Every year in May, people in the United States celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month (also called AAPI month), and in Canada, many people similarly celebrate Asian Heritage Month.
The Asian American and Pacific Islander people are a diverse and growing population with a rich culture and heritage. During this month, we pay tribute to the generations of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders who have enriched American and Canadian culture and history.
In this article, you'll find resources to refer to as you do your own family history. You can also document your heritage for free using the FamilySearch Family Tree and FamilySearch Memories!
Why Is May Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month?
Celebrations for Asian and Pacific Islander heritage in the month of May began in the late 1970s in the United States, though it wasn’t until 1990 that it became a monthlong holiday. This month was chosen in remembrance of the first Japanese immigrants who came to the United States in May of 1843, and to honor the work of the many Chinese Americans who worked on the transcontinental railroad, completed in May 1869.
Many Asian Canadians have also celebrated Asian Heritage Month in May since the 1990s, though it wasn’t officially recognized in Canada until 2002, when the Canadian government signed an official declaration announcing the holiday.
What Countries Are Part of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month?
Asian is a term that generally describes people from the Asian continent (including South Asia and sometimes parts of the Middle East). Pacific Islander refers to people from the islands of Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia. The term can also include people from Australia and New Zealand.
If your ancestors came from places included in the lists of countries and regions below, May is a good month to celebrate your heritage!
Areas Often Considered Asian
East Asia
- China
- Hong Kong (China)
- Japan
- Macau (China)
- Mongolia
- North Korea
- South Korea
- Taiwan
North Asia
- Russian Far East (Russia)
South Asia
- Afghanistan
- Bangladesh
- Bhutan
- British Indian Ocean Territory (United Kingdom)
- India
- Maldives
- Nepal
- Pakistan
- Sri Lanka
Southeast Asia
- Brunei
- Cambodia
- Christmas Island (Australia)
- Cocos (Keeling) Islands (Australia)
- Indonesia (also part of Melanesia)
- Laos
- Malaysia
- Myanmar
- Philippines
- Singapore
- Thailand
- Timor-Leste
- Vietnam
Areas Often Considered Pacific Islander
Oceania
- Australasia
- Australia
- Ashmore and Cartier Islands
- Coral Sea Islands
- Heard Island and McDonald Islands
- New Zealand (also part of Polynesia)
Melanesia
- Fiji
- New Caledonia (France)
- Papua New Guinea
- Solomon Islands
- Vanuatu
- Western New Guinea (Indonesia)
Micronesia
- Guam (United States)
- Kiribati
- Marshall Islands
- Micronesia, Federated States of
- Nauru
- Northern Mariana Islands (United States)
- Palau
- Wake Island (United States)
Polynesia
- American Samoa (United States)
- Cook Islands (New Zealand)
- Easter Island (Chile)
- French Polynesia (France)
- Hawaii (United States)
- Niue (New Zealand)
- Norfolk Island (Australia)
- Pitcairn Islands (United Kingdom)
- Salas y Gómez Island (Chile)
- Samoa
- Tokelau (New Zealand)
- Tonga
- Tuvalu
- Wallis and Futuna (France)
Search for Your Ancestors, and See What You Find
If you have ancestors from Asia or the Pacific Islands, you can discover more about your heritage by finding out more about them—where they lived, how they lived, and more. Try searching for your ancestors on FamilySearch.org. It’s free!
If you would like to dive deeper into your family history, take a look at some of the resources below.
Chinese Heritage Resources
- Chinese Family History Group: Offers resources and events to support Chinese family history research.
- Chinese Historical Society of America: Shares exhibits and archives related to Chinese American history.
- My China Roots: Helps you build your Chinese family tree and connect with ancestral villages.
- Siyi Chinese Genealogy Forum: Provides a community forum for genealogy research from the Siyi region.
- National Archives Guide to Chinese Immigration: Outlines United States immigration and naturalization records.
Japanese Heritage Resources
- Densho: Japanese American Family History: Preserves stories of World War II incarceration, and offers research tools.
- Japanese American National Museum: Offers resources and family stories from the Japanese diaspora.
- Hoji Shinbun Digital Collection: Provides access to historical Japanese newspapers for family context.
- National Japanese American Historical Society: Shares history and research collections focused on Japanese Americans.
- National Archives: World War II Incarceration Genealogy: Offers guidance on tracing Japanese American relatives affected by internment.
Korean Heritage Resources
- FamilySearch Wiki: South Korea Genealogy: Provides an overview of Korean records and naming customs.
- Korea Genealogy Collection—University of Hawai‘i: Offers a curated research guide for Korean ancestry.
Filipino Heritage Resources
- Filipino American National Historical Society: Highlights community stories, and offers regional chapters.
Pacific Islander and Hawaiian Heritage Resources
- FamilySearch Wiki: Pacific Island Guide: Covers records and tips by island group.
- Hawai‘i Genealogy Research Guide—University of Hawai‘i: Provides helpful information for tracing native Hawaiian or islander ancestry.
General and Multiregional Resources
- FamilySearch Wiki: Asia and Middle East: Includes broad research tools across Asia.
- National Archives: AAPI Records: Contains collections across various Asian and Pacific groups.
- Nikkei Genealogical Society: Connects communities and generations by sharing stories focused on Nikkei heritage.
- Angel Island Immigration Station Foundation: Teaches about immigration through the “Ellis Island of the West.”
Celebrate by Watching Fun Videos and Discovering Your Heritage
Asian and Pacific Islander Related Videos
At RootsTech, the world's largest family history conference, we celebrate many heritages, including Asian and Pacific Islander culture, food, music, and dance. And if you have ancestors from this part of the world, RootsTech is full of classes that can help you discover your heritage and your family—and form deeper connections with what it means to be uniquely you.
Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the United States
Asians and Pacific Islanders have always been a vibrant and essential part of worldwide culture and society.
According to the United States government census, as of 2020, there were around 25.6 million people of Asian or Pacific Islander descent in the United States (they make up about 7 percent of the total United States population). Around 3 percent of military veterans have Asian Pacific heritage. And there are an estimated nearly 590,000 employer firms owned by Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the United States.
Asian Immigration to Canada
Almost half of Canada’s immigrant population in 2016 was born in Asia, according to the Canadian census. In more recent years, that number has increased. Three of the most commonly reported ethnic origins in Canada are Chinese, East Indian, and Filipino.
Asian Canadians contribute meaningfully to many important fields of work as well. For example, at the beginning of 2021, 20 percent of Filipino Canadians who were employed “worked in the health care and social assistance industry.”
Asian Populations Around the World
The influence of these cultures reaches beyond their contributions to the United States and Canada. People with Asian or Pacific Islander heritage (or both!) live in nearly every country of the world. From Africa to South America, their influence can be felt in the food, music, and dance of people in nearly every country.
For example, did you know that Santiago, Chile, is one of the sushi hotspots in the world? Many also know the influence that Bollywood dancers have had on worldwide culture. Truly, the influence of Asians and Pacific Islanders is felt the world over.
Do you have any stories, recipes, or traditions from your Asian or Pacific Islander heritage? We hope you’ll record them on FamilySearch Memories, a free way to preserve your family stories for future generations.
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