Over the course of a century, more than 800,000 Norwegians left their homeland in one of the most significant waves of Norwegian emigration in history. That’s over a third of Norway’s population at the time! Today, more than 5 million people in the United States share a Norwegian American identity.
Why did so many leave their homes behind? Learn about the sacrifices, heritage, and legacies of these Norwegian immigrants—and find out if your ancestors were part of the journey.
Discover Norwegian American Immigrants
Explore the stories of the 1825 Norwegian immigrant crossing through this experience on FamilySearch.org:
When Did Norwegians Immigrate to North America?
While some Norwegians arrived in North America as early as the 1600s, the vast majority immigrated between 1825 and 1925. During that century, over 800,000 people made the journey. Since 1925, more Norwegians have continued to settle in North America. Let’s take a closer look at the time line.
Early Immigration
Throughout the 1600s and 1700s, small numbers of Norwegians immigrated to the American colonies in search of trade opportunities. Norway’s ties to the Dutch lumber trade pulled some of the earliest immigrants away from their homes in Norway, but it wasn’t until the 1800s that the numbers really started picking up.
1825 to 1925
In 1821, Cleng Peerson traveled to the United States to explore the conditions for future Norwegian immigrants. Just a few years later, in 1825, the first organized Norwegian immigration took place when the ship Restauration carried 52 immigrants from Norway to New York. These people became known as “Sloopers” because of the sloop ship that carried them to America.
This first trip inspired many others and was the catalyst for waves of immigration over the next century. In the years that followed, some Norwegians departed from ports in Sweden and other countries, but the next ship out of Norway didn’t leave until 1836. From that point on, the immigration rate continued to climb throughout the 19th century, peaking in the 1880s and again in the 1910s. By 1925, one-third of Norway’s population had emigrated, most settling in the United States and Canada.
1925 to the Present Day
Norwegian immigration dropped drastically with the United States Immigration Act of 1924 and the worldwide impact of the Great Depression. While a slight uptick in immigration took place in the 1950s and 1960s, numbers have remained relatively low ever since. However, the Norwegian American population continues to grow as new generations carry on the legacy of their immigrant ancestors.
Why Did People Leave Norway for North America?
Several things motivated Norwegian emigration, but the biggest reasons were farming troubles and religious persecution. In the early 1800s, most who left Norway were searching for religious freedom, as Quakers and Haugeans alike faced persecution in Norway.
As the years went on, the famine of 1866 and the agricultural revolution put a strain on Norwegian farmers, and many found themselves without work. The Americas offered new opportunities with legislation such as the Homestead Act, which promised free land to farm, drawing more and more people from Norway.
As more immigrants established lives in the Americas, tradespeople started to see the appeal of diverse markets, encouraging more people to make the journey across the Atlantic Ocean to North America.
As immigrants settled, they began sending letters back to Norway, sharing with family and friends who still lived there the joys of their new life and encouraging new waves of people to make the same journey.
Where Did Norwegian Immigrants Settle in the Americas?
While Norwegian immigrants settled all over the United States and Canada, around 80 percent made their homes in the Upper Midwest of the United States, especially in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Today, these two states are still home to the largest Norwegian American populations, with more than 1.3 million residents of Norwegian descent.
Norwegian populations have spread throughout the rest of the United States as well. California and Washington have the next highest numbers, followed by North Dakota, Illinois, Iowa, and Oregon. Across all 50 states, over 4 million Norwegian Americans live in the United States today.
Canada was also a popular destination for Norwegian immigrants. The route to Canada was shorter and cheaper, making it easier for many to make the journey. Today, over 400,000 Canadians have Norwegian heritage. Many who arrived in Canada then traveled by steamboat across Lake Michigan to reach cities in the United States such as Chicago, Milwaukee, and Green Bay.
While some Norwegians made their way to other corners of the world, such as Brazil, Australia, and other European countries, their numbers are far fewer.
What Is the Most Norwegian Town in the United States?
Minneapolis, Minnesota, was a hub for Norwegian immigrants. Today, it’s home to over 40,000 people of Norwegian descent.
Another notable town is Spring Grove, Minnesota. It was Minnesota’s first Norwegian settlement and still has a large population of Norwegian descendants. Norwegian culture is evident in the town today. Locals celebrate Syttende Mai (Norwegian Constitution Day) and UffDa Fest annually with Norwegian foods, music, and goods, honoring their Norwegian heritage and genealogy.
What State in the United States Has the Most Norwegians?
Minnesota has the largest population of Norwegian Americans, with approximately 810,300 residents of Norwegian descent. While North Dakota has a significantly smaller Norwegian population, its more than 190,000 residents with Norwegian ancestry represent over 22 percent of the state's total population, the highest concentration of any state.
Celebrating the Legacy of Norwegian Immigration
The year 2025 marked the 200th anniversary of the 1825 Restauration voyage overseas, which gave way to a century of immigration. Dozens of organizations across the United States and Norway celebrated Crossings 200 to commemorate the masses of immigrants who braved the unknown, as well as the millions who share their legacy.
Without Norwegian immigration, the landscapes and cultures of the United States, Canada, and Norway would all be vastly different today. Do you want to learn more about this important immigration and see if you have a connection to it? Visit FamilySearch’s Crossings 200 page to:
- See if you’re related to a Slooper.
- Find out more about Crossings 200.
- Learn what the Restauration voyage was like.
Find more resources for doing your Norwegian genealogy.
Finding Your Norwegian Ancestors
Whether you are Norwegian American, a Norwegian descendant living elsewhere in the world, or a current resident of Norway, you can celebrate your immigrant relatives by learning their stories. Discovering your ancestors’ names, where they came from, and how they left Norway can help you embrace your heritage and discover more about yourself and your family. Here’s how you can get started:
- Interview living relatives to learn what they know.
- Use what you know to search for more information about your family.
- Search Norwegian immigration records.
- Take a deeper dive into Norwegian immigration records by watching this video created by an expert.
- Find more resources for doing Norwegian genealogy research.
- Do a general search for your ancestors.
- Use the form below to search for your ancestors in some of FamilySearch's top collections related to Norwegian immigrants.
Search for Norwegian American Ancestors
Reconnecting with Norwegian Family Overseas
Another way to discover more about your heritage is to reconnect with living family members who live elsewhere. These relationships can offer unique insights into the other paths your family tree took. There are a few ways you can accomplish this:
- FamilySearch allows you to connect with other members working on your shared family tree.
- DNA tests can connect you with relatives who have also taken DNA tests, helping you find family you may not have even known existed.
- Organizations such as the Norwegian American Historical Association can offer resources to a shared heritage.
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