In honor of Heritage Month, we’re highlighting some interesting facts about Americans of German, Italian and French heritage.
* More than 46 million Americans claimed to have German heritage in the 2013 census, making it the single largest ethnic group in the country. That’s more than Irish (33 million) or English (25 million)!
* Despite their dominance in numbers, there have been times when this group and its culture was looked down upon. According to Wikipedia, “During World War I, due to concerns the American public would reject a product with a German name, American sauerkraut makers relabeled their product as “Liberty cabbage” for the duration of the war.”
* In Texas, there is a unique German dialect passed down from German immigrants who arrived generations ago and mixed with English over the years. In Fredericksburg, Texas, for instance, over 1,000 residents say they speak the dialect at home. The dialect is dying, however, and is now being documented by a linguist, Dr. Hans Boas, at the University of Texas.
* Ever heard someone say “mozzarell” or “prosciutt” instead of “mozzarella” or “prosciutto?” Italian purists may scoff, but these pronunciations, like recipes and traditions, were handed down across generations by immigrants from regions of Italy where the word-final vowels are often not pronounced.
* Over 17 million Americans claim to have Italian heritage and Italian is the 8th most widely spoken language in the country.
* Franco-Americans make up 20% of the population in Maine and 10% of the population in all of New England.
*French immigrants founded many American towns and cities, including one of its largest, Chicago, which is a French rendering of the Algonquian word for either “place of the wild onion” or “at the skunk place.”
* Famous Americans with French ancestry include Paul Revere, Henry David Thoreau, Warren Buffet and Madonna (to name just a few!)