British Moroccans
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| Moroccan-born residents 12,348 (2001 Census) 21,880 (2011 Census) Other population estimates 34,000 (2015 ONS estimate) | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| London, Greater Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, Sheffield, Glasgow, Bradford, Edinburgh, Cardiff, Newcastle Upon Tyne, Leicester, York, Huddersfield, Slough, St Albans, Crawley and Trowbridge | |
| Languages | |
| British English, Moroccan Arabic, Berber, French and Spanish | |
| Religion | |
| Majority; Sunni Islam and Minority; Christianity and Judaism | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| British Arabs, Moroccan diaspora, Algerians in the United Kingdom and British Libyans |
British Moroccans are citizens and/or residents of the United Kingdom whose ethnic origins lie fully or partially in Morocco.
Migration history
Mass migration from Morocco to the United Kingdom began in the 1960s, primarily consisting of migrant workers recruited to work in the hotel and catering industries. The community has grown significantly due to high birth rates as well as sponsored migration of dependents.[1]
Population and distribution
The 2001 Census recorded 12,348 Moroccan-born people residing in the UK.[2] 2009 estimates reported by the Runymede Trust suggested between 65,000 and 70,000 people of Moroccan origin reside in the UK.[3] The Office for National Statistics estimates the Moroccan-born population to have been 34,000 in 2015.[4] Outside of London, Trowbridge, the county town of Wiltshire, has the highest population of Moroccans in the UK.[5] In 2009, the town became the first in the UK to be twinned with a city from a Muslim country – Oujda – due to large number of resident families with roots in the town.[6]
According to the 2011 UK Census, a total of 21,880 people born in Morocco were residing in the UK: 21,016 were recorded in England, 230 in Wales,[7] 530 in Scotland [8] and 104 in Northern Ireland.[9]
The National Association of British Arabs categorises Morocco-born immigrants as Arabs. Based on census data, it indicates that they are the sixth-largest population of British Arabs by country of birth.[10]
Notable British-Moroccans or Moroccans in the United Kingdom
- Adam Gemili: Professional sprinter
- Amelle Berrabah: singer and member of girl band Sugababes
- Chico Slimani (Youssef Slimani): Singer
- Houda Echouafni: actress (of Moroccan and Egyptian origins)
- Hiba Elchikhe: actress
- Kamal El-Hajji, (BEM): (Mohammed Amal El-Hajji) Serjeant-at-Arms of the House of Commons (in 2015)
- Karim Zeroual: Television presenter
- Karima Adebibe: Model
- Kieran Djilali: Professional football player
- Laila Rouass: Actress
- Layla El: Model, dancer, and former WWE wrestler.
- Malika Zouhali-Worrall: Documentary filmmaker
- Mariah Idrissi: Muslim Hijab-wearing model, public speaker, and online personality.
- Moe Sbihi, (MBE): (Mohamed Karim Sbihi) Rower and twice Olympic medal winner
- Nabil Elouahabi: Actor
- Souad Talsi, (MBE): Founder of Al-Hasaniya Moroccan Women's Centre
Associations
- Al-Hasaniya Moroccan Women's Centre
- Al Manaar Mosque (The Muslim Cultural Heritage Centre - MCHC)
- Moroccan Memories foundation: Memories in Britain (Oral & Visual Achieve)
- Al-Noor Youth Trust
- The Council for Arab-British Understanding(Caabu)
References
- ^ Rhanem, Karima (2005-06-21), "Darija in London's Notting Hill: Moroccan community in GB struggle for recognition", Morocco Times, archived from the original on 2006-01-29, retrieved 2009-08-17
- ^ Country-of-birth database, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, archived from the original on 2009-06-17, retrieved 2008-12-02
- ^ Cherti, Myriam (2009), British Moroccans: Citizenship in Action, Runnymede Trust, ISBN 978-1-906732-20-2, retrieved 2009-08-07
- ^ "Table 1.3: Overseas-born population in the United Kingdom, excluding some residents in communal establishments, by sex, by country of birth, January 2015 to December 2015". Office for National Statistics. 25 August 2016. Retrieved 30 May 2017. Figure given is the central estimate. See the source for 95% confidence intervals.
- ^ "Backing for link to Morocco", Wiltshire Times, 2006-09-22, retrieved 2008-12-02
- ^ "Trowbridge plans Moroccan link-up". The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald. Retrieved 2022-08-02.
- ^ "2011 Census: QS203EW Country of birth (detailed), local authorities in England and Wales". Office for National Statistics. 11 December 2012. Retrieved 10 October 2019
- ^ "Country of birth (detailed)" (PDF). National Records of Scotland. Retrieved 10 October 2019
- ^ 2011_Excel/2011/QS206NI.xls "Country of Birth – Full Detail: QS206NI"[dead link]. Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency.. Retrieved 10 October 2019
- ^ "REPORT ON THE 2011 CENSUS – MAY 2013 – Arabs and Arab League Population in the UK – Appendix 6 – Countries of Birth of UK Arabs". National Association of British Arabs. Archived from the original on 8 October 2014. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
External links
- Moroccan Londoner Forum
- Moroccan Star
- Moroccan Community in the UK
