Almost since the beginning of its history, the Azores have been a place of emigration. From the 17th century to the present day, Azoreans have been scattering throughout the world, with a particular preference for American territories. The main destinations of emigration were Brazil, the United States of America, Bermuda, Hawaii, and Canada.
The poor socio-economic conditions of part of the population of the archipelago, associated with the limitations imposed by insularity, were the main reasons for this desire to seek a better life elsewhere in the world.
The first great migratory surge of Azoreans took place in the mid-18th century, heading for the current state of Santa Catarina in Brazil. Around eight thousand Azoreans accepted to leave for that southern region of Brazil, where the Crown tried to encourage settlement. Until the end of the 18th century, the importance of the Azores in the colonisation of Brazil was evident.
Before that, still in the 17th century, there are references to the settlement of some regions of the current states of Maranhão and Pará by Azorean couples, as well as some military recruitment campaigns of Azoreans heading to Brazil, carried out in the second half of the 18th century, particularly directed to Rio de Janeiro and Santa Catarina.
A new migratory surge towards the south of Brazil took place during the second half of the 19th century, with a significant flow towards the states of São Paulo, Rio Grande do Sul, and Rio de Janeiro. Encouraged by recruiters, who clandestinely enrolled candidates, Azorean emigration to Brazil was encouraged by the end of slavery and the pressing need for labour.
Many of these islanders ended up frustrated in their desire to obtain wealth on the other side of the Atlantic, often finding a more significant scarcity scenario than the one they came from. However, some Azoreans, as a result of their entrepreneurship, achieved singular prosperity, returning a few decades later to the archipelago, where they stood out through charitable actions, aiming for social acknowledgement. Such was the case, for instance, of the Pico native Baron of Santo Amaro, who emigrated to Ceará, and of his fellow countryman, who was awarded the title of Viscount of Piedade.
Also in South America, we must emphasize the Azorean emigration to Uruguay, more precisely to the city of San Carlos, which was founded in 1763 by Pedro de Cevallos and a group of about 150 island families. The influence of the Azores in that city is still perceptible today.
Although Brazil was the first great destination for Azorean emigration, from the second half of the 19th century onwards and during the 20th century, the United States of America became the preferred destination. After the Second World War, the United States opened their doors to immigration, particularly from the 1960s onwards, encouraging a significant flow of Azoreans, who benefited from their unique geographical proximity to the American continent.
It is estimated that nowadays the number of Azorean emigrants in the American territory ascend to one million and a half, concentrated predominantly in the states of the east coast, such as Massachusetts and Rhode Island, and also in California.
Besides these American continental territories, the Hawaii archipelago, equally volcanic, also welcomed a significant number of Azoreans from the late 19th century. This North American state, located in the Pacific Ocean, provided appealing working conditions, thus becoming a pole of attraction for many Azoreans.
Bermuda also proved to be one of the places of most intense emigration, namely from the second half of the 20th century. Becoming the third great destination of Azorean emigration from the late 19th century, most of the emigrants came from São Miguel Island.
Canada was the last of the great destinations of Azorean emigration, particularly during the second half of the last century, which was strengthened by the existence of bilateral agreements between Portugal and Canada.
Despite being a demographically insignificant territory, the presence of Azoreans in the world is especially noteworthy, as a result of strong migratory surges that marked its history in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Among the most illustrious Azoreans who gained prominence in Portugal and in the world, the one who holds the most relevant place in the history of humanity is undoubtedly the famous Bento de Góis, who was born in Vila Franca do Campo and who went down in history as the first European to explore the Chinese mountains.
Nowadays, it is imperative to highlight illustrious Azoreans such as the footballer Pauleta, who played at the highest international level, or Nuno Bettencourt, guitarist of the North American band Extreme. Descendants of Azoreans include the North American singer Katy Perry, who has three Azorean great-great-grandparents, the Canadian musician and actress Nelly Furtado, who is of Azorean descent, but also the actor Tom Hanks, great-grandson of an Azorean, or the Brazilian actress Lília Cabral, whose mother is Azorean.