Swedes in the United Kingdom
Encyclopedia
Swedes in the United Kingdom are immigrants from Sweden
living in the United Kingdom
as well as their British-born descendants. Although only around 25,000 Swedish-born people live in the UK, millions of Britons have some degree of Scandinavia
n ancestry that dates back over 1,000 years to the Viking
invasion of Britain. The Swedish community in the UK is amongst the largest in the Swedish diaspora
, in 2001 only the United States
, Norway
and Finland
within the OECD
had larger Swedish-born populations.
in the year 793. Viking raids occurred up and down the largely undefended east coast of England and Scotland during the eighth and ninth centuries and Scandinavian settlements became established over the entire island of Great Britain
, the most important of which was Jórvík (now York
). Viking rule came to an end in the 11th century when Normans
invaded the shores of Britain. Despite this, Scandinavian influence is evident in the UK even to this day and many millions of Britons have some Viking heritage (especially in Northern England
, Scotland
and the Shetland Islands).
During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Swedish emigration to the United States
was rife and the majority of Swedes sailed from Gothenburg
to Kingston upon Hull
before travelling to Liverpool
or Southampton
to continue their journey to North America
. This created a significant Swedish presence in these cities, so much so that Swedish churches were built to cater for the dynamic communities. Although most emigrants eventually left the ports for the US, some remained in Britain and started their new lives a stage early.
The number of Swedes migrating to the UK grew following the 1995 enlargement of the European Union
, when Sweden joined the EU. All EU citizens are able to move and freely seek work in any other EU member state. The number of Swedish-born people in the UK doubled from around 11,000 in 1991 to 22,525 in 2001.
, 22,525 Swedish-born people were living in the UK at the turn of the 21st century, the Office for National Statistics
have estimated this figure has risen by about 11% to 25,000 in 2010. The same ONS report estimates that some 33,000 people with Swedish nationality
are living in the UK. The number of Swedish students temporarily living in the UK stood at 3,185 in 2008–2009.
In 2001, over 82% of all local authorities
in the UK registered at least one Swedish-born resident, with the majority being concentrated in London (9,477) and South East England
(4,786). Within London the affluent areas of Richmond, Hyde Park
, Kensington
and Chelsea
had amongst the largest Swedish-born populations in the country. Outside of London and the South East, 1,855 Swedish-born people were living in the East of England
, 1,432 in South West England
and 1,188 in Scotland
.
The Church of Sweden
has a presence in the cities of London, Liverpool and Middlesbrough
. The Swedish Church in London which is part of the Church of Sweden Abroad
claims to have 3,800 followers and runs the Ulrika Eleonora Church in Marylebone
, as well as the Seamen's Church in Rotherhithe
. The oldest surviving Church of Sweden church in the UK is Gustav Adolfus Kyrka
which was built in 1883 in the port city of Liverpool. This specific church was constructed to accommodate the Scandinavian seamen visiting the city alongside the growing number of Scandinavian migrants travelling to North America
via Liverpool - a figure that reached 50,000 per year during the late 19th century.
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
living in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
as well as their British-born descendants. Although only around 25,000 Swedish-born people live in the UK, millions of Britons have some degree of Scandinavia
Scandinavia
Scandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...
n ancestry that dates back over 1,000 years to the Viking
Viking
The term Viking is customarily used to refer to the Norse explorers, warriors, merchants, and pirates who raided, traded, explored and settled in wide areas of Europe, Asia and the North Atlantic islands from the late 8th to the mid-11th century.These Norsemen used their famed longships to...
invasion of Britain. The Swedish community in the UK is amongst the largest in the Swedish diaspora
Swedish diaspora
The Swedish diaspora consists of emigrants and their descendants, especially those that maintain some of the customs of their Swedish culture. Notable Swedish communities exist in the United States, Australia, Canada and Britain as well as others....
, in 2001 only the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
and Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
within the OECD
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development is an international economic organisation of 34 countries founded in 1961 to stimulate economic progress and world trade...
had larger Swedish-born populations.
History and settlement
The earliest wave of migration from modern day Sweden, Norway and Denmark came in the form of the Viking invasion of BritainViking Age
Viking Age is the term for the period in European history, especially Northern European and Scandinavian history, spanning the late 8th to 11th centuries. Scandinavian Vikings explored Europe by its oceans and rivers through trade and warfare. The Vikings also reached Iceland, Greenland,...
in the year 793. Viking raids occurred up and down the largely undefended east coast of England and Scotland during the eighth and ninth centuries and Scandinavian settlements became established over the entire island of Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
, the most important of which was Jórvík (now York
York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
). Viking rule came to an end in the 11th century when Normans
Normans
The Normans were the people who gave their name to Normandy, a region in northern France. They were descended from Norse Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock...
invaded the shores of Britain. Despite this, Scandinavian influence is evident in the UK even to this day and many millions of Britons have some Viking heritage (especially in Northern England
Northern England
Northern England, also known as the North of England, the North or the North Country, is a cultural region of England. It is not an official government region, but rather an informal amalgamation of counties. The southern extent of the region is roughly the River Trent, while the North is bordered...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
and the Shetland Islands).
During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Swedish emigration to the United States
Swedish emigration to the United States
During the Swedish emigration to the United States in the 19th and early 20th centuries, about 1.3 million Swedes left Sweden for the United States...
was rife and the majority of Swedes sailed from Gothenburg
Gothenburg
Gothenburg is the second-largest city in Sweden and the fifth-largest in the Nordic countries. Situated on the west coast of Sweden, the city proper has a population of 519,399, with 549,839 in the urban area and total of 937,015 inhabitants in the metropolitan area...
to Kingston upon Hull
Kingston upon Hull
Kingston upon Hull , usually referred to as Hull, is a city and unitary authority area in the ceremonial county of the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It stands on the River Hull at its junction with the Humber estuary, 25 miles inland from the North Sea. Hull has a resident population of...
before travelling to Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
or Southampton
Southampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
to continue their journey to North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
. This created a significant Swedish presence in these cities, so much so that Swedish churches were built to cater for the dynamic communities. Although most emigrants eventually left the ports for the US, some remained in Britain and started their new lives a stage early.
The number of Swedes migrating to the UK grew following the 1995 enlargement of the European Union
1995 enlargement of the European Union
The 1995 enlargement of the European Union saw Austria, Finland and Sweden accede to the European Union . This was the EU's fourth enlargement and came into effect on the 1 January of that year. All these states were previous members of the European Free Trade Association and had traditionally...
, when Sweden joined the EU. All EU citizens are able to move and freely seek work in any other EU member state. The number of Swedish-born people in the UK doubled from around 11,000 in 1991 to 22,525 in 2001.
Demographics and population
According to the 2001 UK CensusUnited Kingdom Census 2001
A nationwide census, known as Census 2001, was conducted in the United Kingdom on Sunday, 29 April 2001. This was the 20th UK Census and recorded a resident population of 58,789,194....
, 22,525 Swedish-born people were living in the UK at the turn of the 21st century, the Office for National Statistics
Office for National Statistics
The Office for National Statistics is the executive office of the UK Statistics Authority, a non-ministerial department which reports directly to the Parliament of the United Kingdom.- Overview :...
have estimated this figure has risen by about 11% to 25,000 in 2010. The same ONS report estimates that some 33,000 people with Swedish nationality
Swedish nationality law
Swedish nationality law determines entitlement to Swedish citizenship. Citizenship of Sweden is based primarily on the principle of jus sanguinis...
are living in the UK. The number of Swedish students temporarily living in the UK stood at 3,185 in 2008–2009.
In 2001, over 82% of all local authorities
Local government in the United Kingdom
The pattern of local government in England is complex, with the distribution of functions varying according to the local arrangements. Legislation concerning local government in England is decided by the Parliament and Government of the United Kingdom, because England does not have a devolved...
in the UK registered at least one Swedish-born resident, with the majority being concentrated in London (9,477) and South East England
South East England
South East England is one of the nine official regions of England, designated in 1994 and adopted for statistical purposes in 1999. It consists of Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East Sussex, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Oxfordshire, Surrey and West Sussex...
(4,786). Within London the affluent areas of Richmond, Hyde Park
Hyde Park, London
Hyde Park is one of the largest parks in central London, United Kingdom, and one of the Royal Parks of London, famous for its Speakers' Corner.The park is divided in two by the Serpentine...
, Kensington
Kensington
Kensington is a district of west and central London, England within the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. An affluent and densely-populated area, its commercial heart is Kensington High Street, and it contains the well-known museum district of South Kensington.To the north, Kensington is...
and Chelsea
Chelsea, London
Chelsea is an area of West London, England, bounded to the south by the River Thames, where its frontage runs from Chelsea Bridge along the Chelsea Embankment, Cheyne Walk, Lots Road and Chelsea Harbour. Its eastern boundary was once defined by the River Westbourne, which is now in a pipe above...
had amongst the largest Swedish-born populations in the country. Outside of London and the South East, 1,855 Swedish-born people were living in the East of England
East of England
The East of England is one of the nine official regions of England. It was created in 1994 and was adopted for statistics from 1999. It includes the ceremonial counties of Essex, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Suffolk. Essex has the highest population in the region.Its...
, 1,432 in South West England
South West England
South West England is one of the regions of England defined by the Government of the United Kingdom for statistical and other purposes. It is the largest such region in area, covering and comprising Bristol, Gloucestershire, Somerset, Dorset, Wiltshire, Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. ...
and 1,188 in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
.
The Church of Sweden
Church of Sweden
The Church of Sweden is the largest Christian church in Sweden. The church professes the Lutheran faith and is a member of the Porvoo Communion. With 6,589,769 baptized members, it is the largest Lutheran church in the world, although combined, there are more Lutherans in the member churches of...
has a presence in the cities of London, Liverpool and Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough is a large town situated on the south bank of the River Tees in north east England, that sits within the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire...
. The Swedish Church in London which is part of the Church of Sweden Abroad
Church of Sweden Abroad
The Church of Sweden Abroad - in Swedish: Svenska kyrkan i utlandet - is accountable to a special committee under the General Synod of the Church of Sweden and is under the episcopal oversight of the Bishop of Visby. SKUT has approximately 45 congregations throughout the world, concentrated in...
claims to have 3,800 followers and runs the Ulrika Eleonora Church in Marylebone
Marylebone
Marylebone is an affluent inner-city area of central London, located within the City of Westminster. It is sometimes written as St. Marylebone or Mary-le-bone....
, as well as the Seamen's Church in Rotherhithe
Rotherhithe
Rotherhithe is a residential district in inner southeast London, England and part of the London Borough of Southwark. It is located on a peninsula on the south bank of the Thames, facing Wapping and the Isle of Dogs on the north bank, and is a part of the Docklands area...
. The oldest surviving Church of Sweden church in the UK is Gustav Adolfus Kyrka
Gustav Adolfus Kyrka
Gustav Adolfus Kyrka or The Swedish Seamen's Church is on Park Lane, Liverpool.It was built in 1883 with an Octagon form.There are two sculptures of the Liverpool artist Arthur Doyle.-External links:...
which was built in 1883 in the port city of Liverpool. This specific church was constructed to accommodate the Scandinavian seamen visiting the city alongside the growing number of Scandinavian migrants travelling to North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
via Liverpool - a figure that reached 50,000 per year during the late 19th century.
See also
- Scandinavian migration to the United Kingdom
- Swedish churches in London
- The Swedish School in LondonThe Swedish School in LondonThe Swedish School in London is an independent school in England. It consists of a nursery and primary school and a gymnasium. The nursery and primary school is located near St Paul's School, in Barnes. The gymnasium was before an accommodation rented from a sixth form college in Twickenham...
- Anglo-Swedish SocietyAnglo-Swedish SocietyA bridge in the English and Swedish calendars, the Anglo-Swedish Society in London, has celebrated the strong bond between the two nations since 1918.-History:...