Nationality

Character, status, or condition ■with reference to the rights and duties of a person as a member of some one state or nation, rather than another. The term is in frequent use with regard to ships. See, generally, "Citizen;" "Denizen;" "Domicile;" "Naturalization." NATIVA (Law Lat.)

In old English law. A neife, or female villein. So called, because for the most part bond by nativity. Co. Litt. 122b.

Character, status, or condition with reference to the rights and duties of a person as a member of some one state or nation rather than another. Nationality may be determined from origin, naturalization, domicil, residence, trade, or other circumstances; 1 Halleck, Int. L. 403. The term is in frequent use with regard to ships. Nationality determined by one's birthplace or parentage is called nationality of origin; that which results from naturalization, is by acquisition. In feudal times, nationality was determined exclusively by the place of birth, jure soli; but under the laws of Athens and Rome the child followed that of the parents, jure sanguinis. "Of these two tests, the place of birth and the nationality of the father, neither is at present adopted without qualification by British, French, or American law. The laws of these countries exhibit, in fact, different combinations of the two, Great Britain and the United States laying chief stress on the place of birth, while in France the father's nationality determines, though not absolutely and in all cases, that of the child; and this latter theory has found acceptance among other European nations," as Belgium, Bavaria, Prussia, and Spain. Morse, Citizenship 10. The subject is usually regulated by treaty. See Expatriation. See Alien; Allegiance; Citizen; Denizen; Domicil; Expatriation; Naturalization.

That quality or character which arises from the fact of a person’s belonging to a nation or state, Nationality determines the political status of the individual, especially with reference to allegiance; while domicile determines his civil status, Nationality arises either by birth or by naturalization. According to Saviygny, “nationality” is also nsed as opposed to “territoriality,” for the purpose of distinguishing the case of a nation having no national territory; e.g., the Jews. 8 Sav. Syst. § 346; Westl. Priv. Int. Law, 4.