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| Rioplatense Spanish · Galician · Catalan · Basque | |
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| Roman Catholicism · Others | |
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| Spanish Argentines |
| Part ofa series on the |
| Spanish people |
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_alternate_colours.svg) Rojigualda (historical Spanish flag) |
| Regional groups |
Other groups |
| SignificantSpanish diaspora |
 Category •  Spain portal |
Spanish settlement in Uruguay, that is the arrival ofSpanish emigrants in the country known today asUruguay, took place firstly in the period before independence from Spain and again in large numbers during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, resulting in a large proportion of Uruguayans are of Spanish ancestral origin.
Between the 15th and early 19th centuries, theSpanish Empire was the sole colonial power in theBanda Oriental. Thus, before 1811, a great part of theEuropean settlers in Uruguay were from Spain and they carried theSpanish colonial administration, including religious affairs, government and commercial business. A substantial Spanish-descendedCriollo population gradually built up in the new cities, while some mixed with theindigenous populations (mestizos), with theBlack slave population (mulattoes) or with other European immigrants.
Spanish settlement along with the Italians, formed the backbone of today's Uruguayan society. Like its neighbour countryArgentina, the culture of Uruguay exhibits significant connections to Spanish culture; in terms of language, customs and traditions.
ManyUruguayans who have a Spanish lineage include those of post-independenceSpanish immigrant descent, as long as they have retained a Spanish cultural identity. Large proportions are ofGalician descent. During theSpanish Civil War, thousands of Spaniards fled from Spain to Uruguay. TheSpanish republicans fledFranco's regime as well, seeking to escape retribution from the new government.
The Spanish immigrants who arrived between 18th and 20th century have different origins, but a significant number of them came fromGalicia,[1][2] theBasque Country,[3] andAsturias;[4] with smaller but notable numbers fromValencia[5] and theCanary Islands.
The 2011 Uruguayan census revealed 12,776 people who declared Spain as their country of birth.[6] Thousands of Uruguayan nationals are holders of Spanish passports.[7]
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