ItaloAmerican

Italo-American refers to Americans who are descended from Italian immigrants or who identify with Italian heritage. The term, often used interchangeably with Italian American, encompasses a diverse population whose roots trace to Italy and who participate in American public life while preserving elements of Italian culture, language, and tradition.

The major waves of Italian migration began in the late 19th century and continued into the early 20th century, with many settlers from Southern Italy and Sicily. They established communities in major port cities and industrial hubs, notably in New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, and Boston. Early Italian Americans often faced discrimination and legal restrictions, but over time they built social networks, joined labor movements, and attained political representation. Today, Italian American communities are widespread across the United States, with a large portion of the population claiming Italian ancestry.

Culturally, Italo-Americans contributed to American life through cuisine, religion, arts, and business. Italian culinary traditions—pizza, pasta, coffee culture—are widely integrated into American life. The Catholic Church played a central role in many communities, and language use shifted from Italian and regional dialects to English over generations, though some dialects and multilingual practices persist.

Organizations such as the Order Sons of Italy in America (OSIA) and UNICO National support cultural preservation, education, and charitable activities. Notable Italo-Americans include Fiorello La Guardia, Mario Cuomo, Frank Sinatra, Martin Scorsese, and Al Pacino, among others, who have influenced politics, music, film, and literature.