American Loyalists

American Loyalists (United Empire Loyalists or UEL) are those residents of the British North American Colonies who did not join the American Revolution between 1775 and 1783 but remained loyal to the king of England. In the strictest sense, Loyalists are only those who served in a Loyalist military unit in the Thirteen Colonies. The American Loyalists who actually served the Crown must be distinguished from the more numerous "late Loyalists" who came from the United States beginning in about 1790 for land or other economic opportunities.

During the war and especially at its close, some Loyalists went to Britain, Jamaica, or other colonies, but many fled to Canada. There is no master list of all the names of American Loyalists who came to Canada.

For more information see Canada Military Records, and Canada Land and Property Records.