Anglo facts for kids
Anglo is a word that helps us talk about things connected to the Angles, England, English culture, the English people, or the English language. You might hear it in words like "Anglosphere" (which means English-speaking countries around the world).
Sometimes, "Anglo" is used on its own to describe people of British background in places like Anglo-America (parts of North and South America), the English-speaking Caribbean, South Africa, Namibia, Australia, and New Zealand. In Canada, it helps tell the difference between people who speak French (called Francophones) and those who speak English (called Anglophones). In the United States, it's often used to describe white people who are not of Latino background.
The word "Anglo" comes from Late Latin. It means "English-" when combined with another place or group name. It comes from "Anglia," which was the Latin name for England. Even today, a region in eastern England is called East Anglia. Both "Anglia" and "England" mean "land of the Angles." The Angles were a Germanic group from a part of northern Germany called Angeln.
After the Acts of Union 1707, when England and Scotland joined to form Great Britain, "Anglo" also started to mean "British" in many historical situations. For example, the Anglo-Dutch Treaty of 1824 was an agreement between the British government and the Dutch, not just the English government.
The word "Anglo" isn't always easy to define. Some people feel it should only be used as part of a longer term, like "Anglo-Saxon." But over time, its meaning has changed in many English-speaking places. So, how "Anglo" is used can be different depending on the region.
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How "Anglo" is Used in Different Places
In Africa
The term Anglo-African was used in the past to describe people with both British and African family roots, especially those born in the United States or Africa. For example, newspapers like The Anglo-African were published by African Americans during the American Civil War era. Another newspaper with the same name was published in Lagos (now part of Nigeria) from 1863 to 1865. It was started by Robert Campbell, whose father was Scottish and mother was of mixed race. The term also described people living in the British Empire in Africa. A book called The Anglo-African Who's Who from 1905 listed important British and Afrikaner people in Africa at that time.
In Australia
In Australia, "Anglo" is part of the terms Anglo-Australian and Anglo-Celtic. These terms refer to most Australians who have family roots from England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland.
In Canada
In Canada, especially in Canadian French, the word Anglophone is widely used. It means someone whose main language is English. This is different from Francophone, which means someone whose main language is French. There's also Allophone, for someone whose main language is neither English nor French. The term Anglo-Métis is sometimes used for a specific ethnic group in Canada.
In Israel
Jewish people who move to the State of Israel (a process called Aliyah) are sometimes called Anglos.
In Scotland
In Scotland, the term Anglo-Scot (sometimes just Anglo) is used for people who have a mix of Scottish and English family background. This could be English people with Scottish roots, Scottish people with English roots, or Scottish nobles who have adopted English ways and speech.
Many Anglo-Scots have been important in sports, politics, law, and other fields. For example, the writer Ian Fleming, who created the James Bond character, was an Anglo-Scot.
Another important Anglo-Scot was John Lorne Campbell. He worked for decades with his wife to save many old stories, songs, and traditions from Scottish Gaelic culture. Even though he was raised speaking only English, he chose to support Scottish nationalism and fight for the survival of the Scottish Gaelic language. His work helped lead to the modern Gaelic language revival and the use of immersion schools today.
The term Anglo-Scot is also often used for Scottish sports players who play for English teams, especially in football and Rugby union.
In the United States
In many parts of the United States, especially where there are many Latino people, "Anglo" is used to describe white Americans who are not of Latino background. In the Southwest United States, "Anglo" (short for "Anglo American") is a common way to say "non-Latino white." This includes people of European background who speak English, even if they are not from England or Britain.
However, some white Americans who speak English but don't have English or British roots don't like being called "Anglo." For example, some Cajuns in southern Louisiana use the term for white people who are not of French background. Irish Americans, who are a large ethnic group in the U.S., also sometimes don't like being called "Anglo."
Countries with Many English Speakers
The table below shows estimates of white, native English-speaking populations in various countries. Keep in mind that how "Anglo" is defined can be different in each country.
| Country | Population estimate | Percent of total | Data year |
|---|---|---|---|
 United States |
189,243,127 | 58% | 2019 |
 United Kingdom |
52,231,377 | 83% | 2011 |
 Canada |
18,361,495 | 53% | 2016 |
 Australia |
17,407,420 | 74% | 2016/2020 |
 Ireland |
3,561,533 | 76% | 2016 |
 New Zealand |
3,261,930 | 69% | 2018 |
 South Africa |
1,651,262 | 3% | 2011 |
 Spain |
268,957 | 1% | 2020 |
 Israel |
227,000 | 4% | 2015 |
 France |
145,900 | 0% | 2017 |
| Total | 286,360,001 |
See Also
- Angles (tribe)
- Anglo-Burmese people
- Anglo-Celtic
- Anglo-Indian
- Anglo-Irish people
- Anglo-Norman
- Anglo-Saxon (disambiguation)
- Anglo-Saxons
- Anglo-Scottish border
- Anglophile
- Anglophobia
- Anglosphere
- Second Boer War
- White Anglo-Saxon Protestant
