# Spanish Chileans > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Spanish_Chileans > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Spanish_Chileans.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_Chileans > Source revision: 1330331819 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Ethnic group Spanish Chileans Hispano-chileno Total population 25,624[1] Spanish citizens Vast majority of Chileans have at least partial Spanish ancestry (from colonial times) Regions with significant populations All over Chile Languages Chilean Spanish, Peninsular Spanish, Galician, Catalan, Basque Religion Mainly Roman Catholicism, Evangelicalism and Protestantism minorities Related ethnic groups Chilean people, Spaniards, and other Latin American peoples Part of a series on the Spanish people Regional groups Andalusians Aragonese Asturians (including Vaqueiros de Alzada) Balearics Basques Canary Islanders (incl. Isleños) Cantabrians Castilians Catalans Criollos Extremadurans Galicians Leonese Valencians Other groups Berbers Erromintxela Gitanos Mercheros Maghrebis Occitans Sephardim (including Iberian Jews and Xuetes) Significant Spanish diaspora Andorra Argentina Belgium Bolivia Brazil Chile Colombia Cuba Dominican Republic France Germany Guatemala Honduras Italy Mexico Netherlands Peru Philippines Puerto Rico Sweden Switzerland United Kingdom United States Uruguay Venezuela Languages Spanish (AKA Castilian) Basque Catalan Galician Other languages Aragonese Astur-Leonese Caló Catalan Sign Erromintxela Extremaduran Fala Judaeo-Spanish Occitan (AKA Aranese) Portuguese Spanish Sign Valencian Sign Category • Spain portal v t e **Spanish Chileans** refer more often to [Chileans](/source/Chilean_people) of post-independence [Spanish](/source/Spanish_people) immigrant descent, as they have retained a Spanish cultural identity. People of pre-independence Spanish descent are typically not classified as Spanish Chileans even though they form a large majority of the Chilean population and have Spanish surnames and ancestry. This is because they rejected Spanish identity for the emergent Chilean one on the eve of national independence. ## History The earliest [European immigrants](/source/Emigration_from_Europe) were Spanish colonisers who arrived in the 16th century. They came to form the majority of the population by the time of [Chilean independence](/source/Chilean_independence).[2] They came mainly from [Castile](/source/Castile_(historical_region)) and [Andalusia](/source/Andalusia) and formed the majority population. The [Amerindian](/source/Amerindian) population of central Chile was absorbed into the Spanish settler population in the beginning of the colonial period to form the large [mestizo](/source/Mestizo) population that exists in Chile today; mestizos create modern middle and lower classes. In the 18th and 19th centuries, many [Basques](/source/Basques) from both [Spain](/source/Spain) and [France](/source/France) came to [Chile](/source/Chile) where they integrated into the existing elites of Castilian origin.[3][4][5][6][7][8][9] Other [European](/source/Europe) nationalities then followed and also became rich and fused with each other and the Basque-Castilian elite to create modern middle and upper classes. At the beginning of the Guano era in 1840s, one of Peru's most prosperous time periods, immigration from Spain greatly increased and the economy was booming and standard of living was high. This era ended in 1866 with the [Chincha Islands War](/source/Chincha_Islands_War) wherein anti-Spanish sentiments in Peru also arose in Chile and in which Peru emerged victorious. In 1903, a fleet of 88 [Canarian](/source/Canarians) families—400 persons—arrived in [Budi Lake](/source/Budi_Lake), that currently have more than 1,000 descendants, as a response to the government's call to populate this region and signed contracts for the benefit of a private company. While many [Canarians](/source/Isle%C3%B1o) obeyed their servitude, some of those who disobeyed the provisions of repopulation tried to escape their servitude and were arrested, and the indigenous [Mapuche](/source/Mapuche) people took pity on the plight of these Canarians who were established on their former lands. The Mapuches welcomed them and joined their demonstrations in the so-called "revolt of the Canarians", and many Canarians integrated into Mapuche population to add the large mestizo population that exists in Chile.[10] In the 20th century, there was an influx of refugees of the [Spanish Civil War](/source/Spanish_Civil_War) and Franco's regime.(see [Winnipeg ship](/source/Winnipeg_(ship))) They have kept their Spanish national identity and set up Spanish clubs throughout the country. The [Spanish culture](/source/Spanish_culture) of the original settlers slowly evolved into Chilean folk culture, especially the [huaso](/source/Huaso) one, and at the time of independence had abandoned national affiliation with Spain. ## Notable Spanish Chileans - [Isabel Allende](/source/Isabel_Allende), writer - [Alejandro Amenábar](/source/Alejandro_Amen%C3%A1bar), [film director](/source/Film_director) - [Manuel Blanco Encalada](/source/Manuel_Blanco_Encalada), 1st (provisional) [President of Chile](/source/President_of_Chile) (1826), Vice-Admiral in the [Chilean Navy](/source/Chilean_Navy) - [Matías Cousiño](/source/Mat%C3%ADas_Cousi%C3%B1o), [coal](/source/Coal) [magnate](/source/Magnate) and patriarch of the Cousiño family - [Javiera Díaz de Valdés](/source/Javiera_D%C3%ADaz_de_Vald%C3%A9s), actress - [Karen Doggenweiler Lapuente](/source/Karen_Doggenweiler), journalist, TV hostess - [Roberto Matta](/source/Roberto_Matta), [abstract expressionist](/source/Abstract_expressionist) and [surrealist](/source/Surrealist) [painter](/source/Painting) - [Jorge Montt](/source/Jorge_Montt), 12th [president of Chile](/source/President_of_Chile) (1891–1896), vice-admiral of the Chilean navy - [Carlos Pezoa Véliz](/source/Carlos_Pezoa_V%C3%A9liz), writer - [José Piñera](/source/Jos%C3%A9_Pi%C3%B1era), businessman and politician - [Sebastián Piñera](/source/Sebasti%C3%A1n_Pi%C3%B1era), businessman and President of Chile (2010-2014 and 2018-2022) - [Arturo Prat](/source/Arturo_Prat), Navy officer and national hero - [Carlos Prats](/source/Carlos_Prats), Former Army Commander in Chief - [José Joaquín Prieto](/source/Jos%C3%A9_Joaqu%C3%ADn_Prieto), Army General and President of Chile (1831-1841) - [Germán Riesco](/source/Germ%C3%A1n_Riesco), President of Chile (1901-1906) - [Carolina Tohá](/source/Carolina_Toh%C3%A1), politician - [José Tohá](/source/Jos%C3%A9_Toh%C3%A1), politician - [Leonor Varela](/source/Leonor_Varela), actress ## List of Spanish cultural centres and other institutions in Chile They have regional cultural centres in Santiago and other large cities. - 7ª. Cía. de Bomberos "Bomba España", [Antofagasta](/source/Antofagasta) - Centro Español de Antofagasta - Sociedad Española de Beneficencia de Antofagasta - Centro Español, [Arica](/source/Arica) - Estadio Español de [Chiguayante](/source/Chiguayante) - Centro Español de [Chillán](/source/Chill%C3%A1n) - Hogar Español de Chillán - Sociedad Española de Beneficencia de Chillán - Centro Español de [Concepción](/source/Concepci%C3%B3n%2C_Chile) - Sociedad Española de Beneficencia de Concepción - Colectividad Española, [Coquimbo](/source/Coquimbo) - Corporación Unión Española de [Coyhaique](/source/Coyhaique) - Centro Español de [Curicó](/source/Curic%C3%B3) - Club Deportivo Español de Curicó - Estadio Español de Curicó - Sociedad de Damas del Pilar de Curicó - Sociedad Española de Beneficencia de Curicó - Casino Español de [Iquique](/source/Iquique) - Sociedad Española de Beneficencia, [Iquique](/source/Iquique) - Sociedad Española de Beneficencia, [Las Condes](/source/Las_Condes) - Estadio Español de [Linares](/source/Linares%2C_Chile) - Sociedad Española de Beneficencia, Linares - Centro Español de [Los Andes](/source/Los_Andes%2C_Chile) - Sociedad Española de Beneficencia, Los Andes - Centro Español de [Los Ángeles](/source/Los_%C3%81ngeles%2C_B%C3%ADo_B%C3%ADo) - Club Deportivo Español de [Osorno](/source/Osorno%2C_Chile) - Sociedad Española de SS.MM. de Osorno - Colectividad Valenciana de Chile [Providencia](/source/Providencia%2C_Chile) - Instituto Chileno de Cultura Hispánica, Providencia - Centro Español de [Puerto Montt](/source/Puerto_Montt) - Centro Español de [Puerto Natales](/source/Puerto_Natales) - Sociedad Española de [Punta Arenas](/source/Punta_Arenas) - Centro Español de [Rancagua](/source/Rancagua) - Corporación Club Español de Campo Reñaca-[Viña](/source/Vi%C3%B1a_del_Mar) - Centro Cultural Español [San Antonio](/source/San_Antonio%2C_Chile) - Centro Español de [San Fernando](/source/San_Fernando%2C_Chile) - Sociedad Española de Beneficencia, San Fernando - 10a. Cía. de Bomberos "Bomba España", [Santiago](/source/Santiago%2C_Chile) - [Camara Oficial Española de Comercio de Chile](https://www.camacoes.cl/) - [Centro Navarro de Chile](https://web.archive.org/web/20100515150812/http://www.centronavarrodechile.org/), Santiago - Círculo de Profesionales Hispánicos, Santiago - Círculo Español, Santiago - Colectividad Andaluza de Chile, Santiago - Colectividad Asturiana de Chile, Santiago - [Colectividad Castellano-Leonesa de Chile](http://www.castillayleon.cl/), Santiago - Colectividad Madrileña de Chile, Santiago - Comité de Damas de A.I.E.CH., Santiago - Confederación de Bombas Españolas en Chile, Santiago - Coolectividad Aragonesa de Chile, Santiago - Estadio Español de Las Condes - Hogar Español, Santiago - Lar Gallego, Santiago - Sociedad Benéfica La Rioja, Santiago - Sociedad Española de Socorros Mutuos y Beneficencia, Santiago - [Unión Española](/source/Uni%C3%B3n_Espa%C3%B1ola), Santiago - Agrupación Winnipeg, Santiago - Centre Català de Santiago de Xile, Santiago - Centro Vasco, Santiago - 5a. Cía de Bomberos Bomba España de [Talca](/source/Talca) - Centro Español de Talca - Club Deportivo Español de Talca - Escuela Especial España, Talca - Ropero Español de Talca - Sociedad Española de Beneficencia de Talca - 4a. Cía. de Bomberos Bomba España, [Temuco](/source/Temuco) - Centro Español de Temuco - Sociedad Española de Beneficencia de Temuco - Centro Español de [Valdivia](/source/Valdivia) - 7a. Cía. de Bomberos Bomba España, [Valparaíso](/source/Valpara%C3%ADso) - Sociedad Española de Beneficencia, Valparaíso - Club Unión Española Valparaíso, [Viña del Mar](/source/Vi%C3%B1a_del_Mar) - Soc. de Beneficencia Damas Españolas Viña del Mar ## See also - [Spain portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Spain) - [Chile portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Chile) - [Chile–Spain relations](/source/Chile%E2%80%93Spain_relations) - [White Latin Americans](/source/White_Latin_Americans) ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** (in Spanish) [44.468 ciudadanos españoles viven en Chile](http://www.eluniverso.com/2009/07/17/1/1360/B8019DEF2FD14423BA7F7ECAD8A8B48A.html) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20090720080126/http://www.eluniverso.com/2009/07/17/1/1360/B8019DEF2FD14423BA7F7ECAD8A8B48A.html) 2009-07-20 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** [Vascos en Chile.](http://www.osasun.ejgv.euskadi.net/r52-20726/es/contenidos/noticia/albis12_257_txile_08_11/es_txile/albis12_257_txile_08_11.html) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-Diariovasco_3-0)** [Diariovasco.](https://www.diariovasco.com/pg060724/prensa/noticias/AlDia/200607/24/DVA-ALD-003.html) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-deia.com_4-0)** [entrevista al Presidente de la Cámara vasca.](http://www.deia.com/es/impresa/2008/05/22/bizkaia/ekonomia/469496.php) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20090511001812/http://www.deia.com/es/impresa/2008/05/22/bizkaia/ekonomia/469496.php) 2009-05-11 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** [vascos](http://www.osasun.ejgv.euskadi.net/r52-20726/es/contenidos/noticia/albis12_257_txile_08_11/es_txile/albis12_257_txile_08_11.html) *Ainara Madariaga*: Autora del estudio *"Imaginarios vascos desde Chile La construcción de imaginarios vascos en Chile durante el siglo XX"*. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** [Basques au Chili.](http://www.euskonews.com/0072zbk/gaia7204es.html) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** *"Contacto Interlingüístico e intercultural en el mundo hispano"*. instituto valenciano de lenguas y culturas. Universitat de València Cita: *"Un 20% de la población chilena tiene su origen en el País Vasco"*. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** (in Spanish) [La población chilena con ascendencia vasca bordea entre el 15% y el 20% del total, por lo que es uno de los países con mayor presencia de emigrantes venidos de Euskadi.](http://www.empresariosvascos.cl/boletines/2008-11-03-BOLETIN-EMPREBASK.pdf) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20100202064123/http://www.empresariosvascos.cl/boletines/2008-11-03-BOLETIN-EMPREBASK.pdf) 2010-02-02 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** (in Spanish) [Presencia vasca en Chile.](https://www.euskalkultura.com/noticias/jon-erdozia-nuevo-delegado-en-chile-iniciativas-vasco-chilenas-como-emprebask-son-exportables-a-otros-paises?language_sync=1) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** [Archipiélago noticias. Canarios en Chile](http://www.archipielagonoticias.com/component/option,com_mamblog/Itemid,37/task,show/action,view/id,10375/Itemid,37/) (in Spanish: Canarians in Chile). Posted Luis León Barreto. Retrieved December 21, 2011, to 23:52 pm. v t e Catalan diaspora Chile Philippines United States Casals Catalans North-American Catalan Society Societat de Beneficència de Naturals de Catalunya Casal Català de Brussel·les v t e Ancestry and ethnicity in Chile Indigenous peoples Araucanian Cunco Huilliche Mapuche Moluche Pehuenche Picunche Puelche Others Aimara Atacameño Diaguita Kaweshkar Moyos Moyos Quechuas Qulla Rapanui Selkʼnam Tehuelche Tomatas Yaghan Immigration European Austrian Basque Belgian British English Scottish Welsh Croatian Czech Dutch French German Greek Hungarian Irish Italian Polish Russian Spanish Swiss Others African Americans & Canadians Arab Lebanese Palestinian Argentines Armenian Bolivian Brazilian Chinese Colombian Dominican Filipino Haitian Indian Japanese Jewish Korean Mexican Paraguayan Peruvian Romani Uruguayan Venezuelan Category:Ethnic groups in Chile v t e Spanish diaspora By country Africa Algeria Equatorial Guinea South Africa Asia Philippines Europe France Germany Netherlands Russia Sweden United Kingdom North America Belize Canada Costa Rica Cuba Dominican Republic Guatemala Honduras Jamaica Mexico Nicaragua Puerto Rico Trinidad and Tobago United States Asturian Basque Canarian (in Louisiana) Catalan Galician Oceania Australia New Zealand US areas of Oceania Hawaii South America Argentina Bolivia Brazil Chile Colombia Peru Uruguay Venezuela See also Conquest of the Canary Islands Isleño Republican exiles --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Spanish Chileans](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_Chileans) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_Chileans?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.