Americans in the United Kingdom: Difference between revisions
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'''Americans in the United Kingdom''' includes people from the [[United States]] who are or have become residents or citizens of the UK as well as students and temporary workers. According to the [[Demography of the United States#Racial groups|United States Census]], there are over 155,000 people of American origin living in the UK |
'''Americans in the United Kingdom''' includes people from the [[United States]] who are or have become residents or citizens of the UK as well as students and temporary workers. According to the [[Demography of the United States#Racial groups|United States Census]], there are over 155,000 people of American origin living in the UK. The actual number of Americans living in the UK is thought to be more than 224,000.<ref>{{cite web |
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|title=Record Numbers of Americans Living Abroad |
|title=Record Numbers of Americans Living Abroad |
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==Background== |
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==Reasons for migration== |
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The largest single local cluster is the town of [[Mildenhall]] in north-west [[Suffolk]] – the site of two of the largest [[US Air Force]] bases in the world, [[RAF Mildenhall]] and [[RAF Lakenheath]]. This is because of the legacy of the [[Cold War]] and [[NATO]] co-operation. Beyond that, London is home to many Americans, mostly young adult workers in the [[City of London]]. This population is anecdotally thought to be fairly mobile, coming for a few years or just perhaps a few months before departing again. |
The largest single local cluster is the town of [[Mildenhall]] in north-west [[Suffolk]] – the site of two of the largest [[US Air Force]] bases in the world, [[RAF Mildenhall]] and [[RAF Lakenheath]]. This is because of the legacy of the [[Cold War]] and [[NATO]] co-operation. Beyond that, London is home to many Americans, mostly young adult workers in the [[City of London]]. This population is anecdotally thought to be fairly mobile, coming for a few years or just perhaps a few months before departing again. |
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Another major route is the arts and music: many Americans are attracted to London's arts scene, helped by the fact of speaking the same language and a small demand for American accents. |
Another major route is the arts and music: many Americans are attracted to London's arts scene, helped by the fact of speaking the same language and a small demand for American accents. |
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== Subgroups == |
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[[File:Pocanson.jpg|150px|thumb|[[Pocahontas]] with her son [[Thomas Rolfe]] - likely to be the first British born person of American descent, regardless of ethnicity]] |
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[[File:VV Brown in 2009.JPG|thumb|Singer-songwriter [[VV Brown]] is half Puerto Rican]] |
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[[File:Dhani.jpg|150px|thumb|Musician [[Dhani Harrison]] is of Mexican American origin]] |
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=== American Indians and Alaskan Natives === |
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[[Native Americans in the United States|Native Americans]] are the oldest ethnic group in the United States and represent roughly 1.4% of the population. [[Pocahontas]], who is one of the most important historical figures in Native American spent much of her life in London, after she married English explorer [[John Rolfe]]. There are now many British born people descended of this [[16th Century]] Native American immigrant (the first of whom was her son [[Thomas Rolfe]]). More recently, notable British people of Native American descent include actress, [[Hayley Atwell]] who has dual UK-US citizenship due to her part Native-American father and American expatriate singer [[Chaka Khan]]. |
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=== African Americans === |
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{{see also|African Americans in the United Kingdom}} |
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{{see also|Category:British people of African-American descent}} |
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There are significant numbers of [[African Americans]] in the UK just like the US. The exact figures are debatable, but it is a long establised diaspora which has existed in the United Kingdom since the [[American Revolution]]. |
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=== Asian Americans === |
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Per head of the population, there are more [[Asian people|Asians]] in the United Kingdom than the United States, although population wise there are considerably more people of Asian origin in the US. There are many subgroups within the total [[Asian American]] population, and the exact figures of how many Asian Americans live in the UK is uncertain. |
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=== Hispanic and Latino Americans === |
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In the United States, [[Hispanic and Latino Americans]] make up over 15% of the population, and in the American diaspora in the United Kingdom, there are significant numbers of Mexican Americans and Puerto Ricans amongst other nationalities. English musician [[Dhani Harrison]] is the son of [[George Harrison]] of [[The Beatles]] and Mexican American [[Olivia Harrison|Olivia Trinidad Arias]] (who also now lives in the UK). |
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====Puerto Ricans==== |
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{{see also|Category:British people of Puerto Rican descent}} |
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[[Puerto Rican people]] originate from the Caribbean island of [[Puerto Rico]], however Puerto Ricans born and/ or raised in the United States are also referred to as Puerto Ricans. This is due to Puerto Rico being a self-governing unincorporated territory of the United States. Despite the island being under American rule, it has a strong local identity and has [[English language|English]] and [[Spanish language|Spanish]] as official languages. In [[2001 UK Census|2001]], 306 people in the UK reported their birthplace as Puerto Rico, and many more British born people had ancestral roots on the island, some Puerto Rican born people with a strong 'American' identity could have alternatively stated their birthplace as the United States.<ref name=OECD>[http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/18/23/34792376.xls Place of birth data collated by OECD based on 2001 UK Census]</ref> Notable British individuals of Puerto Rican origin or descent include former [[Miss World]], [[Wilnelia Merced]] and emmerging singer-songwriter [[VV Brown]].<ref>http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/article5809842.ece</ref> |
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=== Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders === |
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[[Native Hawaiians]] and [[Pacific Islander American]]s form a fairly small portion of the overall US population. Less than 1% of Americans fit this description, and the figures are likely to be similar for the American community in the UK. As Hawaii is a state of the United States, the 2001 Census did not record how many people were born there and currently reciding in the UK, however 30 people did report their birthplace as the overseas territory and Pacific Island of [[American Samoa]], also 61 people stated their birthplace as [[Guam]].<ref name=OECD/> |
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=== White/ European Americans === |
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[[White American]]s form the largest ethnic group in the United States at 74%, these individuals originate from countries across Europe, and this is reflected in the American community in the UK by the surnames of certain individuals. For example, [[Zoë Wanamaker]] is a US born English actress of Jewish-Ukrainian ancestry, [[Louis Theroux]] is of French-Canadian and Italian origin whilst [[Mika (singer)|Mika]] is half Lebanese half 'American'. Similar to the New Zealander, Canadian and Australian populations in the UK large numbers of [[English Americans]] recide in the UK, this is down to family reasons and many Americans can actually claim British citizenship through descent. |
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== Notable American Britons == |
== Notable American Britons == |
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[[Category:Ethnic groups in the United Kingdom]] |
[[Category:Ethnic groups in the United Kingdom]] |
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[[Category:American expatriates in the United Kingdom|+]] |
[[Category:American expatriates in the United Kingdom|+]] |
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[[Category:British people of American descent| |
[[Category:British people of American descent| ]] |
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Revision as of 14:42, 3 June 2009
File:Madonnact.JPG.jpg) File:KubrickForLook.jpg  Notable people in the United Kingdom with American links or ancestry Madonna, Sienna Miller, Stanley Kubrick, Gwen Stefani, Alvin Hall | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
|---|---|
| London, East Anglia, South East England, North West England | |
| Languages | |
| English | |
| Religion | |
| Christian, Jewish | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Americans, Britons, African American British |
Americans in the United Kingdom includes people from the United States who are or have become residents or citizens of the UK as well as students and temporary workers. According to the United States Census, there are over 155,000 people of American origin living in the UK. The actual number of Americans living in the UK is thought to be more than 224,000.[1]
Background
The largest single local cluster is the town of Mildenhall in north-west Suffolk – the site of two of the largest US Air Force bases in the world, RAF Mildenhall and RAF Lakenheath. This is because of the legacy of the Cold War and NATO co-operation. Beyond that, London is home to many Americans, mostly young adult workers in the City of London. This population is anecdotally thought to be fairly mobile, coming for a few years or just perhaps a few months before departing again.
Prior to the end of the Cold War the highest proportion of Americans resident in the United Kingdom per head of population was centred on the Scottish seaside town of Dunoon, Argyll and Bute, the former site of the Holy Loch US Navy base. At its height in the early 1990s around a quarter of Dunoon's population was American.[2]
Some of the Americans showing in the figures will be older, ex-servicemen who returned after being based in the UK during World War II. Examples of areas with large percentages of American people are: Mildenhall (17.28%), Chelsea - London (6.53%) and Kensington - London (5.81%). In London, the majority of Americans are rich businesspeople and their families which ties in with the strong economic amongst other relations between London and Washington D.C.[3]
Another major route is the arts and music: many Americans are attracted to London's arts scene, helped by the fact of speaking the same language and a small demand for American accents.
Subgroups
American Indians and Alaskan Natives
Native Americans are the oldest ethnic group in the United States and represent roughly 1.4% of the population. Pocahontas, who is one of the most important historical figures in Native American spent much of her life in London, after she married English explorer John Rolfe. There are now many British born people descended of this 16th Century Native American immigrant (the first of whom was her son Thomas Rolfe). More recently, notable British people of Native American descent include actress, Hayley Atwell who has dual UK-US citizenship due to her part Native-American father and American expatriate singer Chaka Khan.
African Americans
There are significant numbers of African Americans in the UK just like the US. The exact figures are debatable, but it is a long establised diaspora which has existed in the United Kingdom since the American Revolution.
Asian Americans
Per head of the population, there are more Asians in the United Kingdom than the United States, although population wise there are considerably more people of Asian origin in the US. There are many subgroups within the total Asian American population, and the exact figures of how many Asian Americans live in the UK is uncertain.
Hispanic and Latino Americans
In the United States, Hispanic and Latino Americans make up over 15% of the population, and in the American diaspora in the United Kingdom, there are significant numbers of Mexican Americans and Puerto Ricans amongst other nationalities. English musician Dhani Harrison is the son of George Harrison of The Beatles and Mexican American Olivia Trinidad Arias (who also now lives in the UK).
Puerto Ricans
Puerto Rican people originate from the Caribbean island of Puerto Rico, however Puerto Ricans born and/ or raised in the United States are also referred to as Puerto Ricans. This is due to Puerto Rico being a self-governing unincorporated territory of the United States. Despite the island being under American rule, it has a strong local identity and has English and Spanish as official languages. In 2001, 306 people in the UK reported their birthplace as Puerto Rico, and many more British born people had ancestral roots on the island, some Puerto Rican born people with a strong 'American' identity could have alternatively stated their birthplace as the United States.[4] Notable British individuals of Puerto Rican origin or descent include former Miss World, Wilnelia Merced and emmerging singer-songwriter VV Brown.[5]
Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders
Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islander Americans form a fairly small portion of the overall US population. Less than 1% of Americans fit this description, and the figures are likely to be similar for the American community in the UK. As Hawaii is a state of the United States, the 2001 Census did not record how many people were born there and currently reciding in the UK, however 30 people did report their birthplace as the overseas territory and Pacific Island of American Samoa, also 61 people stated their birthplace as Guam.[4]
White/ European Americans
White Americans form the largest ethnic group in the United States at 74%, these individuals originate from countries across Europe, and this is reflected in the American community in the UK by the surnames of certain individuals. For example, Zoë Wanamaker is a US born English actress of Jewish-Ukrainian ancestry, Louis Theroux is of French-Canadian and Italian origin whilst Mika is half Lebanese half 'American'. Similar to the New Zealander, Canadian and Australian populations in the UK large numbers of English Americans recide in the UK, this is down to family reasons and many Americans can actually claim British citizenship through descent.
Notable American Britons
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The first American Britons were Tories in the War of Independence, such as Benedict Arnold.
Americans with links to the UK
| Name | Details |
|---|---|
| John Barrowman | actor, born in Glasgow, raised in Illinois, now works in the UK |
| Bill Bryson | writer, born in the US, lives in the UK |
| Barbara Cassani | former chief-executive of the airline Go, and first leader of London's bid for the 2012 Summer Olympics |
| Madonna | singer, songwriter, actress; married to English director Guy Ritchie and has a house in the UK |
| Sandra Dickinson | actress, born in Washington DC |
| T. S. Eliot | Poet, became British citizen |
| Sir John Paul Getty | businessman, born in California and later moved to the UK |
| Terry Gilliam | Film director, animator and member of the Monty Python comedy troupe. UK based since the late 1960s, now a British citizen. |
| Bonnie Greer | playwright and critic, born and raised in Chicago, lives in UK |
| Alvin Hall | financial expert |
| Rich Hall | comedian, writer |
| Jimi Hendrix | musician, spent much of career in London |
| Reginald D. Hunter | comedian |
| Chrissie Hynde | musician, founder of The Pretenders |
| Henry James | American novelist, became a British citizen |
| Stanley Kubrick | Film director and producer; lived in the UK from 1962 till his death in 1999. |
| Richard Lester | Film director born in Pennsylvania; based in UK since early 1950s. Directed first two Beatles films, The Three Musketeers, and 2nd and 3rd Superman films. |
| Linda McCartney | American photographer, married Paul McCartney and lived in the UK |
| Patrick McGoohan | actor, born in New York City but raised in Ireland and the UK |
| Sienna Miller | model and actress; born in the US but raised in the UK |
| Gwyneth Paltrow | American actress, divides her time between UK and US |
| Sylvia Plath | Poet, novelist, and short story writer; born in the US, then lived in the UK |
| Suzi Quatro | singer, guitarist, radio personality |
| James Rubin | news presenter & commentator, former aide to Bill Clinton |
| Wallis Simpson (later Duchess of Windsor) |
American wife of HRH The Duke of Windsor (formerly Edward VIII) |
| Sinitta | US born actress and singer living and working in the UK |
| David Soul | Actor, became British citizen |
| Kevin Spacey | Actor, theatre director living and working in the UK |
| Gwen Stefani | Singer, songwriter; married to a Briton and divide time between the UK and the US |
| Zoë Wanamaker | Born in the US, raised in the UK, now a British citizen |
| Ruby Wax | American comedienne, writer, and television personality, lives and works in the UK |
Britons with American ancestry
| Name | Occupation | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Damon Buffini | entrepreneur, businessman | (American father) |
| Agatha Christie | novelist | (American father, Frederick Alvah Miller) |
| Winston Churchill | politician, statesman | (American mother, Jennie Churchill) |
| Mark Getty | entrepreneur, businessman | (American father, Sir John Paul Getty) |
| Elizabeth Jagger | model | (American mother, Jerry Hall) |
| Oona King | former MP | (American father) |
| Stella McCartney | fashion designer | (American mother, Linda McCartney) |
| Mika | singer, songwriter | (American father, although born in Lebanon, he was raised in London) |
| Brian Molko | musician | (American father, although born in Belgium, he was raised in Scotland) |
| Will Self | novelist, columnist | (American mother) |
| Louis Theroux | television presenter, writer | (American father, although born in Singapore, he was raised in London) |
See also
References
- ^ "Record Numbers of Americans Living Abroad". Shelter Offshore. 24 April 2005. Retrieved 2007-12-02.
- ^ Undiscovered Scotland "Undiscovered Scotland - Dunoon". Undiscovered Scotland. Retrieved 2008-01-14.
{{cite web}}: Check|url=value (help) - ^ "Born Abroad - USA". BBC News. Retrieved 2007-09-24.
- ^ a b Place of birth data collated by OECD based on 2001 UK Census
- ^ http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/article5809842.ece