While English isn’t the official language of Ohio, it’s the most widely used language in the state. But that doesn’t mean others are spoken by residents. In fact, there is a wide array of languages used by the population of Ohio, often reflecting the immigration history of the region.
As a result, exploring the area’s immigration history can give you clues about the languages you may encounter. Here’s a brief look at Ohio’s immigration history, as well as the top ten languages of Ohio other than English.
Ohio Immigration History
Settlement by Europeans largely began in Ohio in the latter part of the 18th century. The first official settlement took shape in 1788 when a company of New Englanders arrived. Other military members also created settlements throughout the area, as well as Pennsylvania Germans and groups of Swiss and Scotch-Irish immigrants.
By the start of the 19th century, Welsh immigrants also headed to the region, mainly due to the mineral resources found in the state. English communities also developed. At the start of the 20th century, there was a large number of Hungarians, Italians, Poles, and Russians. Additionally, the Chinese, Greek, Japanese, Mexican, Portuguese, and Turkish populations grew. As a result, Ohio became incredibly diverse in a relatively short time.
During white settlement, there was also a rise in the number of Africans and people of African descent. However, it wasn’t as quick or substantial as in some other areas, as Ohio banned slavery in 1802.
During the latter part of the 20th century, there was also a notable increase in Hispanic and Asian immigrants. While they remain smaller communities, their populations are significant in size.
Top 10 Languages of Ohio (Other Than English)
Ohio has one of the largest populations when compared to other states. It’s home to approximately 11.76 million residents. While English is spoken by the majority, around 7.3 percent of residents age five and older – or about 858,192 people – speak a non-English language at home.
Additionally, while some of those people also speak English, around 2.34 percent have limited English proficiency (LEP). That works out to approximately 275,092 residents.
As a result, numerous other languages are spoken by residents of Ohio. Here’s a breakdown of the top ten languages other than English spoken in Ohio.
1. Spanish
As with most states, Spanish is the most common non-English language spoken in Ohio. Overall, around 252,994 residents speak Spanish, giving them a population share of a bit more than 2.30 percent.
2. Yiddish, Pennsylvania Dutch, or Other West Germanic Languages
Yiddish, Pennsylvania Dutch, and other West Germanic languages come in second on this list, though they sit far behind Spanish. The 53,608 speakers make up approximately 0.49 percent of the population.
3. Chinese
In third place on this list is Chinese (including Cantonese and Mandarin). The 47,588 speakers represent about 0.43 percent of the state’s population.
4. Arabic
With a population share of nearly 0.41 percent, Arabic comes in fourth place on the list of the top ten non-English languages spoken in Ohio. In total, there are around 44,730 Arabic speakers in the state.
5. German
Only a little behind Arabic on this list is German. The 43,517 German-speaking residents make up a little less than 0.40 percent of the population.
6. Nepali, Marathi, or Other Indic Languages
With an estimated 27,916 speakers, Nepali, Marathi, and other Indic languages come in sixth place on this list. That gives them a population share of about 0.25 percent.
7. French
French (including Cajun) speakers make up around 0.24 percent of the Ohio population. In total, there are an estimated 26,457 French-speaking residents in the state.
8. Amharic, Somali, or Other Afro-Asiatic Languages
Amharic, Somali, and other Afro-Asiatic languages come in eighth on this list with a population share of 0.23 percent. When taken together, there are around 25,300 speakers of these languages in Ohio.
9. Yoruba, Twi, Igbo, or Other Languages of Western Africa
Yoruba, Twi, Igbo, and other Western African language speakers make up a little more than 0.20 percent of the population. There are an estimated 22,306 speakers in Ohio.
10. Hindi
In tenth place on this list of languages is Hindi. With approximately 19,966 speakers, they make up a bit more than 0.18 percent of the population.
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