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Map showing the population density of Americans who declared English ancestry in the census. Dark red and brown colours indicate a higher density: highest in the east and west (see also Maps of American ancestries).

Map showing the population density who declared "American" ancestry in the census. Largest concentrations are notably in areas of significant colonial British settlement. See also Southern United States.

English Americans are citizens of the United States whose ancestry originates wholly or in part in the northwest European nation of England.

In the 2000 Census, 24.5 million Americans reported English ancestry, 8.7% of the total US population. Given England's population (just over 50 million), there are almost half as many English Americans as there are native English living in their home country. This estimate must be a serious undercount by at least 30 million persons given the fact that 80 million people in the census list their ancestry as 'other' and 20 million as 'American.' In 1860 an estimated 11 million or almost 35% of the population of the US was wholly or partly of English ancestry. The population has increased by almost ten times the numbers in 1860. One would expect just from natural increase that the numbers would be close to 50 million. By now many people do not know they have English ancestry, and many more may choose not to define themselves as such.

English may indeed actually be the most common ancestry in the United States. According to the 1980 census (the first year that the census asked about ethnicity), English ancestry was the most common ancestry with 50.6 million Americans claiming English ancestry to be their dominant ancestry. Additionally, recent population studies suggest that as many as well over 140 million Americans have, to at least some degree, English heritage.^{[citation needed]}

See also: British colonial grants in North America (1621-1639)

The Kingdom of England established colonies along the east coast of North America, from Newfoundland in the north, to as far as Florida in the south. Initially, the name "Virginia", named after Queen Elizabeth I, was applied to the entire coast, including what is now the Canadian Maritimes provinces. Early colonies included: St. John's, Newfoundland, claimed by Sir Humphrey Gilbert in 1583; the Roanoke Colony, founded in 1585 and 1587; and the Jamestown Settlement, in 1607. The Popham Colony, which was also founded in 1607 in present-day Maine, was abandoned after one year. The Cuper's Cove settlement was founded in Newfoundland in 1610. The Plymouth Colony was founded in 1620, and, after the 1620s, a series of colonies were established along the northeast coast of North America, including the Massachusetts Bay Colony, which was founded in 1630. The early colonies consisted of English farmers and gentlemen, as well as some hired foreigners (mainly woodcutters from Poland).

A number of English colonies were established under a system of Proprietary Governors, who were appointed under mercantile charters to English joint stock companies to found and run settlements.

England also took over the Dutch colony of New Netherland (including the New Amsterdam settlement) which was renamed the Province of New York in 1664. With New Netherland, the English came to control the former New Sweden (in what is now Delaware), which the Dutch had conquered earlier. This became part of Pennsylvania.

Today, English is the most commonly spoken language in the U.S, where it is estimated that two thirds of all native speakers of English live. Much of American culture also shows influences from English culture. For example, popular American sports such as baseball and American football have their origins in sports played in England in the 19th century. There are also many places named after those in England. These include New Jersey (after Jersey), New Hampshire (after Hampshire), Manchester, Nottingham, Southampton, and the region of New England.

According to the 2000 US census, the states with the highest percentages of self reported English ancestry are:

The states with the largest populations include:

• List of English Americans

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• English colonization of the Americas
• Anglo America
• Maps of American ancestries
• British-American
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• Anglo-Utahns