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Based on AncestryDNA's data, England is most closely genetically similar to the rest of the British Isles (though it also has significant genetic overlap with Germanic Europe, there is more overlap with Scotland, Ireland, and Wales).
Culturally, probably the same answer. Maybe Scotland more than the others, because Scotland has lost their language more so than Ireland and Wales, and the royal family has a lot of Scottish ancestry. But overall, the countries within the British Isles are more similar to each other than any other European nation.
Scotland probably
Raises an interesting question about what is "England". Genetically speaking, England generally has an Anglo-Saxon population overlayed on top of the Celtic older population, then with a bit of Viking on top of that.
So most English will have genetic links to the old Anglo-Saxon areas of Europe like Frisia/Netherlands/Germany. Then genetic links to the Scots and Welsh. Then a smaller percentage of Swedish/Norwegian.
If you are from the North of England you probably have more Scottish. From the West, more Welsh, from the SE more Anglo-Saxon.
https://www.peopleofthebritishisles.org/ is a good study that really shows the old tribal patterns that are still there today.
Netherlands and northern west Germany. Welsh, Irish and Scottish have most their ancestry come from celts with some Germanic from when the anglos and Viking raided. And English are mainly Germanic with a bit Celt but mainly Germanic including Viking/Scandinavian
Parts of England will be close to Netherlands/ Denmark. Other parts closer to their nearest neighbours, Scotland or Wales.
The question was about England, not the UK.
The question also asks about counties, so let's not assume OP knows what they're asking for
Yeah I meant to say country, I thought that would’ve been pretty obvious seemings how I phrased it lmao
Oh, my answer was better than OP's question then 👍
Lowland Scots are actually also the progeny of Anglo-Saxons, so I’d say them. They are also close to Frisians, Dutch, and Germans, who are sort of brother tribes to the anglo-saxons.
Is Galloway different genetically than the rest of the lowlands?
I think OP said County not Country - in any case actually Scots have a significantly high average Gael component its more than twice than the England average and the Scotland average Anglo Saxon DNA is less than half that of England average so they are ‘wired’ a little different genetically
There was a study of the British isles that drew this conclusion they were very similar however it was smaller study than Ancestries database and looked at rural England and Scotland not cities
Based on my Gedmatch results and historical migration, I’d say the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, Northern Germany and the Celts. That’s the genetic answer
Genetically? Denmark, Saxony and the Netherlands are extremely close to England both genetically and culturally.
Netherlands and Northwestern Germany.
Britany and Norway
West Midlands, I suspect.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Midlands_(county)
Hi, scotland here.
Honestly we are quite different from the English, generally speaking regarding culture. Sure, we are beside each other, but that's about it.