The loins which I came from, themselves came from British loins.
It has been the same for at least five generations.
The harshness of the vowels in Drury – Dru-Ry – suggest the name may be of Scandinavia origin, a language-expert once told me but even this is not clear.
I am British.
And I am a monarchist.
Not because I like the Queen or believe in privilege from birth. But because I understand a Parliamentary system needs a politically impotent bulwark – and we might as well get a real-life soap opera for our money's worth.
Which, I guess, gives me the perfect profile of someone who would support Gordon Brown's new ideas for encouraging Britishness. The ones where everyone one will swear an oath of allegiance to the Queen, or repeat a national motto each day or get an extra bank holiday to celebrate the country's achievements.
Behave yourself.
I've got a couple of oaths I'd be willing to swear at Brown but I don't think he'd appreciate either.
I pay my taxes, largely obey the laws of the land and have not yet emigrated – that shows enough loyalty.
They want more?
Give me trains that run on time and a health service not riddled with superbugs. Don't invade other countries and don't make a pint cost the earth.
This, I do not think, is an anti-patriotic view.
Just because I'm not impressed by flag-waving or anthem-singing or talk of a pink map or any of that nonsense doesn't mean I've not grown fond of this stretch of land I was born on.
And just because I don't want to celebrate spurious political concepts like shared history and cultural identity doesn't mean it either.
I mean what is that anyway? Shared history and cultural identity? Our grandmas shared a bomb shelter and we all watch EastEnders on Christmas Day?
It's the little stuff I find quaint. The queueing, the rubbing along, the talking about the weather, the self restraint, the love of the underdog, the refusal to learn a foreign language and instead speak slightly louder when in other countries, the desire not to offend.
But why celebrate any of that or try and package it in a motto?
I am British and, for that reason above all others, I am too reserved to celebrate such things.
I am British and, for that reason above all others, I pay my Polish plumber in cash as he asks, eat far more Indian food than is good for my digestion and celebrate St Patrick's Day by drinking Guinness and dancing to The Pogues.
I am British and, for that reason above all others, I refuse to swear an oath of allegiance to anyone.