English Ancestry in United States
English Americans are individuals in the United States who trace their ancestry either fully or partially to England. They constitute a significant demographic across various countries in North and South America. According to the 1980 United States Census, the largest reported ancestry group in the country was English, with some tracing their lineage back to the original thirteen colonies. As of 2020, the estimated population of English Americans stands at approximately 46.6 million, making them the largest self-reported ancestry group in the United States.
In the United States, English Americans represent the largest ethnic group, with 46.5 million individuals identifying as having English origins. This figure includes a portion who also claim another heritage, totaling 19.8% of the White American population.
The 2020 United States Census further reveals that 25,536,410 people, constituting 7.7% of the total U.S. population, claim English descent. Additionally, 1,934,397 individuals (0.59%) self-identify as of British descent, while 1,851,256 (0.57%) claim Welsh ancestry.
English American Population
| Census 2020 | Population | % of US Pop. |
| English alone and in any combination | 46,550,968 | 14.00% |
| English alone | 25,536,410 | 7.70% |
Top US State by English Population
The English alone population was the largest detailed White group nationally, in 35 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. Population wise California (2.1 million) has the largest number of people with English Ancestry followed by Texas (1.8 million) and Florida (1.5 million). Percentage-wise top US states with English Ancestry are Utah (24.13%), Maine (18.99%). Idaho (17%), Vermont (16.97%), and New Hampshire (16.90%).
List of States by English Ancestry Population
| # | State | Number | Percentage |
| 1 | Alabama | 385,088 | 7.87% |
| 2 | Alaska | 58,856 | 7.99% |
| 3 | Arizona | 608,928 | 8.49% |
| 4 | Arkansas | 247,382 | 8.21% |
| 5 | California | 2,140,130 | 5.44% |
| 6 | Colorado | 592,137 | 10.42% |
| 7 | Connecticut | 299,636 | 8.39% |
| 8 | Delaware | 90,771 | 9.38% |
| 9 | Florida | 1,477,490 | 6.96% |
| 10 | Georgia | 818,610 | 7.78% |
| 11 | Hawaii | 57,496 | 4.05% |
| 12 | Idaho | 299,782 | 17.09% |
| 13 | Illinois | 725,577 | 5.71% |
| 14 | Indiana | 583,348 | 8.71% |
| 15 | Iowa | 256,125 | 8.13% |
| 16 | Kansas | 298,306 | 10.24% |
| 17 | Kentucky | 491,660 | 11.02% |
| 18 | Louisiana | 254,550 | 5.46% |
| 19 | Maine | 254,612 | 18.99% |
| 20 | Maryland | 439,760 | 7.28% |
| 21 | Massachusetts | 641,698 | 9.34% |
| 22 | Michigan | 882,533 | 8.85% |
| 23 | Minnesota | 315,718 | 5.64% |
| 24 | Mississippi | 218,528 | 7.33% |
| 25 | Missouri | 556,965 | 9.09% |
| 26 | Montana | 123,227 | 11.61% |
| 27 | Nebraska | 154,029 | 8.01% |
| 28 | Nevada | 220,689 | 7.28% |
| 29 | New Hampshire | 229,053 | 16.90% |
| 30 | New Jersey | 429,774 | 4.84% |
| 31 | New Mexico | 138,500 | 6.60% |
| 32 | New York | 988,345 | 5.06% |
| 33 | North Carolina | 1,014,096 | 9.76% |
| 34 | North Dakota | 32,784 | 4.31% |
| 35 | Ohio | 1,006,003 | 8.62% |
| 36 | Oklahoma | 317,835 | 8.05% |
| 37 | Oregon | 478,043 | 11.45% |
| 38 | Pennsylvania | 926,879 | 7.24% |
| 39 | Rhode Island | 111,805 | 10.57% |
| 40 | South Carolina | 460,300 | 9.04% |
| 41 | South Dakota | 54,222 | 6.17% |
| 42 | Tennessee | 637,071 | 9.41% |
| 43 | Texas | 1,772,914 | 6.19% |
| 44 | Utah | 760,362 | 24.13% |
| 45 | Vermont | 105,935 | 16.97% |
| 46 | Virginia | 833,300 | 9.79% |
| 47 | Washington | 772,527 | 10.28% |
| 48 | West Virginia | 200,009 | 11.07% |
| 49 | Wisconsin | 336,875 | 5.80% |
| 50 | Wyoming | 73,981 | 12.73% |
| – | District of Columbia | 39,375 | 5.61% |
Source: US Census estimates 2020
Top U.S. Cities by English population
English alone or in any combination was the largest detailed White group in approximately two-thirds (2,050) of the counties in the United States and Puerto Rico. The English population was the most prevalent group in northern New England, the South, and throughout the West, as well as in Puerto Rico
Dallas Metro area with 725,706 people of English ancestry, has the largest population of English Americans. It’s followed by Atlanta (474,655) and the New York metro area (610,442).
*These figures don’t include British Americans and Welsh Americans
Top Metro Areas by English Population
| # | Metro Area | Population 2020 | % of Total |
| 1 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 725,706 | 9.35% |
| 2 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Alpharetta, GA | 614,359 | 10.00% |
| 3 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | 610,442 | 3.09% |
| 4 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 600,744 | 4.62% |
| 5 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 546,151 | 8.59% |
| 6 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 501,806 | 10.24% |
| 7 | Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX | 488,240 | 6.77% |
| 8 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI | 483,774 | 5.09% |
| 9 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 483,236 | 7.76% |
| 10 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 479,383 | 9.69% |
| 11 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 463,767 | 11.56% |
| 12 | Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO | 366,053 | 12.31% |
| 13 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 363,818 | 8.33% |
| 14 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 348,339 | 13.87% |
| 15 | San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | 333,711 | 7.22% |
| 16 | Salt Lake City, UT | 325,585 | 25.78% |
| 17 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 313,299 | 11.60% |
| 18 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | 313,214 | 9.73% |
| 19 | St. Louis, MO-IL | 289,738 | 10.32% |
| 20 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | 287,738 | 12.72% |
| 21 | Kansas City, MO-KS | 286,651 | 13.03% |
| 22 | Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin, TN | 280,933 | 13.95% |
| 23 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 269,263 | 7.30% |
| 24 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 261,030 | 9.20% |
| 25 | Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, TX | 259,901 | 11.05% |
| 26 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 255,354 | 7.77% |
| 27 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 248,486 | 5.34% |
| 28 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN | 244,999 | 11.51% |
| 29 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 239,737 | 9.94% |
| 30 | Columbus, OH | 237,406 | 11.04% |
| 31 | Pittsburgh, PA | 230,155 | 9.78% |
| 32 | Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC | 205,428 | 11.37% |
| 33 | Raleigh-Cary, NC | 201,083 | 13.88% |
| 34 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, FL | 201,077 | 3.30% |
| 35 | Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | 197,359 | 7.33% |
| 36 | Cleveland-Elyria, OH | 187,461 | 9.03% |
| 37 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | 183,275 | 10.94% |
| 38 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | 177,428 | 13.81% |
| 39 | Jacksonville, FL | 176,204 | 10.76% |
| 40 | San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | 173,510 | 6.67% |
| 41 | Oklahoma City, OK | 170,475 | 11.83% |
| 42 | Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV | 170,051 | 7.42% |
| 43 | Richmond, VA | 169,950 | 12.90% |
| 44 | Rochester, NY | 143,497 | 13.23% |
| 45 | Tulsa, OK | 125,803 | 12.28% |
| 46 | North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, FL | 115,789 | 13.47% |
| 47 | Hartford-East Hartford-Middletown, CT | 112,482 | 9.28% |
| 48 | Tucson, AZ | 105,610 | 10.04% |
| 49 | Grand Rapids-Kentwood, MI | 105,536 | 9.67% |
| 50 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 99,807 | 5.11% |
Source: US Census 2020
English Ancestry in Americas
English ANcestry are also the Largest ancestry Group in Canada with approximately 6.4 million people and 18.34% of Canada’s population. Chileans of English ancestry are estimated to number 700,000 (4% of the national population) and there are about 100,000 people of English descent in Argentina.
English Canadians are Canadians who have full or partial English ancestry. English Canadians account for about 18.34% of the total population of Canada and form the second-largest ancestry group in Canada.
read more about English Ancestry in Canada
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