The Mayflower was an English ship that transported the first English Puritans, known today as the Pilgrims, from Plymouth, England, to the New World in 1620. There were 102 passengers aboard the ship, which landed at what is now Plymouth, Massachusetts. These Pilgrims went on to establish the first permanent European settlement in New England.
Many Americans today can trace their ancestry back to the Mayflower Pilgrims. But what percentage of modern Americans have a Mayflower ancestor? It’s a question that genealogists, historians, and everyday Americans have long pondered. Let’s examine what’s known about Mayflower ancestry in America today.
Estimating Mayflower Ancestry in the U.S.
Scholars have offered varying estimates for how many Americans have Mayflower ancestry:
- A 2020 study published in the Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science estimated that 10 million Americans are descendants of Mayflower passengers. This would mean about 3.1% of the U.S. population has Mayflower ancestry.
- Caleb Johnson, a Mayflower scholar and author, has estimated that there are between 10-35 million descendants of Mayflower passengers today. Even on the lower end, this would mean over 3% of Americans have a Mayflower ancestor.
- Other estimates place the number of Mayflower descendants today as high as 35 million. Going by a U.S. population around 330 million, that would mean 10.6% of Americans descend from a Mayflower Pilgrim.
So by most available estimates, somewhere between 3-11% of Americans have Mayflower ancestry. But pinning down an exact percentage is difficult. Let’s look at why estimating Mayflower descendants is so challenging.
Why It’s Hard to Determine Exact Percentages
There are several factors that make it difficult to determine exactly what percentage of the modern U.S. population descends from Mayflower passengers:
- Limited genealogical records – Vital records were not kept extensively in early colonial America, making it hard to trace family trees back to Mayflower ancestors.
- Unpopular Pilgrims – Some Americans may be descended from Mayflower Pilgrims but don’t claim or know about the ancestry due to the Pilgrims’ controversial history.
- Intermarriage – The millions of European immigrants who came to America after 1620 intermarried with Mayflower descendants, making lineages harder to trace.
- Westward expansion – As America expanded west, descendants of the Mayflower spread out across the country, dispersing the Mayflower ancestry.
- Self-reported data – Most estimates depend partly on self-reported ancestry, which can be unreliable.
Due to these difficulties, estimates for Mayflower ancestry range so widely, from 10 million descendants to 35 million. Calculating a precise percentage of Americans with Pilgrim ancestry may never be possible.
But while estimates vary, most experts agree that a small but significant slice of the modern U.S. population has a Mayflower ancestor. Next, let’s look at some key facts about the demographics of Mayflower descendants today.
Demographics of Mayflower Descendants
Though the exact percentage is elusive, we do know several interesting details about the demographics of Americans with Mayflower ancestry:
- Mayflower descendants live in all 50 states, with higher concentrations in New England.
- Early Mayflower settlers intermarried with other colonial groups like the Dutch in New York and the French in Louisiana, spreading the ancestry.
- African Americans and Native Americans are also likely to have small amounts of Mayflower ancestry due to mixing of early colonial groups.
- An estimated 35% of Mayflower descendants today have ancestry from Mayflower passenger John Alden. He had 10 children and his descendants intermarried heavily with other colonial lines.
- Famous Americans with Mayflower ancestry include presidents George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush, and Ulysses S. Grant.
While Mayflower ancestry is most prevalent in the northeastern U.S., generations of migration and intermarriage have spread it far beyond its New England roots. Next, let’s look at some long-term impacts the Mayflower Pilgrims had on America.
Long-Term Impacts of the Mayflower Pilgrims
The 102 Mayflower passengers were a small group, but their journey had lasting impacts:
- Established Plymouth Colony – The colony founded by Mayflower Pilgrims later merged with the Massachusetts Bay Colony to become a major force in early America.
- Shaped early government – Mayflower passengers signed the Mayflower Compact, an early model for self-governance adopted by other colonies.
- Influenced American traditions – The Pilgrims’ story and values became enshrined in American tradition through holidays like Thanksgiving, literature like Of Plymouth Plantation, and more.
- Contributed to American ancestry – Today, an estimated 10-35 million Americans trace part of their ancestry to passengers aboard the Mayflower.
While the Pilgrims account for just a small portion of overall American ancestry, their early influence and legacy live on centuries later.
Conclusion
Estimating the exact percentage of Americans descended from Mayflower passengers is difficult due to limited records, intermarriage, migrations over time, and other factors. However, historians estimate the percentage to be anywhere from 3% to 11% of the modern U.S. population.
While an exact figure may never be calculated, the Mayflower Pilgrims played a pivotal role in America’s founding. Their legacy survives today through American traditions, geography, ancestry, and government. Centuries later, the small group of English colonists who arrived aboard the Mayflower continue to have an outsized impact on American society and identity.