Immigration to America

The history of the United States is shaped by the
journeys of people from every corner of the globe.
What was your family’s path to America?

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Immigration over time

Colonial-era migration

(1600s–1700s)

During the colonial era, immigrants arrived in North America from England, Western Europe, and Africa, settling in colonies along the Atlantic coast. Some came in search of opportunity or religious freedom. Others were brought against their will through the transatlantic slave trade. Early records are limited, but lists of arrivals, land records, and local documents can provide clues about these first generations.

Early national period

(late 1700s–early 1800s)

After the United States was born, immigration continued at a smaller scale as the new nation expanded. Families moved into new territories, and early ports like New York and Philadelphia saw growing numbers of arrivals. Records from this period include early passenger lists, naturalization records, and local documents that begin to track these movements.

Mass immigration of the 19th century

(late 1800s–early 1900s)

The 19th century saw large waves of immigrants arriving from Ireland, Germany, Scandinavia, and later Southern and Eastern Europe. Many came in response to famine, political unrest, or economic hardship, and settled in cities or moved westward. Passenger lists, naturalization records, and census records from this period make it possible to trace these journeys in detail.

Early 20th-century immigration

(early–mid-1900s)

Immigration reached its peak in the early 1900s, with millions arriving through major ports like Ellis Island. New arrivals came from across Europe and beyond, often forming tight-knit communities in American cities. Detailed passenger lists, arrival records, and census records from this period provide rich information about individuals and families.

Post–World War II immigration

(1950s and beyond)

After World War II, immigration patterns shifted, with more arrivals from Asia, Latin America, and other regions. Changes in immigration laws opened the door to new groups, reshaping the cultural landscape of the United States. Records from this period include passenger lists, naturalization files, and other documents that trace more recent arrivals.

What records document immigration?

Passenger Lists

Lists of people arriving in the United States by sea or air, often including names, ages, origins, and dates of arrival

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Immigration & Emigration Records

Records documenting movement across borders, including immigration files, registrations, and other documents related to entering or leaving a country

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Naturalization Records

Documents created as immigrants applied for and obtained U.S. citizenship, often spanning several years

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Census Records

Records showing where individuals and families lived, helping trace their lives after arriving in the United States

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From arrival to life in America

Immigration records capture the moment an ancestor arrived in the United States. Census records and other documents show what happened next — where they lived, how they worked, and how their family grew over time.

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