Welsh Australian
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Welsh Australians are citizens of Australia whose ancestry originates in the northwest European nation of Wales (which is part of the United Kingdom).
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[edit] Number of Welsh Australians
In the 2001 Census, [1] reported Welsh ancestry, 0.37% of the total Australian population. The name Jones, which is often considered distinctively Welsh, is one of most-common surnames in Australia, accounting for over 1% of Australians, which suggests a higher rate of Welsh ancestry than indicated by self-identification.
[edit] Welsh emigration to Australia
It is believed that the eastern coast of Australia reminded Captain James Cook of South Wales, hence the name he gave to it, "New South Wales". The first European colony in Australia was in New South Wales, beginning with the First Fleet of 1788. Welsh people numbered amongst these first settlers, and continued to arrive in the new colony through the British policy of penal transportation that was implemented for many criminal acts.
A gold rush began in Australia in the early 1850s, and the Eureka Stockade rebellion in 1854 was an early expression of nationalist sentiment. Amongst its leaders was the Welsh-born Chartist John Basson Humffray, one of a significant group of immigrants that came over from Wales at this time.
Mass emigration from Wales to Australia got under way in the early 20th century with New South Wales and Victoria being particularly popular destinations. It is also said that around 20% of the population of New South Wales are at least partly Welsh descented. In the early twentieth-century most of the Welsh settlers were farmers, but later on there was emigration by coal miners to coalfields.
[edit] List of notable Welsh-Australians
- James Atkin, Baron Atkin
- John Beard
- Julia Gillard
- Rolf Harris
- Kylie Minogue
- Dannii Minogue
- Naomi Watts
- Alf Morgans
[edit] Further reading
- Lloyd, Lewis. (1988) Australians from Wales Caernarfon: Gwynedd Archives. ISBN 0901337471
[edit] See also
- Welsh Americans
- Celtic music in Australia
- English Australians
- Scottish Australians
- Maps of Australian ancestries
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