Scandinavians in the United Kingdom
Scandinavian migration to the United KingdomTotal population |
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Regions with significant populations |
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All over the United Kingdom, in particular, England, London, Liverpool, Manchester, Channel Islands and Shetland Islands |
Languages |
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English, Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, Finnish, Icelandic, Faroese |
Religion |
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Lutheran |
Related ethnic groups |
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Scandinavian people, Germanic people |
Over the last couple of centuries, there has been regular migration from the Nordic countries to the United Kingdom from families looking to settle, businesspeople, academics to migrant workers, particularly those in the oil industry.
The 2001 UK Census recorded 22,525 people born in Sweden, 18,695 in Denmark, 13,798 in Norway, 11,322 in Finland and 1,552 in Iceland. In more recent estimates by the Office for National Statistics, Sweden was the only Scandinavian country to feature in the top 60 foreign countries of birth of UK residents in 2013, with an estimated 27,000 people.[2]
Religion and culture
Nordic Lutherans have worshipped in England since the 16th century, and the first official congregation was established in London in 1669, its members being Germans and Scandinavians. By the end of the 17th century, two further congregations (one German and one Nordic) had been established. Now there are Lutheran congregations in all parts of Britain and Lutheran worship is conducted in a wide range of languages, reflecting its international character - German, Swedish, Norwegian, Finnish, Danish and Icelandic.[3]
There are several long-established Nordic churches in London. All seek to provide Lutheran Christian worship and pastoral care to their respective national communities in their own languages. Many of the churches also organise both language classes and a wide range of social activities.
Nordic culture is very vibrant with a range of events taking place from barbecues organised by the Finnish Church in London to bonfire and firework displays organised by the Dansk Skt Hans KFUK, to Swedish midsummer (Svensk Midsommar) parties, in particular, the Små grodorna, held at London's Hyde Park and organised by the Swedish Chamber of Commerce.
Notable individuals
The table below includes Britons with significant recent Nordic ancestry.
Name |
Image (If available) |
Ancestry |
Occupation |
Jacob Aagaard |
Jacob Aagaard |
Denmark |
Danish born Scottish Grandmaster of Chess |
Alexandra of Denmark |
Alexandra of Denmark |
Denmark |
Queen of the United Kingdom, consort of Edward VII, King of the United Kingdom and Emperor of India |
Sir Ove Arup |
|
Denmark |
engineer, founder of Arup |
Richard Ayoade |
Richard Ayoade |
Norway |
stand-up comedian and actor |
Olav Bjortomt |
|
Norway |
quiz player |
Roald Dahl |
Roal Dahl |
Norway |
author |
Sophie Dahl |
|
Norway |
fashion model and granddaughter of Roald Dahl |
Camilla Dallerup |
|
Denmark |
ballroom dancer, a former professional on BBC One's Strictly Come Dancing |
Britt Ekland |
Britt Ekland |
Sweden |
actress and Bond Girl |
Johan Eliasch |
|
Sweden |
UK-based businessman,chairman & CEO of sporting goods manufacturer Head and Party deputy treasurer of the Conservative Party |
Mariella Frostrup |
|
Norway |
journalist and radio and television presenter |
Charles Hambro |
|
Denmark |
banker and politician, part of the Hambros Banking dynasty |
Gustav Holst |
Gustav Holstl |
Sweden |
British composer and was a music teacher best known for his orchestral suite The Planets |
Ashley Jensen |
Ashley Jensenl |
Denmark |
Scottish actress |
Ulrika Jonsson |
|
Sweden |
television personality |
Magnus Lund |
Magnus Lundl |
Norway |
English rugby union player |
Magnus Magnusson |
|
Iceland |
television presenter, notably for the BBC's Mastermind & novelist |
Sally Magnusson |
|
Iceland |
news presenter and daughter of Magnus Magnusson |
Rosita Spencer-Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough |
|
Sweden |
artist and noblewoman |
Trude Mostue |
Trude Mostuel |
Norway |
celebrity veterinary surgeon and television presenter |
Jan Mølby |
|
Denmark |
former professional footballer who spent much of his career at Liverpool F.C. |
Kirsten O'Brien |
|
Norway |
TV presenter |
Hans Rausing |
|
Sweden |
billionaire heir to the Tetra Pak/Tetra Laval dynasty |
Christian Salvesen |
|
Norway |
shipowner and businessman |
Edward Theodore Salvesen |
|
Norway |
lawyer, politician and judge |
Peter Schmeichel |
|
Denmark |
former Manchester United goalkeeper and whose son Kasper spent his childhood in Manchester |
Nicholas Ashley-Cooper, 12th Earl of Shaftesbury |
|
Sweden |
peer and runner |
Steve Simonsen |
|
Denmark |
goalkeeper |
Rupert Svendsen-Cook |
|
Norway |
Formula BMW UK race car driver |
Sandi Toksvig |
|
Denmark |
comedienne |
Christian Wolmar |
|
Sweden |
journalist, author, and railway historian |
Patrick Wymark |
|
Finland |
actor |
Mai Zetterling |
|
Sweden |
actress |
See also
References
External links
Danish diaspora |
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Finnish diaspora |
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