Latin Americans in the United Kingdom

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Latin Americans in the United Kingdom

Taio Cruz · Olivia Hussey · Tara Palmer-Tomkinson
Total population
Unknown (see population section)
Regions with significant populations
London, Oxford, Cambridge, Manchester, Bristol, Edinburgh and Milton Keynes[1]
Languages
British English · Spanish · Portuguese
Religion
Roman Catholic (predominantly) · Protestant · Jewish minority
Related ethnic groups
Hispanics · Spanish Britons · Italians · Portuguese · Greek Britons Italian British · Latino Australians

The number of Latin Americans in the United Kingdom, that is to say inhabitants of the United Kingdom who were either born in Latin America or who have Latin American ancestors, has traditionally been low compared to other immigrant groups in the UK. However, more significant migration from Latin America to the United Kingdom began in the 1970s, at a time of much political turmoil and civil unrest in Latin America. In recent times, Latin American culture has become more prominent in British life, mainly through the growing popularity of Salsa music, with clubs and bars all over the UK catering to this form of dance.

Contents 1 Population 2 Main groups 2.1 Brazilians 2.1.1 Notable Brazilians in the United Kingdom 2.2 Colombians 2.2.1 Notable Colombians in the United Kingdom 2.3 Ecuadorians 2.3.1 Notable Ecuadorians in the United Kingdom 2.4 Chileans 2.4.1 Notable Chileans in the United Kingdom 2.5 Argentines 2.5.1 Notable Argentines in the United Kingdom 2.6 Mexicans 2.6.1 Notable Mexicans in the United Kingdom 2.7 Peruvians 2.7.1 Notable Peruvians in the United Kingdom 2.8 Venezuelans 2.8.1 Notable Venezuelans in the United Kingdom 2.9 Cubans 2.9.1 Notable Cubans in the United Kingdom 2.10 Bolivians 2.11 Uruguayans 2.12 Salvadoran 2.13 Other groups 2.13.1 Other notable Latin Americans in the United Kingdom 3 Population spread 4 See also 5 External links 6 References

[edit] Population

The size of the Latin American population in the UK is highly debatable. According to the 2001 UK Census, 76,412 UK residents were born in South America and 8,827 in 'Other North America',^[2] which includes Central America (but also Greenland),^[3] bringing the Latin American born population in 2001 to around 85,000. At the start of the millennium, there was likely to be at least double the above figure of Latin American descent.^[4] The numbers recorded in the 2001 census may have been underestimates of the true Latin American population. For example only 5,000 Colombians were recorded by the census, whilst it was thought that at least 90,000 Colombians were actually residing in the UK at the time.^[5] In 1991, 10,000 Brazilians were living in the UK,^{[citation needed]} whereas recent estimates suggest that there may now be some 200,000^[6] (with around 60,000 in London alone).^[7] It is impossible to tell how people with Latin American ancestry are living in the UK, since the UK census does not collect ancestry data and there is no Latin American option in the ethnicity section of the census. There could be in excess of 1,000,000 Latin American Britons, although these statistics are described as "guesstimates" and rely largely on embassy estimates.^[6] It should be noted that there are also around 32,480 Hispanic American Britons.

[edit] Main groups

For the purposes of this article, "Latin America" comprises the Hispanic American countries and Brazil.

[edit] Brazilians

Population

Brazilian born (2001 Census): 15,215[8] Estimates including ancestry: 200,000-300,000[6][9]

Brazilians came to the UK from the 1980s onwards to study, but once they arrived some discovered that the major cities' (in particular London's) ethnic and cultural diversity offered more professional opportunities. In part, this immigration of Brazilians to Britain is a consequence of the economic possibility of travel. The Brazilian community has the biggest Latin American population throughout the whole of the UK. An estimated 200,000 - 300,000 live in the UK. The Brazilian community in Great Britain is known for its multicultural diversity of European (including Portuguese, Spanish, German, and Italian), African and East Asian (mostly Japanese) elements.

[edit] Notable Brazilians in the United Kingdom

[edit] Colombians

Population

Colombian born (2001 Census): 12,331[8] Estimates including ancestry: 130,000-160,000[6]

The mid-1980s saw Colombians arriving not only as political refugees, but also as migrant workers escaping conditions in their home country. Many of them went into the catering industry. Most Colombians live in Elephant and Castle, Seven Sisters and other parts of north and south London. 2003 estimates state at least 130,000 Colombians as living in the UK.

[edit] Notable Colombians in the United Kingdom

• Carolina Herrera, Singer and guitarist
• Jorge Castano, Professional wrestler
• Phil Manzanera, Guitarist
• Sonia Uribe, Journalist, Television personality and actress
• Hugo Rodallega, Premiership footballer

[edit] Ecuadorians

Population

Ecuadorian born (2001 Census): 3,035[8] Estimates including ancestry: 70,000-90,000[6]

[edit] Notable Ecuadorians in the United Kingdom

• Ulises de la Cruz, Footballer
• Lawrie Sanchez, Manager of Fulham F.C.
• Antonio Valencia, Footballer

[edit] Chileans

Population

Chilean born (2001 Census): 5,131[8]

When approximately 2,500^[6] Chilean exiles (including businessmen, professors, and students) arrived in Great Britain, they were met by a small community of Latin people who were already there. Especially in the 1970s right wingers fleeing from the Allende administration and later leftists fleeing the Pinochet regime, the Chilean community has settled well in the country, and the majority are of European (other than Spanish) ancestry. The size of the Chilean population is hard to estimate as many have gone back to Chile, or move fluidly between several places,^[6] although 5,131 Chilean-born people were recorded in the 2001 Census.^[8]

[edit] Notable Chileans in the United Kingdom

• Santiago Cabrera, Actor known for playing Isaac Mendez in the popular series Heroes
• Marcela Contreras DBE , Scientist
• Charlotte Lewis, Actress
• Olga Lehmann, 20th century Painter
• George Robledo, Footballer
• Ted Robledo, Footballer

[edit] Argentines

Population

Argentinian born (2001 Census): 6,795[8]

Argentina has a strong cultural connection with European nations, including Great Britain to some extent. Argentines have long settled in the country and the majority of Argentines in the UK came in the 1970s and 1980s to escape political repression, as well they stood loyal to the British effort in the Falkland Islands War in opposition to the military regime. 6,795 Argentine-born people were recorded in the 2001 UK census,^[8] a high percentage of British origin, especially of Scots, Irish, and Welsh ancestors.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Notable Argentines in the United Kingdom

• Chris de Burgh, Musician
• Olivia Hussey, Actress
• Charles Palmer-Tomkinson, Landowner
• Tara Palmer-Tomkinson, "it girl", television personality, presenter
• Sonya Walger, Actress
• Andrew Graham-Yooll, British-Argentine Author

[edit] Mexicans

Population

Mexican born (2001 Census): 5,049[8]

According to the 2001 UK Census, 5,049 Peruvian-born people were living in the UK.^[8] Mexico was the 102nd most common birthplace for UK residents ahead of Lithuania but behind Chile (fifth out of all Latin American countries, again behind Chile but ahead of Peru).^[8] This figure of just over 5,000 represented 5.3% of the overall South American born population in the UK and approximately 0.01% of the total United Kingdom population.^[10] The UK is home to the fourth largest overseas Mexican community behind the United States, Canada and Spain respectively, and is larger than the likes of the Mexican communities in France and Italy.^[8]

[edit] Notable Mexicans in the United Kingdom

• Paloma Baeza, actress and director
• Liliana Domínguez, supermodel
• Iliana Fox, actress
• Carlos Frenk, cosmologist
• María Fernanda González Rojas, commentator and writer
• Vivian Gray, actress
• Adrian Garcia Conde, chess player
• Dhani Harrison, musician
• Olivia Harrison, widow of George Harrison
• Hilda Paredes, composer
• David Martinez, entrepeneur
• Luis Rey, artist and illustrator
• Azela Robinson, actress
• Giovani Dos Santos, footballer playing for Tottenham Hotspur
• Juan Solari, artist and director
• Carlos Vela, footballer playing for Arsenal

[edit] Peruvians

Population

Peruvian born (2001 Census): 4,066[8] Estimates including ancestry: 45,000-65,000[6]

Peruvians are a small but notable community in the British Latin American population. Most of them came since 1960 for either political asylum and economic reasons. Some Peruvians are of British ancestry at the first place, but the ethnic composition of Peruvians in Britain includes African, Italian, German and Swiss, Chinese, and Japanese ancestries.

[edit] Notable Peruvians in the United Kingdom

• Michael Bentine, Comedian & Actor
• Henry Ian Cusick, Actor Desmond Hume on LOST

[edit] Venezuelans

The 2001 Census recorded 3,996 Venezuelan-born people.^[8]

Population

Venezuelan born (2001 Census): 3,996[8]

[edit] Notable Venezuelans in the United Kingdom

• Marco Aponte, Actor & Linguist

[edit] Cubans

Population

Cuban born (2001 Census): 1,083[8]

Some Cubans have emigrated to the UK as an alternative to the US. The majority are refugees from the Castro regime in the 1960s and 1970s. Many have settled in London and have come together through the enjoyment of Salsa. The 2001 Census recorded 1,083 Cuban-born people.^[8] Cuban British population consists of Spanish and Jewish ethnicities.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Notable Cubans in the United Kingdom

• Sienna Guillory, Actress
• Dane Bowers, Singer

[edit] Bolivians

[edit] Uruguayans

The 2001 Census recorded 963 Uruguayan-born people.^[8]

[edit] Salvadoran

The 2001 Census recorded 595 Salvadoran-born people.^[8]

[edit] Other groups

The rest of the British Latin American community is made of Central Americans and Paraguayans.

[edit] Other notable Latin Americans in the United Kingdom

• Carlos Lopez-Barillas, Guatemalan photographer
• Jade Jagger, Nicaraguan model
• Jeremias, Venezuelan singer-songwriter

[edit] Population spread

According to a 2005 report by the Institute for Public Policy Research, based on data from the 2001 Census, the ten census tracts with the largest South American-born populations are all in London. Hyde Park had the highest number of South Americans, followed by Vauxhall North, Kensington, Chelsea, Vauxhall South, Regent's Park, Streatham North, Hammersmith, Streatham South and Hackney South.^[11] Outside of London, the largest South American populations were to be found in Oxford, Cambridge, central Manchester, central Bristol, central Edinburgh and Milton Keynes.^[1]

[edit] See also

• List of Hispanic and Latin American Britons
• Hispanic
• Spanish Briton
• Portuguese Briton
• British Latin American
• Welsh settlement in Argentina

[edit] External links

• UK Latino
• Carnaval Del Pueblo, Europe's biggest festival of Latin American Culture
• Carnival de Cuba
• London Latin American Film Festival
• Latin American Bureau - NOTICIAS LATIN AMERICA (NLA the longest established Latin American Spanish language newspaper in London, U.K. since August 1992
• Visit London - Latin American section
• Latin Connection UK
• The London Latino/a Community Meetup
• Salsa Meetup
• UK Latin American forum
• London Salsathon
• Cuban social forum
• Brazilian Carnival, London
• BBC Hispanic London
• Latin American Food in London
• Latinos de Richmond - a Latin Association in Richmond and Twickenham
• LatinAlternativa - a website promoting Latin artists in the UK
• Canning House, home of the Hispanic & Luso Brazilian Council, a non-political, non-profit organisation founded in 1943 to strengthen the links between Britain and Latin America
• Institute for the Study of the Americas (University of London)
• History of Latin Americans in the UK
• Reassessing what we collect website – Central and South American London (History of Central and South American London with objects and images)

[edit] References

v • d • e Migration to the United Kingdom from the Americas North American (United States) · Antiguan and Barbudan · Barbadian · Canadian · Cuban · Dominican · Grenadian · Jamaican · Mexican · Trinidadian and Tobagan South Argentinian · Bolivian · Brazilian · Chilean · Colombian · Ecuadorian · Guyanese · Peruvian

v • d • e Latin American British topics Ethnic subgroups Argentine · Bolivian · Brazilian · Chilean · Colombian · Cuban · Ecuadorian · Mexican · Peruvian Racial subgroups Amerindians · Asians · Africans · Europeans · Mestizos · Mulattoes · Zambos Lists of notable people Argentine · Brazilian · Chilean · Colombian · Cuban · Ecuadorian · Mexican · Peruvian · Other Latin American Languages English (British English · American English) · Spanish (Latin American Spanish) · Portuguese (Brazilian Portuguese) · Spanglish Places with significant Latin American British communities London Chelsea · Hackney · Hammersmith · Hyde Park · Kensington · Regent's Park · Streatham · Vauxhall Elsewhere Bristol · Cambridge · Edinburgh · Oxford · Manchester · Milton Keynes