Cornish Americans

Last updated

Cornish Americans
Total population
2 million (estimated)
Regions with significant populations
California, Michigan, Minnesota, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin
Particularly in the cities of Butte, Duluth, Hibbing, Marquette, Mineral Point, Sault Ste. Marie/Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
Languages
English (American English dialects), Cornish
Religion
Methodism [1]
Related ethnic groups
Cornish, English Americans, Welsh Americans, Breton Americans, Manx Americans, Scottish Americans, Scotch-Irish Americans, Irish Americans

Cornish Americans (Cornish : Amerikanyon gernewek) [2] are Americans who describe themselves as having Cornish ancestry, an ethnic group of Brittonic Celts native to Cornwall and the Scilly Isles, part of England in the United Kingdom. Although Cornish ancestry is not recognized on the United States Census, Bernard Deacon at the Institute of Cornish Studies estimates there are close to two million people of Cornish descent in the U.S., compared to half a million in Cornwall itself and only half of those Cornish by descent. [3]

Contents

Cornish surnames and personal names remain common, and are often distinct from English, Scottish, Welsh, Irish and Manx names, although there is a similarity to the related Welsh and Breton names in many instances. Similarly, the majority of place names in Cornwall are still Brittonic. The Cornish language had died out as a primary spoken language by the end of the 18th century, but a revival of the tongue has been ongoing since the early 20th century.

Cornish immigration to the United States

Tangier Island is an island in lower Chesapeake Bay in Virginia: some inhabitants have a West Country accent that traces back to the settlers (including the Cornish) who arrived there in the 1600s. [4]

The coincidence of the decline of the mining industry in Cornwall in the 19th century and the discovery of large amounts of mineral deposits abroad meant that Cornish families headed overseas for work. Each decade between 1861 and 1901, a fifth of the entire Cornish male population migrated abroad – three times the average for England and Wales. In total, the county lost over a quarter of a million people between 1841 and 1901. [5]

Large numbers of Cornish people moved to the United States, and while some stayed in New York City and other East Coast ports after arriving, many moved inland to mining areas in California, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Michigan. One such area was Mineral Point, Wisconsin, in which the largest group of immigrants were Cornish miners attracted to the lead mining opportunities, and by 1845 roughly half of the town's population had Cornish ancestry. [6] Today the Cornish town of Redruth is twinned with Mineral Point.

Cornish culture in the United States

A "Cousin Jack's" pasty shop in Grass Valley, California Grass Valley Cousin Jacks Pasties.jpg
A "Cousin Jack's" pasty shop in Grass Valley, California

Mineral Point, Wisconsin serves Cornish food, such as pasties and figgyhobbin, [7] and Cornish pasties are sold at ex-Cornish mining towns in America, especially in Butte, Montana [8] and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

In California, statues and monuments in many towns pay tribute to the influence of the Cornish on their development. [9] In the city of Grass Valley, the tradition of singing Cornish carols lives on and one local historian of the area says the songs have become "the identity of the town". Some of the members of today's Cornish Carol Choir are in fact descendants of the original Cornish gold miners. The city holds St Piran's Day celebrations every year, which along with carol singing, includes a flag raising ceremony, games involving the Cornish pasty, and Cornish wrestling competitions. [10] The city is twinned with Bodmin in Cornwall.

Cornish culture continues to have an influence in the Copper Country of northern Michigan, the Iron Ranges of northern Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota, and Butte, Montana. [8]

There were many famous Cornish wrestling champions from the U.S. [11] [12] [13] [14] including many world champions. [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] [20]

Cornish immigrant miners are depicted in the TV series Deadwood , speaking their native language, even though Cornish had died out in the 18th century before a revival in the 20th century; the actors in the relevant scenes are, in fact, speaking Irish, a fellow Celtic language, but not mutually intelligible as Irish/Gaelic is from a different branch of the Celtic languages, whereas Cornish being much closer to, and a part of the same branch, as the still thriving Welsh and Breton, and the now extinct Brittonic languages of Great Britain such as Cumbric and Pictish. [21]

Legends of the Fall , a novella by American author Jim Harrison, detailing the lives of a Cornish American family in the early 20th century, contains several Cornish language terms. These were also included in the Academy Award-winning film of the same name starring Anthony Hopkins as Col. William Ludlow and Brad Pitt as Tristan Ludlow. [22]

Notable people

Natasha Trethewey, United States Poet Laureate Natasha Trethewey during book signing at the University of Michigan.jpg
Natasha Trethewey, United States Poet Laureate
President Truman, possibly a Cornish Tremaine Truman pass-the-buck.jpg
President Truman, possibly a Cornish Tremaine

Several notable Americans were either born in Cornwall or have family connections to the county.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cornwall</span> County of England

Cornwall is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is recognised by Cornish and Celtic political groups as one of the Celtic nations, and is the homeland of the Cornish people. The county is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, Devon to the east, and the English Channel to the south. The largest settlement is Falmouth, and the county town is the city of Truro.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saint Piran</span> Cornish abbot and saint

Piran or Pyran, died c. 480, was a 5th-century Cornish abbot and saint, possibly of Irish origin. He is the patron saint of tin-miners, and is also generally regarded as the patron saint of Cornwall, although Michael and Petroc also have some claim to this title.

Cornish is the adjective and demonym associated with Cornwall, the most southwesterly part of the United Kingdom. It may refer to:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pasty</span> Cornish pastry filled with meat or vegetables

A pasty is a British baked pastry, a traditional variety of which is particularly associated with Cornwall, South West England, but has spread all over the British Isles, and elsewhere through the Cornish diaspora. It is made by placing an uncooked filling, typically meat and vegetables, in the middle of a flat shortcrust pastry circle, bringing the edges together in the middle, and crimping over the top to form a seal before baking.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mineral Point, Wisconsin</span> City in Wisconsin, United States

Mineral Point is a city in Iowa County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 2,581 at the 2020 census. The city is located within the Town of Mineral Point. Mineral Point is part of the Madison Metropolitan Statistical Area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Redruth</span> Town and civil parish in Cornwall, England

Redruth is a town and civil parish in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The population of Redruth was 14,018 at the 2011 census. In the same year the population of the Camborne-Redruth urban area, which also includes Carn Brea, Illogan and several satellite villages, stood at 55,400 making it the largest conurbation in Cornwall. Redruth lies approximately at the junction of the A393 and A3047 roads, on the route of the old London to Land's End trunk road, and is approximately 9 miles (14 km) west of Truro, 12 miles (19 km) east of St Ives, 18 miles (29 km) north east of Penzance and 11 miles (18 km) north west of Falmouth. Camborne and Redruth together form the largest urban area in Cornwall and before local government reorganisation were an urban district.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cornish wrestling</span> Form of wrestling originating in Cornwall, England

Cornish wrestling is a form of wrestling that has been established in Cornwall for many centuries and possibly longer. It is similar to the Breton Gouren wrestling style. It is colloquially known as "wrasslin’" in the Cornish dialect of English; historically, this usage is attested by Chaucer, Shakespeare and Drayton.

The Knocker, Knacker, or Tommyknocker (US) is a mythical, subterranean, gnome-like creature in Cornish and Devon folklore. The Welsh counterpart is the coblyn. It is closely related to the Irish leprechaun, Kentish kloker and the English and Scottish brownie. The Cornish described the creature as a little person 2 ft 0 in (0.61 m) tall, with a disproportionately large head, long arms, wrinkled skin, and white whiskers. It wears a tiny version of standard miner's garb and commits random mischief, such as stealing miners' unattended tools and food. Tommyknocker is also a brewery in Idaho Springs, Colorado.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Culture of Cornwall</span> Overview of the culture of Cornwall

The culture of Cornwall forms part of the culture of the United Kingdom, but has distinct customs, traditions and peculiarities. Cornwall has many strong local traditions. After many years of decline, Cornish culture has undergone a strong revival, and many groups exist to promote Cornwall's culture and language today.

The Cornish people or Cornish are an ethnic group native to, or associated with Cornwall and a recognised national minority in the United Kingdom, which can trace its roots to the Brittonic Celtic ancient Britons who inhabited Great Britain from somewhere between the 11th and 7th centuries BC and inhabited Britain at the time of the Roman conquest. Many in Cornwall today continue to assert a distinct identity separate from or in addition to English or British identities. Cornish identity has also been adopted by some migrants into Cornwall, as well as by emigrant and descendant communities from Cornwall, the latter sometimes referred to as the Cornish diaspora. Although not included as a tick-box option in the UK census, the numbers of those writing in a Cornish ethnic and national identity are officially recognised and recorded.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cornish diaspora</span> Ethnic diaspora

The Cornish diaspora consists of Cornish people and their descendants who emigrated from Cornwall, United Kingdom. The diaspora is found within the United Kingdom, and in countries such as the United States, Canada, Mexico, Panama, Colombia, Peru, Chile, Argentina, Brazil, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and the Samoas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pendarvis (Mineral Point, Wisconsin)</span> Historic house in Wisconsin, United States

Pendarvis is a historic site located in Mineral Point, Iowa County, Wisconsin, United States. The site, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is made up of several 19th century stone and timber cabins built by Cornish immigrants who came to Mineral Point to mine lead and zinc. Today the site is owned by the Wisconsin Historical Society and serves as a museum of Wisconsin's early lead mining history. Programs at the site also interpret the groundbreaking preservation work by Robert Neal and Edgar Hellum, begun during the Great Depression.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Piran's Day</span> National day of Cornwall

Saint Piran's Day, or the Feast of Saint Piran, is the national day of Cornwall, held on 5 March every year. The day is named after one of the patron saints of Cornwall, Saint Piran, who is also the patron saint of tin miners.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cornish Australians</span> Australians of Cornish heritage

Cornish Australians are citizens of Australia who are fully or partially of Cornish heritage or descent, an ethnic group native to Cornwall in the United Kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cornish symbols</span>

Many different symbols are associated with Cornwall, a region which has disputed constitutional status within the United Kingdom . Saint Piran's Flag, a white cross on a black background is often seen in Cornwall. The Duchy of Cornwall shield of 15 gold bezants on a black field is also used. Because of these two symbols black, white and gold are considered colours symbolic of Cornwall.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cornish cuisine</span> Cuisine originating from Cornwall

Cornish cuisine encompasses the cooking styles, traditions and recipes associated with Cornwall and the Cornish people. It has been heavily influenced by the geography of the county as well as its social history.

The Cornish dialect is a dialect of English spoken in Cornwall by Cornish people. Dialectal English spoken in Cornwall is to some extent influenced by Cornish grammar, and often includes words derived from the Cornish language. The Cornish language is a Celtic language of the Brythonic branch, as are the Welsh and Breton languages. In addition to the distinctive words and grammar, there are a variety of accents found within Cornwall from the north coast to that of the south coast and from east to west Cornwall. Typically, the accent is more divergent from Standard British English the further west through Cornwall one travels. The speech of the various parishes being to some extent different from the others was described by John T. Tregellas and Thomas Quiller Couch towards the end of the 19th century. Tregellas wrote of the differences as he understood them and Couch suggested the parliamentary constituency boundary between the East and West constituencies, from Crantock to Veryan, as roughly the border between eastern and western dialects. To this day, the towns of Bodmin and Lostwithiel as well as Bodmin Moor are considered the boundary.

The Cornish-Mexican Cultural Society is a society that tries to advance awareness of the historical and modern links between Cornwall and Mexico’s “Little Cornwall”, the area of Pachuca and Real del Monte in the state of Hidalgo, Mexico.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">World Pasty Championships</span>

The World Pasty Championships were an annual event held in Cornwall to celebrate the Cornish Pasty and its variants, with entrants from around the world including Australia and the Americas. Awards were given to amateurs, professionals, juniors and companies. Entries in the Cornish pasty category must be made in Cornwall with traditional ingredients and techniques, but far more freedom was allowed in the "open savoury" category.

Presented below is an alphabetical index of articles related to Cornwall:

References

  1. Immigrants from Cornwall, Great Britian, in Marquette County
  2. Rogerson, Sam (November 4, 2020). "Online Translation Request Service". Cornwall Council.
  3. Deacon, Bernard; Schwartz, Sharron (July 2007). "Cornish identities and migration: a multi-scalar approach". Global Networks. 7 (3): 289–306. doi:10.1111/j.1471-0374.2007.00170.x. hdl: 10036/26432 .
  4. "The tiny US island with a British accent". BBC.
  5. "BBC - Legacies - Immigration and Emigration - England - Cornwall - I'm alright Jack - Article Page 1". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
  6. Nesbit, Robert C. (1989). Wisconsin: A History . Madison, Wisconsin: University of Wisconsin Press. ISBN   0-299-10804-X.
  7. "Shops & Restaurants - Pendarvis". Pendarvis.wisconsinhistory.org. Archived from the original on October 25, 2012. Retrieved March 17, 2015.
  8. 1 2 "The Butte Pasty - The Foods of the World Forum". Foodsoftheworld.activeboards.net. Retrieved July 30, 2016.
  9. "Missing - Thebannerofpiran". Archive.is. June 28, 2007. Archived from the original on June 28, 2007. Retrieved January 9, 2018.[ dead link ]
  10. "Grass Valley's St Pirans Day Celebration". Archived from the original on February 16, 2009. Retrieved September 24, 2012.
  11. Letters from the Transvaal, Cornishman, 13 May 1948, p4.
  12. Delbridge, James: Delbridge's guide on grab hold, or Cornish style of wrestling, (Michigan), 1879, p1-28.
  13. News from foreign mining camps, Cornishman, 16 November 1905, p3.
  14. Over the Northwest, Camulet News, 30 July 1898, p8.
  15. Gotch Wins Handily, The Morning Astorian, 12 April 1904, p1.
  16. B William versus Rowett, Camulet News, 21 February 1910, p8.
  17. Wrestling in the limelight, just now, The Minneapolis Journal, 19 August 1906, p28.
  18. Cornish wrestling will be feature, The Tacoma Times, 25 April 1912, p2.
  19. Sid Varney was good wrestling coach, Oredigger (US)— 4 April 1921 p3.
  20. Rydholm, Fred: Harlow’s Wooden Man, Winter 1984.
  21. "Deadwood South Dakota Blog: RECAP HBO: Deadwood, Episode 25: "Tell Your God to Ready for Blood"". Archived from the original on August 14, 2011. Retrieved April 26, 2011.
  22. Tristram, Hildegard L. C. (2007). The Celtic Languages in Contact. p. 204. ISBN   9783940793072 . Retrieved March 17, 2015.
  23. Payton, Philip. The Cornish Overseas, 2005.
  24. "Trevorrow Name Meaning & Trevorrow Family History at Ancestry.co.uk". www.ancestry.co.uk. Retrieved December 20, 2017.
  25. Kent, Alan M. Cousin Jack's Mouth Organ: Travels in Cornish America, 2004
  26. Eastman, Dick (April 8, 2012). "Last Friday's Who Do You Think You Are? with Edie Falco". Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter. Archived from the original on October 14, 2013. Retrieved October 13, 2013.
  27. "Edie Falco, Who Do You Think You Are?". April 8, 2012. Archived from the original on December 13, 2022. Retrieved July 26, 2013.
  28. Butler, Gillian; John Butler; Ren Kempthorne (2000). Karanza Whelas Karanza, The Story of the Kempthornes, 1300-2000.
  29. Trethewey, Natasha (2007). Native Guard . New York, USA: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. ISBN   978-0-618-60463-0.
  30. "Photos from the May 8, 2007 celebration to honor Natasha Trethewey for her Pulitzer Prize-winning collection of poetry, Native Guard". The Creative Writing Program at Emory University. Emory University. Archived from the original on August 14, 2011. Retrieved June 18, 2011.
  31. "Cornish Surnames - extensive A-Z list". Ancestry.com. Retrieved June 18, 2011.
  32. Sawyers, June Skinner Famous Firsts of Scottish-Americans Pelican Publishing, 1996; p. 11
  33. "ROOTED IN HISTORY: The Genealogy of Harry S. Truman". Truman Library. Retrieved July 30, 2016.
  34. Ancestors of American Presidents, Gary Boyd Roberts, Published by Carl Boyer III, 1995, Santa Clara CA, p 44
  35. Ancestors of American Presidents, Gary Boyd Roberts, Published by Carl Boyer III, 1995, Santa Clara CA, p275

Further reading