Pennsylvania Dutch

group of German-descended Americans

Pennsylvania Dutch is the name of a group of settlers who emigrated to the United States. Most of them were Protestant, they travelled along the Rhine, to reach the sea. Most of them settled in Pennsylvania. Most of them were Mennonites, Amish, or they belonged to the Moravian Church. They kept their language, which is known as Pennsylvania Dutch today. There numbers are unknown, but based on the speakers of the language, they are estimated to be between 390,000 and 420,000 people. About 80% of the people are Amish or Old Order Mennonites. Lutherans and Protestants only account for about five percent of the speakers.