Merriam-Webster dictionary clarifies the topic:
Yan·​kee ˈyaŋ-kē

1a: a native or inhabitant of New England
b: a native or inhabitant of the northern U.S.

2: a native or inhabitant of the U.S.

Any questions??

Not originally with admiration. Here's some interesting info from Wikipedia. The song was a pre-Revolutionary War song originally sung by British military officers to mock the disheveled, disorganized colonial "Yankees" with whom they served in the French and Indian War. It was written at Fort Crailo around 1755 by British Army surgeon Richard Shuckburgh while campaigning in Rensselaer, New York.[15] The British troops sang it to make fun of their stereotype of the American soldier as a Yankee simpleton who thought that he was stylish if he simply stuck a feather in his cap.[1] It was also popular among the Americans as a song of defiance,[1] and they added verses to it that mocked the British troops and hailed George Washington as the Commander of the Continental army. By 1781, "Yankee Doodle" had turned from being an insult to being a song of national pride.[16][17]

The crying game
 

who has 27 world series championships that others do not

Actually a good observation. What a northerner might consider a good natured jab a southerner might consider an insult. “Bless your heart” has an entirely different meaning to a northerner. Depends on how and where you were raised. Just need to cut some slack when communicating with each other. Am I really hearing what I think I am hearing? Is he hearing what I am really saying?

Another classy advertisement sandwiched among the responses. Didn’t realize we could pop commercial advertisements here. If so, I am having a yard sale on Tuesday and also have a used dresser for sale. Anyone want me to sit their pets?? Etc

Figuring this should run it’s course and poop out after Easter!

We will be getting same day Drs appts and no calling ahead for Reservations…

Or call him in the middle of the night …

There is the global term 'Yankee' used by other countries to refer to Americans in general. WWII soldiers were often referred to as Yanks by allies. In the domestic terminology, Yankees were generally those who were from the states that did not join the Confederacy in 1861, however those that lived North of the Mason-Dixon line were traditionally called Yankees. The Mason-Dixon Line, named for Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon, the men who surveyed boundaries between Maryland and Pennsylvania, was known as the dividing line between the North and the South. It's a pretty nebulous term today. Also, we have snow birds from Canada and other states not traditionally called Yankee states.

LOL…love your posts. Actually, the term’s earliest use dates to the Revolutionary War and refers ONLY to those of y’all from Connecticut. Possible slur on Dutch colonists? “Yankee Doodle” is still the state song of Connecticut. Now, if you’re in Europe, it’s anyone from the States. Really sort of relative. The Yanks are coming!

Oversimplified…look a little further. Actually, after living in and embracing the South for 20+ years, my wife defines a Yankee thusly:

ANYONE who moves here and wants to change and fix things that don’t need changing of fixing. If you don’t like it, go back. Nobody asked you move here.

A Yankee is someone who has won the World ..Series 27 times, many more than anyone else

Anyone born north of The Mason Dixon line.

Silly question, a Yankee is a member of the world's greatest baseball team.

Why do they call it the World Series, when it's almost always played in the Bronx? <g>

Fun Facts
 

How many of you realize that there is a town named Yankeetown northwest of here? BTW - you have to go through Crackertown to get there :)

All true.