United Empire Loyalists

United Empire Loyalists is the name given to the portion of British Loyalists who resettled in British North America when they were forced to leave the United States after the British defeat in the American Revolutionary War. This group of Loyalists settled in the two colonies of Quebec (including the Eastern Townships), modern-day Ontario and Nova Scotia (including modern-day New Brunswick). Their arrival marked the beginning of a predominantly English population in the future Canada west of the Quebec border.

Related Topics:
British Loyalists - British North America - United States - British - American Revolutionary War - Quebec - Eastern Townships - Ontario - Nova Scotia - New Brunswick - Canada

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Modern-day descendants of those original refugees sometimes apply the term United Empire Loyalist to themselves, using "UE" as postnominal letters; the honorific is the only hereditary title of Canada. The practice is rare, even in the original Loyalist strongholds like southeastern Ontario. However, it is used extensively by historians and genealogists.

Related Topics:
Refugee - Postnominal letters - Honorific - Hereditary title - Canada - Ontario

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The word "Loyalist" appears frequently in school, street, and business names in loyalist-settled communities such as Belleville, Ontario.

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