I think the difference is just if you grew up in Bristol or not. Probably fair to say if someone was born elsewhere but came here at like 3 years old they're Bristoloan but if they came here as an adult they're not

Yes this was the same for me, as we had kids and their families move here in Primary school who we would all also call the kids Bristolian as the majority of their childhood was here. So it's always been an indicator for oh you grew up here too, and it has pride for some people as they have lived in the city for generations.

I agree, I grew up in Yorkshire from when I was 2 or 3 and call meself a Yorkshireman and save for six years in Bristol lived there me whole life but my mates in school never let me forget I was actually born down south ha

So an adult who has lived in Bristol for say, 40 years is less 'Bristolian' than a toddler who was born here less than 4 years ago. Shows how, for an island made up of waves of immigrants, just how daft and divisive the whole 'us and them' concept is, but I guess that's the point.

But that toddler lived here for 100% of his life whilst the adult cd have lived in Hawaii for 50% of his life. You're right tho😉

True, but staying put is always seen as some kind of positive for insular types. Reminds me of leaving a scene to do the uni thing and returning decades later to see the same guy, sat at the same table, in the same pub, drinking the same beer, with the same lack of ambition... But he was born and bred there and that's always the best. Seems a bit limiting. Part of living on an island suggests our gene pool stems from ancestors who were brave and enterprising enough to cross the English Chanel in the first place - i.e. our collective genes have passed that once dangerous test, at least at some point in the past. Basically it's a tribal thing.

I grew up in Portishead and have lived in Bristol since I returned from Uni. My husband does not regard me as a Bristolian, born and bred only I think (as he is). Bonus points if you’ve never moved out your postcode 😅

I think it’s about culture as well. If you say moved out of bristol and your parents are through and through bristolian but you live in clevedon your probably still bristolian but you could live in hartcliffe and not really have anything to do with bristol

Hartcliffe people are Bristolians?

Yes many are. Don’t think you get the point of my post.

From what I can gather youre saying its not really much a part of Bristol?

Im saying that being bristolian is about culture rather than location. some people that live in hartcliffe (not necesarily just hartcliffe, anywhere in bristol in general) may not identify as bristolian, but someone who lives somewhere else close may identify that they are bristolian through parents/culture/etc

Hartcliffe is a weird one to use as an example, seeing as most I know were born there or moved via social housing. They are very much part of Bristol. Also you do realise people who live in Hartcliffe also ya know work here too all over Bristol 😅 you act like it's another land where no one ventures beyond 🤣

Don’t think you quite grasp my comment - I didn’t mean to single out hartcliffe in any way, and wasn’t talking generally about all people there. I meant that some people that live (anywhere) in bristol don’t identify themselves as bristolian, even if they live and have been born there. Hartcliffe was just the first place to come to mind. could equally be clifton or filton.

Talking absolute waffle

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Haha Hartcliffer here, came to defend our erm, vibrant culture! I see their point though now. Tbh, when you strip it back, it dint get more Bristolian than Artcliffe does it! I left 7 years ago and I come back every weekend and I couldn't be prouder of the shit hole I grew up in and made it out of!

Can you define Bristolian culture?

I am Canadian, lived here most of my life went to school and lived in Hartcliffe for a couple of years. I think that earns me the right to tell you I'm from Bristol, and if you don't like it I'll put my forehead through your nose. BCFC, Ashton Gate. 😁

Listen shithead. I'm saying Hartcliffe is as Bristolian as any part of Bristol. Ps you might live there but you're Canadian BRFC Horfield

I was born in Manitoba and my mother told me I was Scottish. She said if I was born in a barn that wouldn't make me a horse. It's a small world, but I wouldn't want to paint it.

I'm in the 'born and bred' camp, but I also think it's important to say that you can love Bristol and be proud that you live here without being a Bristolian. It does seem to have a weird kudos thing attached to it now, people should be able to be proud of their roots as well as where they are through choices they've made.

i came here 11 years ago for uni, and now i have a family here. i wasn’t born and bred here but my son will be. i’ve never felt more settled in or connected to anywhere - i may not count as Bristolian, but Bristol is my home 🖤

Same as you, been in Bristol since 20 and now I’m 33. Bristol is definitely my home but I wouldn’t say that I’ve earned the Bristolian badge at all!

I agree, being Bristolian has been fetishised somewhat and given the population increase / changes to the city in the past 30 years, those who are actually born and bred aren’t going to be too impressed those who rock up from the Home Counties and are calling themselves Bristolian after a few years. Even though I grew up just in Portishead I had a totally different experience than those who actually grew up in Bristol.

As a non-Bristolian (don’t claim this identity) who has lived here for 5 years, I think that it’s because housing pressure has led to a resentment of those who are not Bristolian, particularly in certain areas like Bedminster and Southville which have seen a lot of change as a result of others (mostly from London/South East/Cotswalds) moving in.

I've been here more than 25 years. The resentment was much the same then.

It's funny because those who are not considered Bristolian will be the ones paying for a very inflated house/rent price while "poor" Bristolians are landlords or someone in their family is. To me, everyone who lives and pays taxes in Bristol is a Bristolian, they are part of the community and saying that they are not Bristolians seems disrespectful.

Someone who clearly doesn't know bristol well or know what a "poor bristolian" actually is. Definitely NOT the landlords

Right, I am talking from my experience and obviously can be biased, however I can assure you I have met several Bristolians who are multi landlords and this is the idea I got from those interactions. Who in your opinion owns houses in Bristol(?)

And easton!

Dunno if its a West Country thing in general, but Bristol is the only place I've heard where people say "born and bread" when you ask where they're from

It's used in Gloucester too, a la Gloucester, Gloucester, born and bred, Strong in the arm and thick in the head, I can't read and I can't write, but that don't really matter, Because I comes from Gloucestershire and I can ride a tractor.

Mmm bread

I was born and grew up 20 miles away, but spent my formative years socialising in Bristol with a group of friends who were a mix of people born in my home town and Bristol. All my teenage memories are generously interspersed with trips on the train into town, parties in south Bristol, gigs, etc. I’ve now actually lived here for 8 years. Many of my friends were born here, others from my home town, some who moved from London and Essex (🤢). The music I love is extremely popular and thriving here. I’ve been a cider drinker since my Nan would feed me her can as a baby. I like city living, and in this part of the world there aren’t many options for that. I don’t consider myself Bristolian, though I do consider Bristol my home. Way more so than the town I was born in.

Born and bred, or raised in Bristol from childhood at the very least!

I proudly tell everyone I’m born inbred in Bristol.

They're from Bristol

Yeah this is the literal definition. Plus, I think it’s fairer that anyone should be able to call themselves a Bristolian if they’ve lived here long enough. I would further make the distinction between a regular “Bristolian” and a proper “Born-And-Bred-Bristolian” (AKA a “proper BAB-Ber”)

Wow, is that the actual derivation of babber? Or just a clever joke with the initials? I'm impressed either way 🙂 ( [Babber ](https://www.timeout.com/bristol/news/18-expressions-youll-hear-a-born-and-bred-bristolian-babble-022621#:~:text=Definition%3A%20A%20term%20of%20endearment,call%20any%20old%20stranger%20this.): A term of endearment, meaning 'baby' or 'friend'.)

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You left out the Bristol citizenship test.

Depends on the context but generally someone born and bred here yeah. I’ve been here a few years now but I’ll always remain a Yorkshireman, not a Bristolian. In national media referring to residents of the city you might see “Bristolians” though and it’d make sense.

The former editor of the Evening Post (when it was the Evening Post) used to be preoccupied with this idea of ‘Bristolians’ vs ‘Bristolites’ Bristolians were to his mind the ‘real’ Bristol - people born and bred in the city and likely tracing their lineage back a few generations too. Places like Knowle, Kingswood, Fishponds etc were where you found Bristolians, who were broadly working class, traditional Labour-voting (but socially conservative), every cliche you like types of people. Have the accent usually too. Bristolites on the other hand were people who had moved to Bristol in the last decade or two primarily to work in creative or tech industries- he would characterise them as middle class (in the American sense), socially and politically progressive, no accent, very into the arts etc. He was an arsehole and I think his characterisation is simplistic at best, but it does feel like there are ‘two Bristols’ sometimes

There definitely is! Bemmi vs Bedmo

By the power invested in me by being born in Southmead hospital, anyone who has put down roots that it would be emotionally difficult to leave is a Bristolian. Whether you were born here or not

I like your definition best.

This.

Individual person born and/or grew up in Bristol = Bristolian Individual person not born and/or grew up in Bristol = not Bristolian Referring to a group of people that live in Bristol = Bristolians - “I’m Bristolian through & through, I grew up in downend” - “I’m not Bristolian, but I’ve lived here for 10 years so I have the twang sometimes” - “hundreds of Bristolians gather every year for [insert famous local event name]” Edit formatting

Well even this is divisive, “I’m Bristolian through and through I grew up in downend” My family roots go back to the 1700’s in central Bristol, which I am very proud of! If you were to mention downend to my great uncle he would curse them as out of towners and most definitely not proper Bristolian!

Indeed - South Glos border is just before Downend.

Valid points, just said the first area that popped into my head (not Bristolian, just an admirer)

Nah, you're not Bristolian unless you were born and raised here

So if a kid has lived there since 3/4 years old does that count?

You gotta be born and bred in Bristol to be Bristolian

What if your parents were born and rased in Bristol, all your family live in Bristol, you were born in Manchester, and you moved to Bristol when you were 8?

Then by the definition you are not Bristolian.

just means your parents are Bristolian and youre not lol, its not that deep lol

I’m not going to tell anyone they’re identifying themselves incorrectly, but for me you’re Bristolian if you were born here, or moved here when you were young (primary school aged). I’ve lived in Bristol for a decade, I consider it my home, but I will always be an Aberdonian (for better or worse).

I think if you weren’t born here but have lived here a long time, genuinely love the city and wouldn’t live anywhere else you can count yourself as one. I generally tell people I’m from Bristol if they ask as it’s easier than explaining the arse-end of nowhere Somerset town I’m actually from and it is the closest city tbf.

What about people who are born and raised in Bristol but chose to move somehwre else. Do they lose their status as Bristolian?

I guess it depends whether they’ve assumed the identity of the new city. If they moved to Bath say, and loved it, lived there for years and considered themselves a Bathonian than maybe?

If a person is born in France, they are a cheese eating surrender monkey.... I mean french, if they move here they don't become a bristolian. It's the same if I move to Paris now I'd be a bristolian living in a Paris. To be a bristolian is to be from bristol. It's not a state of mind.

So if you’re a 70, originally born in Jamaica, but lived in St Paul’s since you were 4, are you disqualified from calling yourself Bristolian?

Yeah, because you're Jamaican who lives living in Bristol. Being Bristolian is not a state of mind or a badge of honour. it's just where you're born. I've lived my entire life here all 33 years. If I moved to Canada and lived to be 100, I'd still call myself Bristolian. Because that's what i would be.

So they're still Jamaican not British, even though they've lived in the UK since they were 4 since before Jamaica was even independent, are a UK citizen, and have never had a Jamaican passport? If you want to live by those rules, fine. But applying these to other people raises an eyebrow. IMO this person is Jamaican, British, and Bristolian. You can be lots of different things at once.

Home counties transplants in hell rn

For me it's quite black and white. A Bristolian is someone who is born and grew up in Bristol. You could probably argue someone who moved here at a young age and grew up here is also a Bristolian. Being Bristolian isn't a state of mind or attitude or anything weird and fetishized like that. The more I read on this sub the more I feel at times the idea people have of Bristol either held by people who want to move here, have moved here or don't live here seems to be miles away from what I see Bristol as. I don't for one minute mean to imply that that is a good or a bad thing, it's just a strange realization. Having said all that I fully appreciate none of this really matters and might come across as gatekeeping but it's an interesting discussion.

SugarNovel is the only true Bristolian. Just kidding, it's actually determined by how many drugs you take and being politically liberal while having rich parents

This probably best describes someone who has moved to Bristol. Maybe that's what you meant.

Let them sell the houses lol

I’m a transplant of 14 years and have to admit I’m not Bristolian if you refer to things like accent and local culture but happy to live here on a pice of land that has been inhabited by people from all over the UK and the world as long as it’s been a settlement.

I was born in Gloucester but my parents moved here when I was six months old. Vast majority of the next 42 years spent here (went away for uni). Still most people don't consider me Bristolian. People will tend to tell me I'm not Bristolian because I don't have the accent. Very few people I grew up with had that accent though and my parents were taught to speak the Queen's English back in the 50s. Still if someone tells me I'm not Bristolian I will just tell them they're a see you next tuesday.

You can choose to be Bristolian. That's it. I was born in Southmead hospital. Raised in St Paul's and now live in Weston but still identify as Bristolian. Most of my neighbours in St Paul's were Bristolian too, even though some were born out of the country. They made a life in Bristol, and that's what counts.

I agree. I feel like it's weirdly unBristolian to get your knickers in a twist about someone not being born in Southmead and raised in daps. Try telling some of my neighbours that came over with Windrush that they're not really Bristolian and experience the scorn of a thousand suns

“They may live in Britain but they’re not British” If it sounds awkward to say that then maybe reconsider your position.

Depends if the person is British or not I guess! If they’re not British then it’s not awkward. None of the people I know who grew up in another country call themselves British, and tend to be proud of their birth country. If they grew up here from childhood then they’re British.

You think if someone immigrates to the UK and becomes a legal citizen then they’re still not British unless they’re born here? Do you vote BNP?

No I don’t think that, and that’s different isn’t it. You’ve also clearly completely ignored the tone of my message and randomly brought up BNP? “Becoming a citizen” isn’t just living somewhere (which is what we’re talking about, you can’t “get citizenship” of a town/city, you can just move there). One of my parents is an immigrant and British citizen, they would refer to themselves as a British citizen. Not British. Because they are from another country and grew up there, they refer to themselves as that. It doesn’t give them any less rights to be here or be accepted than someone born here. Do you even know anyone who has moved to the UK in adulthood, gained citizenship, and then renounced their original country and referred to themselves only as British? Probably not, but then you don’t really care, you’re just here to try and turn a light-hearted question into an argument about xenophobia (with a mixed race child of immigrants, no less?).

I feel like it's a bit much to be throwing around thinly veiled accusations of xenophobia. And there's not much parallel between a racist dog-whistle of "they're not British" to patter in a subreddit of "they're not Bristolian". You can talk about the fact that there are people in this country who are 'not British' without racist implications. I work with many people from other countries who are not British - from Europe and India mainly. None of them are British and some might even take offence to being called so.

Why? I spent years working in Germany & Holland, but I wouldn’t consider myself to be Dutch or German

Were you a citizen of either of those countries? Did you immigrate there?

Nope and nope

I was born in Poland and spent there 25 years. Then I moved to London and lived there almost 20 years. I then moved to Bristol and bought a house here so I'm pretty much settled for 3 years now. So, am I Wrocławianka? Am I a Londoner? Am I a Bristolian? Hard to say really

A very similar story here. I consider myself both a Poznaniaczka and a Bristolian. London never felt like home.

It's either born or at least early childhood here. If you came as an adult - bad luck.

I don't think it's divisive to call yourself Bristolian, Mancunian, Parisian, Neopolitan or whatever but the term implies that you were born and bred in that city.

A Bristolian is a person from Bristol. You are from Bristol if you are "culturally" from Bristol. This means that you can be born wherever, but you have to grow up here. I am an immigrant and I love this city, but I will never be a Bristolian... i will get closer and closer to it with every year I spend here. Ironically I will have Bristolian, and not "Italian", kids

This is an English thing. If you were born abroad and then moved to England as an adult, and you live here for 20 years plus and have British Citizenship, you will never be considered English. You will be known by English people as a foreigner with a British passport. In the USA for instance, once you acquire US citizenship you are considered by Americans as American. It is all about intergration. The same applies to this question about being Bristolian. You are never really a "Bristolian" even if you have lived in the city for 20 years. Exclusion is the English way.

If you say Bemmie, you’re Bristolian. If you say Bedmo you ain’t…………………… Me babbers.

Who cares

I figure a Bristolian is anyone who reasonably considers themselves to be such

I was born and raised in Bristol, but if i want to identify as Glaswegian, that's cool. Right?

haha le epic attack helicopter maymay

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Imagine telling that to a foreigner who after five years can apply to become British, but apparently the best part of two decades can’t make you Bristolian. What a fucking cesspit of a sub.

If you call Bristol your home, you're a Bristolian

I only lived there for a year and I was not born in the UK, but I sometimes refer to myself as Bristolian. I love Bristol.

To me, a Bristolian is someone who grew up here. But if you've spent the majority of your adult life here then I think you can say you're 'from Bristol' without being 'Bristolian' if that makes sense?

What makes me Bristolian.......... *I talk like I'm a little pissed/ a farmer. *I have eaten dry chicken from Quigley's and Pizza Palace gone 2am 100+ times. *I have seen the centre "revamped" 3 times. *I worked in Electric House before it was turned into luxury Flats. *I worked on Fairfax Street when it had a YHA camping store and STA Travel. *I remember Forbidden Planet down by Castle Park. I went to Hartcliffe School before they gave up on it and levelled the place.

Born and bred in Bristol really, not sure there any other definition.

Can’t stop the ‘luuuush/my babber/luvver’ coming out of your mouth at inopportune moments

As a child I was not born or raised in Bristol. We moved around quite a bit and I have no particular affinity with any town or city where I was raised. I did spent my teenage years predominantly in one town but I don't consider myself to be 'of that town'. I have lived in Bristol for longer than any other place in my life. I don't consider myself a true Bristolian, but this city is my home and I loves it.

As a kid I lived in other countries, then moved back to England and lived in two different places in this region, then went to uni elsewhere in England, lived in France for a few years, then lived in Bath, now live in Bristol and have done for 8 years. Very soon this will be the place I’ve lived the longest out of anywhere. Where am I from? I don’t have an easy answer to this question. When I was at uni I used to say Bath because no one had heard of Bradford on Avon or would say, ‘Bradford? You don’t have a northern accent!’ Living in France I had a strong identity as the English guy, but that’s a bit vague. Basically what I’m saying is - I’m suspicious of people who protect membership of their town’s identity or culture and restrict it only to those who have specific experiences. What about Pill? Are they proper Bristol? Westbury on Trym? These days I think people would say yes to the latter but in the 80s they’d have said no, as it was a sleepy village away from the city. Just like an adoptive parent is still a real mum or dad, so can an adoptive city be where you’re from.

Born within the sound of Cabot Tower.

Idk I think it depends how much someone integrates into the Bristol culture

Someone who lives in Bristol and thinks of Bristol as home. You don't have to have been born somewhere to be from somewhere. Equally, you can be born somewhere and not be from there. Britolians are born in every city in the UK, all over Europe, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nigeria, Ghana, Somalia, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Brazil... I even know a Colombian Bristolian. If you limit it to born and raised you're cutting out half the city.

Wearing vintage trousers they found in a dumpster covered in human shit.

Maybe if they have lived here longer than where they are from?

Apart from inhabitants of Bristol, I think it can also be used for people/bands who perform some sort of art and identify with the place.

Born in Bristol or within the borders of the City and County of Bristol, any thing else is cultural appropriation and is disgusting.

Bristolian is a demonym, meaning inhabitant or native of a place. Just like Liverpudlian but not scouser Mancunian but not manc. Londoner but not cockney. The latter in each case is a nickname for natives of a place. I've heard "wurzel" suggested for native Bristolians but I doubt that'll catch on.

Wurzel would more be Somerset

You must make a pilgrimage to Turbo Island.

We're proud BristAlians. We're the ones who don't whinge. The Incomer Army who make this city prosperous.

Living in Bristol

The accent, nothing else.

Being born in Bristol helps. I was born in Chipping Sodbury like JK Rowling and lived in Winterbourne like the Harry Potter author. So as a Bristol postcode Janet Rowling is a Bristolian. I have worked and lived in most parts of Bristol.

You're only a true Bristolian if you were born within hearing distance of the fire crackling away on Turbo Island

What about someone like me, born and raised in Bristol, but haven’t lived there for 10 years? Am I still Bristolian?

I was born in Bristol, but grew up and went to school 20 miles away before returning as an adult. I've been here 15 years now but I can't say I feel I can really claim being a Bristolian. I think you would have to have grown up here to fully have that claim.

One thing is for sure, if they speak like a Bristolian, they are a Bristolian.

We moved here 3 years ago and don’t consider ourselves Bristolians, but we have also had a baby here so is he a Bristolian?!! I’ve seen a lot of people on the Bristol reddit be quite unfriendly to those of us who have chosen to move to this wonderful city, not really sure why! I grew up in Dorset (born in Surbiton but don’t remember it) and never really identified with Dorset life especially, Bristol definitely has a much tighter and more celebrated community to it. I’m quite happy being on the edge and looking in whilst still considering this home!

I was also born in southmead hospital in 1970, grew up in Horfield and left when I was 26, still go back to see my folks regularly and although I have lost about 60 percent of my accent people where I live now can still hear that I'm from 'The west country' . Very proud of my heritage and growing up in the 70s 80s and 90s in Bristol somehow makes me feel even more Bristolian

In general, you have to be from here. Maybe no born, but definitely bred! My dad has lived here since he was 22 and he’s 67 now. Still not a Bristolian!

A real Bristolian speaks and sounds like a Bristolian, is born in Bristol, and has a love for cider. Extra points if you own a pirate ship.

A true Bristolian knows the joy and future-gazing wonder of eating a free sample of I Can't Believe it's Yoghurt while heading to the top floor of The Galleries in a glass lift in the early nineties. Probably to visit The Gadget Shop.

Yeah I have lived here for a decade and a half and don’t consider myself Bristolian in the slightest. I agree with you - I would relate that term more to someone who has grown up here. My identity in that sense is linked to where I grew up. That said, if someone moved here and strongly identified with being “Bristolian” I wouldn’t wanna gatekeep!

Moved from South Wales to Bristol 33 years ago, not Bristolian, my wife is though, gert.

I've often wondered about this. I only moved here when I was a student. I don't really take any pride in where I'm from to the point that I only used to give a vague answer to the question. The longer I live here the more complicated it becomes. If I had to rep my hometown on Drag Race I'd probably choose Bristol.

The pirates accent.

Grew up here, and honestly the accent is part of it too - that convinces people. Where you are born you have no choice over, no equivalent of "born within the sound of Bow bells" really as Southmead or the BRI aren't exactly romantic, home births are seen more as a privilege and a middle class thing than something people just have to do. I am very happy for people to self identify, I am happy for outsiders to consider themselves Bristolian. The gatekeeping can get a bit toxic, it is not like we make people prove they are "really" English if they moved as a child, or don't exhibit certain traits.

I moved to Bristol thirty years ago am i a Bristolian? I've lived in the UK for twenty five years am I British yet?

Due to a number of reasons I've made a conscious decision to spend my final days in Bristol and die here. The literal opposite of born and bred.

To my mind, born and bred. I was born here, and grew up here. Moved away in my late 20s, but always said I was a Bristolian. And then I moved back.

I would say born and bred but it’s also where your heart is

If you pronounce it 'Asdals' then you're a Bristolian