What does anglo mean?
An Anglo is, in contemporary American usage, a white English-speaking person, particularly one descended from settlers of the British Isles. The term is most prominent in the southwestern United States and Texas, where it serves as a demographic and cultural label distinguishing non-Hispanic whites from Hispanic and Latino communities; phrases such as 'Anglo and Hispanic residents' appear routinely in regional journalism and sociology. Beyond this American sense, 'Anglo' more broadly denotes anything English or British in character, as in 'Anglo-American relations' or 'Anglo-French,' reflecting centuries of political and cultural history. The word derives from the Angles, one of the Germanic tribes that migrated to Britain in the early Middle Ages and whose name gave rise to 'England' itself. Related terms such as Anglophone (English-speaking), Anglophile (admirer of England), and Anglo-Saxon (relating to the early English peoples) extend the concept across language, culture, and history. While useful as a shorthand, 'Anglo' can be imprecise, since it flattens diverse ancestries into a single category, and its meaning shifts noticeably between American regional usage and broader international contexts.
nounIn the United States, an Anglo is a white English-speaking American, especially one whose ancestry traces to the British Isles, as distinguished from Hispanic Americans and other groups.
- A white English-speaking American, especially one of British Isles descent, used chiefly in contrast with Hispanic Americans.
- (Broader historical use) A person of English or British origin or descent.
"The county's population was once overwhelmingly Anglo, but recent decades have brought dramatic demographic change."
"Census categories aside, many longtime residents of the town still identify simply as Anglo."
"The treaty strengthened Anglo-American ties in the aftermath of the war."
Commonly written as 'Anglos' with a capital A in sociological and journalistic contexts; lowercase 'anglos' appears in casual prose.
"The survey compared attitudes among Anglos and Hispanics across the state."
The word 'Anglo' ultimately traces back to the Angles, a Germanic tribe whose name gave England its very name — 'England' means 'land of the Angles.'
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of anglo
The word 'Anglo' descends from the Latin 'Anglii,' the Roman name for the Angles, a Germanic people from the region of present-day Schleswig-Holstein who migrated to Britain during the fifth century. Together with the Saxons and Jutes, they formed the dominant population of what became England, and their tribal name evolved into 'Englisc' (English) and eventually 'England.' Medieval Latin writers used 'Anglus' for an Englishman, and the term spread through learned and diplomatic usage into compounds such as 'Anglo-Saxon' and later 'Anglo-American.' Modern American usage of 'Anglo' as a label for white English-speaking individuals developed largely in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, especially in regions of significant Hispanic population.
Related word forms
How anglo is actually used
The term is used almost exclusively in American English, particularly in the Southwest and Texas, where 'Anglo' contrasts with 'Hispanic' or 'Latino' in discussions of demographics, politics, and culture. It is generally lowercase in casual use ('an Anglo') but capitalized in formal or sociological writing ('Anglos'). Some consider the term imprecise because it lumps together diverse European ancestries; it carries no inherent negative connotation but should be used with awareness of context.
Easily confused with anglo
An angle is a geometric figure formed by two rays meeting at a point, whereas an Anglo is a person of British-descended, English-speaking background.
Anglo-Saxon refers specifically to the Germanic peoples who settled England before the Norman Conquest (or their language), while Anglo in modern American usage broadly denotes any white English-speaking American.