European Americans facts for kids

European Americans are people in the United States whose families originally came from Europe.

The Spanish were likely the first Europeans to live continuously in what is now the Contiguous United States. Martín de Argüelles was born in St. Augustine, Florida, in 1566. Later, Virginia Dare was the first English child born in North America. She was born on Roanoke Colony (in present-day North Carolina) in 1587. This happened during an attempt by Queen Elizabeth I to start a lasting English settlement.

In a 2016 survey, the largest groups of European Americans were:

• German Americans (13.9%)
• Irish Americans (10.0%)
• English Americans (7.4%)
• Italian Americans (5.2%)

These four groups make up more than one-third of the total U.S. population. However, some people think that the number of English and British-Americans is actually higher. This is because many people from these groups simply say they are "American" (about 6.2% of the population).

Understanding the Term "European American"

How the Term Is Used

In 1995, a survey asked people what terms they preferred for different groups. For the "White" group, "European American" was the third most popular choice. About 2.35% of those asked preferred it.

The term "European American" is sometimes used like "Caucasian American" or "White American." But "European American" has a clearer meaning. It focuses on the cultural and geographic roots in Europe. Experts say its use has grown, especially among scholars.

Why the Term Started

The term "European American" helps show that Americans have family roots in Europe. It's similar to how we use "African Americans" or "Asian Americans." Most people in the U.S. who are counted as white know their European background.

Historically, the idea of an "American" often meant someone of European descent. This sometimes left out African Americans, Jewish people, and Native Americans. Using "European American" helps people see that there are many different cultures within this group.

History of European Immigration

Since 1607, about 57 million immigrants have come to the United States. Many returned home or moved elsewhere. This left about 47 million new people in the U.S. Before 1960, most of these immigrants came from Europe or were of European descent from Canada. For example, in 1960, 75% of people born outside the U.S. came from Europe.

Before 1881, most immigrants (about 86%) came from northwest Europe. These countries included Great Britain, Ireland, Germany, and Scandinavia. Between 1881 and 1893, the pattern changed. More immigrants started coming from other parts of Europe. From 1894 to 1914, immigrants from southern, central, and eastern Europe made up 69% of all new arrivals.

Colonial Settlers

Many early European Americans came from English, Scottish, Scots-Irish, Cornish, or Welsh backgrounds. These families can be found all over the country. They are especially common in New England and the South. Some people from colonial times, especially in the Mid-Atlantic states, also have Dutch, German, and Flemish roots. Most of these early settlers were Protestants.

The Pennsylvania Dutch (who were German American) gave Pennsylvania a strong German culture. People of French descent are most common in Louisiana. Those of Spanish descent are mostly found in the Southwest and Florida. These groups were mainly Roman Catholic. They became part of the U.S. after events like the Louisiana Purchase and the Mexican–American War.

The first large wave of European immigrants after the Revolutionary War came from Northern and Central-Western Europe. This was between about 1820 and 1890. Most were from Ireland, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, and Britain. Many Irish and German Catholics arrived, making Roman Catholicism a major religion. Polish Americans often came as German or Austrian citizens because Poland had lost its independence. Descendants of this first wave are common in the Midwest and West. German heritage is also very common in Pennsylvania. Irish heritage is common in cities in the Northeast.

Second Wave of Immigration

The second big wave of European Americans arrived from the mid-1890s to the 1920s. These immigrants mainly came from Southern, Central, and Eastern Europe, as well as Ireland. This group included Irish, Italians, Greeks, Hungarians, Portuguese, Romanians, Ukrainians, Russians, Poles, and other Slavs.

Many immigrants also came from Spain, Mexico, the Spanish Caribbean, and South and Central America. This led to an increase in White Hispanics, who now make up 8% of the U.S. population. States like Texas, California, New York, and Florida have large populations of White Hispanics. Template:European American map Clickable map of Europe, showing one of the most commonly used continental boundaries
Key: black: states which straddle the border between Europe and Asia; green: states not geographically in Europe, but closely associated with the continent.

Immigration Numbers (1820–1970)

European American Population Today

Birthplace	Population	Percent
Totals, European-born	4,789,662	11.1%
Northern Europe	928,644	2.1%
United Kingdom	683,473	1.6%
Ireland	120,144	0.3%
Other Northern Europe	125,027	0.3%
Western Europe	964,714	2.2%
Germany	585,298	1.4%
France	173,561	0.4%
Other Western Europe	205,855	0.5%
Southern Europe	787,767	1.8%
Italy	352,492	0.8%
Portugal	176,803	0.4%
Other Southern Europe	258,472	0.6%
Eastern Europe	2,097,040	4.8%
Poland	419,332	1.0%
Russia	386,529	0.9%
Other Eastern Europe	1,291,179	3.0%
Other Europe (no country specified)	11,497	0.0%
Source: 2015

In the 2010 Census, 223,553,265 people were counted as "White Americans." This number includes 26.7 million White Hispanic and Latino Americans. So, there were 196.8 million "Non-Hispanic Whites" (63.7% of the total population). Also, there were 26,735,713 "Hispanic Whites" (8.7% of the population). These two groups together form the "White Americans" category. This group mostly includes people of European ancestry. However, people from the Middle East and North Africa are also counted as white by the U.S. Census Bureau.

The largest self-reported ancestries in 2000 (with over 5 million people) were:

• German
• Irish
• English
• American
• Italian
• French
• Polish

These groups are found in different parts of the U.S. German ancestry is common in the northern half of the U.S., especially west of Pennsylvania. English and American ancestry are more common in the southern half. Irish ancestry can be found across the entire country.

Italian ancestry is most common in the Northeast. Polish ancestry is found in the Great Lakes Region. French ancestry is common in New England and Louisiana. Experts estimate that about 62% of European Americans today have some English, Welsh, Irish, or Scottish ancestry. About 86% of European Americans have roots in northwestern and central Europe. The other 14% are from southeastern Europe and are White Hispanic and Latino American descent.

The New York City Metropolitan Area is home to the largest European population in the United States.

European American Culture

American cultural icons, apple pie, baseball, and the American flag. All have European influence primarily from the British.

Cultural Roots

The culture of European Americans is a big part of the overall culture of the United States. Since European Americans are the largest group, their culture has greatly shaped American culture. This influence started even before the U.S. became an independent country. Much of American culture shows influences from the United Kingdom and Ireland. This includes the English language, legal system, and other traditions.

A scholar named David Hackett Fischer wrote a book called Albion's Seed: Four British Folkways in America. He explains that four groups of people moved from different parts of the United Kingdom to the U.S. Their ways of life continued and formed a strong cultural base for modern America. Fischer says this explains why the U.S. has been democratic, capitalist, and individualistic for over 200 years.

Most of the European American cultural history comes from Western and Northern Europe. This is seen in the U.S. government, traditions, and education. Many European Americans today express their ethnic ties in small, symbolic ways. They don't always see their specific European roots as central to who they are. However, since the 1960s, there has been a renewed interest in European American ethnic expression. Southern Europeans, especially Italians and Greeks, have kept strong ethnic identities. Polish Americans have done the same.

American Law

The American legal system has roots in French ideas, like the separation of powers and the federal system. It also comes from English law, known as common law. For example, parts of the Magna Carta (an old English document) about criminal law were included in the Bill of Rights of the U.S. Constitution. These and other documents influenced the United States Constitution.

All-American Icons and Symbols

Mount Rushmore was sculpted by Danish-American Gutzon Borglum. It features the heads of former U.S. presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln. It is a famous symbol of the United States.

• Flag of the United States – The first flag of the United States of America, the Grand Union Flag, was first flown on December 2, 1775.

American Cuisine

• Apple pie – New England was settled by English people starting in 1620. They loved baking. This led to dishes like apple pie and oven-roasted Thanksgiving turkey. The saying "As American as apple pie" means something is truly American.
• Hamburger – This famous American food was invented in the United States. It was named "Hamburger" after German immigrants from Hamburg. It is now known worldwide as a symbol of American fast food.
• Maxwell Street Polish – This sandwich started in Chicago. It has a grilled Polish sausage with grilled onions and yellow mustard on a bun. It's a classic Chicago food.
• Tex-Mex – This food style was created in Texas. It mixes traditional Mexican food with American Cuisine. It is popular across the United States and North America.
• Buffalo wings – These were created in Buffalo, New York, in the 1970s. They are chicken wings covered in a spicy sauce made with vinegar, hot sauce, and butter. They are now popular everywhere and are a symbol of American cuisine.

Thanksgiving Holiday

• Thanksgiving – In the United States, Thanksgiving is a national holiday. It has religious roots but is now celebrated by everyone. The first Thanksgiving was held by English settlers to thank God and the Native Americans. The Native Americans helped the Pilgrims survive their first harsh winter in Plymouth Colony. The modern holiday comes from a 1621 feast where the Plymouth settlers celebrated a good harvest with the Native Americans.

American Sports

• Baseball – An English lawyer named William Bray wrote about playing baseball in England in 1755. This early form of the game was likely brought to North America by English immigrants. The word "Base-Ball" first appeared in print in 1744. Today, Rounders, played in England for centuries, is similar to Baseball.
• American football – This sport comes from early versions of rugby football played in England and Canadian football. American changes over time led to the game we know today. The basic rules were first made in American universities in the mid-1800s.

American Music

Many American Patriotic songs have European roots:

• American National Anthem – The tune of the U.S. national anthem comes from an 18th-century English song called "To Anacreon in Heaven." It was written by John Stafford Smith from England. The words were written by Francis Scott Key. This song became very popular and was made the official national anthem in 1931.
• Amazing Grace – This famous song was written by English poet and clergyman John Newton. It is very popular in American culture and is used for many different purposes.
• Hail, Columbia – This was the first song played at presidential inaugurations until the early 1900s. Now, it is used for the Vice President.
• Battle Hymn of the Republic – This patriotic song was sung during the American Civil War (1861-1865).

American Industry

• Buick - David Dunbar Buick was born in Scotland. He was an inventor in Detroit. He is famous for starting the Buick Motor Company.
• Chevrolet - Louis Chevrolet was born in Switzerland. He was a race car driver who helped start the Chevrolet Motor Car Company in 1911.
• Harley-Davidson – The Davidson brothers (William A., Walter, and Arthur Davidson) were of Scottish descent. William S. Harley was of English descent. Harley-Davidson became one of the largest and most famous American motorcycle makers.

Genetic Background of White Americans

Some White Americans have small amounts of American Indian and Sub-Saharan African ancestry. One study found very small amounts of Sub-Saharan and Native American DNA in American Caucasians. (In the USA, "Caucasian" can include people from North Africa and Western Asia, not just Europeans). Other research on DNA found no African DNA in European-Americans.

A geneticist named Mark D. Shriver studied the DNA of White Americans. He found they had, on average, 0.7% Sub-Saharan African DNA and 3.2% Native American DNA. Later, Shriver said that about 5% of White Americans show some African ancestry.

From the 23andMe DNA database, about 5% to 13% of White Americans who identify as Southern have more than 1% African ancestry. Southern states with more African American people tended to have higher amounts of this hidden African ancestry. On average, European Americans are about 98.6% European, 0.19% African, and 0.18% Native American.

British/Irish ancestry is found in European Americans in all states. It makes up more than 20% of their ancestry on average. In states like Mississippi, Arkansas, and Tennessee, it can be more than 50%. Scandinavian ancestry is mostly found in specific areas. Most states have only tiny amounts. But in Minnesota and the Dakotas, it makes up more than 10% of the ancestry for European Americans.

Images for kids

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  Proportion of Non-Hispanic White Americans in each county of the fifty states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico as of the 2020 United States Census

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  The New York City Metropolitan Area is home to the largest European population in the United States.

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  Hamburgers were invented by German immigrants.