Armenians in the United Kingdom
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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| David Dickinson, Calouste Gulbenkian |
| Total population |
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| Armenia-born 589[1] Full or partial Armenian descent 18,000[1] |
| Regions with significant populations |
| London, Manchester, Liverpool Glasgow, Birmingham, Edinburgh |
| Languages |
| Religion |
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Armenian Apostolic Church |
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There has been sporadic emigration from Armenia to the UK since the 18th century, with the biggest influx coming after the Second World War. The majority are based in the major cities of London and Manchester. The 2001 UK Census recorded 589 Armenian-born people living in the UK,[1] although there are up to 18,000 ethnic Armenians including those who are British-born, and of part Armenian descent, living in the UK.[2]
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[edit] History
The first Armenian community in Britain was formed in Manchester in the 19th century. A mixture of textile traders, small manufacturers and retailers, in 1870 they opened the first Armenian church in Britain.[3] Many Armenians also arrived between 1914 and 1918, due to the Armenian Genocide.[citation needed] Another large influx occurred during World War II.[citation needed] They came from Armenia, Turkey, the Middle East, France and other countries.[citation needed]
[edit] Population distribution
According to Vered Amit's Armenians in London: The Management of Social Boundaries, published in 1989, around 10,000 Armenians were living in Greater London at the time. The majority were thought to be first-generation immigrants from Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Iran and Cyprus.[4] They also include Armenians from Ethiopia, India, Egypt, Palestine, as well as individuals from other countries.
Manchester has been home to an Armenian population since 1835, with 30 Armenian businesses thought to have been operating in the city by 1862.[5]
[edit] Religion
Most British Armenians belong to the Armenian Apostolic Church under the jurisdiction of the See of Holy Echmiadzin. There are several Armenian Churches in London, Manchester and other parts of England, as well as two in Scotland, (both in Edinburgh) and one in Wales.
The principal church is the St. Sarkis Armenian Apostolic church (in Kensington, London). Apart from St Sarkis, the capital's Armenians also worship in nearby St. Yeghiche, a former Anglican church. There are also a small number of Armenian Catholics and Armenian Evangelicals.
[edit] List of notable British Armenians
- Andy Serkis, actor, director, and author best known for playing Sméagol/Gollum, in The Lord of the Rings movie trilogy
- David Dickinson, antiques expert and television presenter
- Levon Chilingirian OBE, musician
- Ara Darzi, Baron Darzi of Denham KBE, surgeon and first British-Armenian peer
- Calouste Gulbenkian, one of the founders of Royal Dutch Shell and oil magnate
- Natasha Shishmanian, golf professional, journalist, writer and wife of Chris Evans
- Roland Manookian, actor, major role in the Football Factory by Nick Love
- Alexander Raphael, first person of Armenian descent to become a member of the House of Commons[6]
- Dikran Tahta, mathematician and teacher
- Robert Istepanian, professor of Data Communication at Kingston University
- Charles Anastase,fashion designer
- Bob Manoukian, wealthy businessman
[edit] See also
- Ethnic groups in the United Kingdom
- List of Armenian-Iranians
- List of Armenian-Russians
- List of Armenian-French people
- List of Armenians
- Armenian diaspora
[edit] References
- ^ a b c "Country-of-birth data, 2001". Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/18/23/34792376.xls. Retrieved 2008-09-14.
- ^ "Population". Armenian Diaspora Conference. http://www.armeniadiaspora.com/followup/population.html. Retrieved 2008-09-14.[dead link]
- ^ Celebrating the first Christian nation
- ^ Talai, Vered Amit (1989). Armenians in London: The Management of Social Boundaries. Manchester: Manchester University Press. p. 1. ISBN 0719029279. http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=RBoNAQAAIAAJ&lpg=PP1&ots=_NFVb4QOjO&dq=Armenians%20in%20London%20%3A%20the%20management%20of%20social%20boundaries&pg=PA1#v=onepage&q=&f=false.
- ^ "Multi-Cultural Manchester: Armenians". Manchester City Council. http://www.manchester.gov.uk/info/448/archives_and_local_studies/506/multi-cultural_manchester/8. Retrieved 2009-08-22.
- ^ Seth, Mesrovb Jacob (1937). Armenians in India: From the Earliest Times to the Present. Calcutta. p. 595. http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=BlreO8bmK30C&lpg=PA595&ots=3hH9XEB9xq&dq=Alexander%20Raphael%2C%20first%20%20Armenian&pg=PA595#v=onepage&q=&f=false.
[edit] Further reading
- Talai, Vered Amit (1986), "The circumscription of ethnicity: a case study of the London Armenian community", Ethnic and Racial Studies 9 (2): 211–18
- Talai, Vered Amit (1989), Armenians in London: the management of social boundaries, Manchester University Press, ISBN 9780719029271
- Malik, Farah (1990), A Survey of the Armenian Community in London, London Research Centre, ISBN 9781852611002
[edit] External links
- Armenian Community and Church Council of Great Britain
- Centre for Armenian Information and Advice
- Homenetmen London Armenian Community
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