Your Nationality is based on your Citizenship.

Your ancestry in regards to Nationality status is trumped mainly by your proven legal status within a country.

I could be born to two Canadians and merry an American and become "American" by obtaining that legal status.

If your Ancestors were all Americans and you were born in America, then you are an American, unless there is something I am missing something here...

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nationality
na·tion·al·i·ty: national status ; specifically : a legal relationship involving allegiance on the part of an individual and usually protection on the part of the state b: membership in a particular nation4: political independence or existence as a separate nation5 a: a people having a common origin, tradition, and language and capable of forming or actually constituting a nation-state b: an ethnic group constituting one element of a larger unit (as a nation)
Source(s):
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nationality

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"Nationality" is frequently used in the US to mean national origin of one's ancestors. Some people believe that it is not strictly correct to use this word in this way, and think you should only use "nationality" to refer to citizenship. Also, some people who are clearly American take offense to the question, "What is your nationality?", especially if the question seems to resonate with untrue stereotypes that certain groups are l'ess' American by virtue of their ethnic or cultural heritage.
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