Estonians in the United Kingdom are those born or raised in the UK, or residents, who are of ethnically Estonian descent or originate from Estonia, a country in North-Eastern Europe.
Eestlased Suurbritannias | |
|---|---|
 Estonian Embassy in London | |
| Total population | |
 Estonian-born residents in the United Kingdom: 10,000–15,000 (2021/22 Census)[note 1]  England: 6,411-1,411 (2021)[1] Scotland: 5,000 (2022)[2] Wales: 3,000 (2021)[1]Northern Ireland: 589 (2021)[3] | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| London, Birmingham, Manchester, Belfast, Kingston upon Hull, York, Kings Lynn and Glasgow | |
| Languages | |
| English, Estonian, Russian. | |
| Religion | |
| Christianity · Judaism • Protestantism | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Finns in the United Kingdom, Swedes in the United Kingdom, Balts |
History, population and settlement
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In the early 20th century, Estonian workers began to settle in industrial cities like Glasgow and Bristol.[4][5][6] Notable groups of Estonian-born migrants historically also included people of Estonian Jewish, Baltic German and Estonian Russian origin.
An estimated 10,000-15,000 Estonian citizens live in the UK, about 3,000-5,000 of them in London.[7] The most active communities are in London, Bradford and Leicester. There is a total of 13 Estonian societies in the UK, the oldest being the London Estonian Society established in 1921.[7] Organisations for Estonians include an Estonian School, Estonian Houses in London, Bradford and Leicester and the Association of Estonians in Great Britain. In 1947, the Estonian émigré writer and journalist Gert Helbemäe moved to London, and established the newspaper Eesti Hääl, which is currently published monthly.[8]
It is possible to study Estonian as an elective through the School of Slavonic and East European Studies (SSES) at University College London.[9] With support and help of the Estonian Embassy, the Estonian School in London opened in 2009, which offers supplementary Estonian language education to children.[10]
See also
editNotes
edit- ^ Does not include ethnic Estonians born in the United Kingdom or those with Estonian ancestry
References
edit- ^ a b "Country of birth (extended)". Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
- ^ "Table UV204 - Country of birth: Country by Country of Birth by Individuals". National Records of Scotland. Retrieved 24 May 2024. '2022' > 'All of Scotland' > 'Ethnic group, national identity, language and religion' > 'Country of birth: UV204'
- ^ "MS-A18: Country of birth - full detail". Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency. 22 September 2022. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
- ^ Kreinin, Lea (May 21, 2018). Estonians in Scotland. From isolation to transnational ways of living? (Thesis). University of Glasgow – via theses.gla.ac.uk.
- ^ Tammaru, Tiit; Kontuly, Thomas (September 21, 2011). "Selectivity and destinations of ethnic minorities leaving the main gateway cities of Estonia". Population, Space and Place. 17 (5): 674–688. doi:10.1002/psp.623 – via CrossRef.
- ^ Kay, Rebecca; Trevena, Paulina (2019). "'New' migrations transforming the city: East European settlement in Glasgow". Transforming Glasgow. pp. 159–178. doi:10.1332/policypress/9781447349778.003.0009. ISBN 978-1-4473-4977-8.
- ^ a b "United Kingdom - Relations". Estonian Embassy in London. Archived from the original on 3 December 2014. Retrieved 23 November 2014.
- ^ Vabar, Sven. "Gert Helbemäe". sisu.ut.ee. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
- ^ "Estonian". UCL School of Slavonic and East European Studies (SSEES). October 17, 2018.
- ^ "Estonian School in London Begins First School Year | Välisministeerium". vm.ee.
