Amish Ethnicity

Most Amish people are of German or Swiss-German ancestry, but the term "Amish" does not refer to an ethnic group with such ancestry, but is usually used to refer to members of the community who practice the Amish faith.

Being called Amish refers to someone who professes the Amish faith and belongs to the community, but children born into Amish families but who do not yet belong to the church are also commonly called Amish.

Today, the Amish are known to live in communities not only in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, but also in parts of Iowa, Ohio, Indiana, and Canada.

As of 2020, it is confirmed that there are approximately 81,000 Amish living in Pennsylvania, 78,000 in Ohio, and 59,000 in Indiana. The area with the largest number of Amish people is still Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

The Amish are generally classified into several groups, such as "The Old Order Amish," "The New Order Amish," and "Amish Mennonites." Each group has slightly different doctrines and historical backgrounds. This is difficult to explain because it is deeply related to the history of Christianity and the history of Baptism.

Most of the Amish in Lancaster are "The Old Order Amish."

Even within the same Lancaster Amish community, there are subtle differences depending on the church community to which they belong.