Why do the English and northern French, on average, look so different?

[Watersater79]

So different despite their genetic similarities? Both Francois Hollande and Macron are from parts of France that are just across from England on the Channel and yet they would be completely impassable. I know this is basically a follow-up of that other thread (of an undoubtedly similar nature). I guess a big part is how ‘southern-shifted’ the French look?

[combat]

Have you ever been there? Naming just two people is rather anecdotal and doesn't prove your thesis at all. In general, France has had a lot of recent immigration from other parts of Europe, more so than the UK. Hollande, for example, is partly of Dutch descent (though he looks more Belgian). And Macron could pass for the south of England. However, he doesn't look very typical, although he actually has some English ancestors.

[Watersater79]

Have you ever been there? Naming just two people is rather anecdotal and doesn't prove your thesis at all. In general, France has had a lot of recent immigration from other parts of Europe, more so than the UK. Hollande, for example, is partly of Dutch descent (though he looks more Belgian). And Macron could pass in southern England, although he does not look very typical, although in fact he even has some English ancestors.

I know about Macron’s English ancestors. His great-grandfather was from
Bristol. Still doesn’t pass as English, IMHO. In fairness, as you say, the French are quite a varied bunch but if there is such a thing as a distinctive ‘French’ face, Macron is your man (whatever France thinks of his policies). For 23 of my 25 years I lived in England…. I must insist… Madron doesn’t pass as English.
As a general rule of thumb, most here would ageee that when one sees pics of the northern French, in groups (as a whole) not many pass. As groups they look very ‘distinctive’. There is far more overlap between the English and Germans than there are the English and French.

[Richard Alvarez]

Maybe the French have more Neolithic DNA?

[Septentrion]

So different despite their genetic similarities? Both Francois Hollande and Macron are from parts of France that are just across from England on the Channel and yet they would be completely impassable. I know this is basically a follow-up of that other thread (of an undoubtedly similar nature). I guess a big part is how ‘southern-shifted’ the French look?

Yes, that's true. France has a much richer genetical diversity than England or any other country of the British Isles. The reason why many people are ignorant of this, is only because genetical studies on the British and Irish have been more extensive. Remember England's insular geographical location played a role in reducing this genetic diversity. Phenotypically, the impact of the Alpine race is much stronger in Northern France (despite a strong dose of Nordic blood) than it would ever be in England.

[Septentrion]

I know about Macron’s English ancestors. His great-grandfather was from
Bristol. Still doesn’t pass as English, IMHO. In fairness, as you say, the French are quite a varied bunch but if there is such a thing as a distinctive ‘French’ face, Macron is your man (whatever France thinks of his policies). For 23 of my 25 years I lived in England…. I must insist… Madron doesn’t pass as English.
As a general rule of thumb, most here would ageee that when one sees pics of the northern French, in groups (as a whole) not many pass. As groups they look very ‘distinctive’. There is far more overlap between the English and Germans than there are the English and French.

The fact is that England is much more Nordid in race than France. Even the Mediterranid strain that's found there is mostly subdued by the dominant Nordid strain.

[Oliver109]

France has a different strain of Cro Magnon to Britain, slightly darker skinned, they are now alpinised but it is this brunet alpine type that distinguishes the French more, in ancient times it's range extended all the way to eastern Europe and across western Asia, they were never a major population in Britain and parts of the north sea coast where pale brunns and faelids and borrebies dominated.

[Septentrion]

France has a different strain of Cro Magnon to Britain, slightly darker skinned, they are now alpinised but it is this brunet alpine type that distinguishes the French more, in ancient times it's range extended all the way to eastern Europe and across western Asia, they were never a major population in Britain and parts of the north sea coast where pale brunns and faelids and borrebies dominated.

You are somehow correct. The Alpine race as a whole, is virtually absent in the British Isles (This is not referring to individual cases). It makes such a huge difference in the way in which the French and many continental Europeans look compared to the British.

[AlbonicScholar]

French have slight, but notable non-European admixture. Mainly North-African and red sea admixture.

[Oliver109]

French have slight, but notable non-European admixture. Mainly North-African and red sea admixture.

well that isn't the reason why French look different really