Danish immigration began modestly in the 1700s but grew significantly between 1870 and 1930, when more than 300,000 Danes left for America seeking farmland, religious freedom, or a fresh start. Many settled in Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, the Dakotas, and Iowa.
Today, around 1.43 million U.S. residents report Danish ancestry. While their numbers have remained steady, urban migration has shifted earlier farming communities into suburbs.
Famous Danish Americans include Victor Borge (comedian, pianist) and Merete Mazzarella (academic).
Finnish Americans
Finnish migration took off in the 1860s, with roughly 350,000 arriving between 1864 and 1929 for work in mining and forestry. Many moved to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and northern Minnesota, drawn by familiar climates and jobs.
As of 2019, around 653,000 Americans claim Finnish ancestry. The largest populations now reside in the Midwest (~288k) and the West (~185k), though numbers have held relatively constant into the 21st century.
Notable Finnish Americans: John Morton, signer of the Declaration of Independence; Jean Sibelius is Finnish-born but revered in America; Darcy Kuemper is a modern NHL player with Finnish roots.
Icelandic Americans
Icelanders arrived in waves between 1873 and 1905, with smaller groups post-World War II. The total Icelandic American population is small, around 49,000 as of 2019.
They settled mostly in the Upper Midwest and Northwest. Today, North Dakota (Pembina County at 8.6%) and Minnesota show the highest concentrations.
Famous descendants include actor Gunnar Hansen (“Leatherface”), ballet director Helgi Tómasson, and writer Bill Holm.
Norwegian Americans
Large-scale Norwegian migration took place in the late 1800s to early 1900s, with return migration slowing later waves. As of 2021, approximately 4.5 million Americans report Norwegian ancestry.
They primarily settled in the Upper Midwest (Minnesota, North Dakota, Wisconsin, and Iowa) and around Seattle on the West Coast. North Dakota leads with 22.5% claiming Norwegian roots; Minnesota follows at 13.3%. Their numbers have grown modestly in recent decades.
Famous Norwegian Americans include Thorvald A. Solberg (composer), Mary Barra, CEO of General Motors.
Swedish Americans
Swedish migration peaked from the 1860s to early 1900s: nearly 330,000 left in the 1880s alone, with the total Swedish-born population in the U.S. reaching around 665,000 by 1910.
Today, over 4 million Americans claim Swedish descent, with Minnesota hosting the largest share (~410,000 or 7.3%). Other significant communities are in California, Illinois, and New York, but rural Midwestern areas still have deep roots.
Although immigration slowed, Swedish-American populations have remained stable. Famous descendants include Greta Thunberg (activist—Swedish-born, now in U.S. influence), actors Jessica Chastain, Zach Galifianakis (Greek-Swedish).
