Southerners have been mistakenly misusing this epithet for over a century.

A "Yankee" is one who is of white, Anglo-Saxon, Protestant descent. (A classic example of true "Yankee" is the Bush family.)

Not all people from up north happen to share this heritage.

Many of us are of Atlantic (UK, Ireland, Scotland, Wales), Scandinavian, Western European, Eastern European, Middle Eastern, African, Asian, etc. descent; and practice many different religions.

In fact, "Yankees" are probably the minority up north these days.

Does that clear it up for you, Jethro?

(Sorry... I couldn't resist :-)