes are considered to be from different nationalities. Supposedly my nose is Cherokee, but I can't trace anything.

Of course, it is said that most Germans and Swedes are blond, but being blond does not necessarily indicate these nationalities.

I really can't tell the difference myself.

[CamaroGuy]

Originally Posted by STLCardsBlues1989

Is there a difference? I usually can't tell. That said, probably a lot of Americans (like myself) don't know entirely what their ancestry is. I have German, Irish, Scottish, and English blood, but possibly a lot of other things as well. It seems like a lot of the different European nationalities have similar genes, so I'm not sure what genes are considered to be from different nationalities. Supposedly my nose is Cherokee, but I can't trace anything.

Of course, it is said that most Germans and Swedes are blond, but being blond does not necessarily indicate these nationalities.

I really can't tell the difference myself.

Well here in America we're all becoming "Heinz 57s".lol

[Boompa]

Start playing OOMPA music and see who's toes are tapping

[Ketabcha]

Spill crumbs on the tablecloth and the first one to grab a dustbuster is a German.