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Polonia is the . In modern Polish Language , however, it is usually used to refer to people of Polish origin who live outside Polish borders, i.e. the Polish Diaspora . There are roughly 15-20 million people of Polish ancestry living outside Poland. Reasons vary from border shifts to forced resettlement to political or economic emigration. Major Polish minorities can be found in Germany and the United States . A large part of the Polish citizens that migrated in the early twentieth century were Polish Jews , who are also a part of the Jewish Diaspora . NORTH AMERICA Political and economic emigration since mid-19th century. United States The number of Polish American s is 10 million. Most of them live in the north-eastern part of the country, notably the states of New York , Illinois , Michigan , Pennsylvania and New Jersey . Chicago is considered the largest Polish city outside Poland. The major Polonia organization is the Polish American Congress . Canada There are about 850 thousand Polish Canadians . The Canadian Polish Congress is a blanket organization to organize activities and to articulate the concerns of the Canadian Polish community. EUROPE Political and economic emigration since early 19th century. Germany The second largest Polonia in the world, and largest in Europe, are the Polish Germans . As many as 3 million people living in Germany may be of Polish descent, although the vast majority of people in this group identify as Germans. The main Polonia organization is '' Kongres Polonii Niemieckiej / Polnischer Kongress in Deutchland ''. Polish surnames are very common in Germany. France About 1 million people of Polish decent live in France , concentrated in the Nord Pas De Calais region, in the metropolitan area of Lille and the '' Bassin Minier '', around Lens and Valenciennes . Prominent members of the Polish community in France have included Frederic Chopin and Marie Curie . Britain Polish people have travelled to England throughout the centuries for a number of different reasons. In the 16th Century Polish travellers came as traders and diplomats. In the 18th Century a small number of Polish Protestants arrived as religious refugees due to the Counter Reformation in Poland. In the 19th century, due to the collapse of the November Uprising of 1831 , many Polish soldiers entered Britain in search of sanctuary. However, it wasn’t until the First World War that many Poles settled in London - some from the London Polish Prisoner Of War Camps in Alexandra Palace and Feltham . Again, in the Second World War the majority of the Poles came to Britain as political emigres. In 1940 , with the fall of France, the exiled Polish president, prime minister and Polish Government, and at least 20,000 soldiers transferred to London. Central London now became the nerve centre for Polish liberation and the military headquarters. When the Second World War ended, a Communist government was installed in Poland, many Poles felt betrayed by their allies and were very reluctant to return home. Polish soldiers refused to return to Poland, and a considerable amount settled in London. At first the soldiers were housed in resettlement camps. A great number of Poles were lawyers, judges and engineers etc, yet it was only the doctors and pharmacists who had their qualifications recognised. As a result the majority of Poles worked in building and construction, coal mining and other forms of manual labour as well as the hospitality trades. However the Poles were very entrepreneurial and set up a number of businesses such as clock, watch and shoe repairers - many of which we can still see today. The relaxation in travel restrictions to and from Poland saw a steady increase in immigration to Britain in the 1950s . Brixton , Earls Court and Lewisham were a few of the London areas where they settled. As these communities grew, it was felt by the Polish Catholic hierarchy and the English and Scottish hierarchies (majority of which are Irish ) that there was a need for Polish priests to settle and minister specifically to the spiritual needs of the Polish people. The first parish was in Brockley-Lewisham in 1951 and today there are 10 Polish parishes in London, in places such as Balham and Ealing . The Polish Government In London was not dissolved until 1991 , when a president was freely elected in Warsaw . The Polish people fought very hard to combat communism and for their right to liberty. London has been used very successfully by Poles, as a base to fight against the communist regime in Poland. Now that Poland has a democratic government, it is seen as an important base to help foster both business and political relations. The main "hub" of the community seems to be based around the Hammersmith area (the focal point being the Polish Social and Cultural Centre (POSK) in King Street) of West London , although Polish newspapers and food suppliers are becoming more visible since Poland's entry into the European Union in May 2004. About 60,000 people in Britain were born in Poland and about 250,000 are of Polish descent. After London, many have settled down in the towns of Bolton , Bury and Chorley all near to Manchester . Many young Poles are coming to the UK to learn English or earn higher wages and this trend seems to be increasing. Ireland After Poland joined the European Union in 2004 , many countries already in the EU opened their borders to welcome Polish workers as relatively cheap qualified labour. The Republic Of Ireland quickly became the primary destination for young Poles seeking work outside the country. Immigration was very dynamic and it is estimated that there are currently about 120 thousand Poles living in Ireland, constituing that country's largest minority by far. Czech Republic Post-WWI border shifts (mostly Cieszyn Silesia , so-called Zaolzie ). The population numbers between 70 and 100 thousand. KRESY , POLAND'S FORMER EASTERN TERRITORIES Post-WW2 Border shifts. See Polish Minority In Soviet Union .
LATIN AMERICA Political and economic emigration since mid-19th century.
RUSSIA AND KAZAKHSTAN Forced resettlement during 19th and 20th centuries. See Polish Minority In Soviet Union .
AUSTRALIA There are approximately 160 to 200 thousand Polish Australians . The first Pole known to have arrived in Australia was a J. Potowski, who was sent there as a convict from England. The first settlers from Poland arrived in South Australia in 1856 and settled in the Clare Valley region in a place later called Polish Hill River . The first mass migration happened in the late forties and early fifties when large groups of Displaced Person s migrated to Australia after World War II , including soldiers from the Polish Independent Carpathian Brigade (" Rats Of Tobruk "). One of the Poles best-known in Australia (besides Paul Strzelecki , who explored it, and Tadeusz Kościuszko , after whom Strzelecki named Australia's Highest Peak ) is Professor Jerzy Zubrzycki , known as "the father of Multiculturalism in Australia" {Link without Title} . Other well-known contemporary Polish-Australians include Olympic gold medallist Michael Klim, and physicist and media personality Karl Kruszelnicki. ASIA, AFRICA, OCEANIA Economic migration, Catholic missions, etc. SEE ALSO EXTERNAL LINKS
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