People

Louisiana Creole people are those who are descended from the colonial settlers of Louisiana, especially those of French, Spanish, and African descent. The term creole was first used by French settlers to distinguish between locally-born, mixed-race slaves and those born in Africa, when they were recording slave inventories.

It was a term used for "native-born". The most precise current definition of a creole is a person of non-American ancestry, whether African or European, who was born in the Americas.

Louisiana Creoles have common European heritage and share cultural ties, such as the traditional use of the French language and the continuing practice of Catholicism. Some Creole people have African and/or Native Americanancestry.

Later immigrants to New Orleans, such as Irish, Germans and Italians, also married into the Creole groups, though most remain of French ancestry. Most modern Creoles have family ties to Louisiana, particularly New Orleans. They are mostly Catholic in religion. Through the 19th century, most spoke French and were strongly connected to French colonial culture. They have had a major impact on the state's culture; hence, Louisiana is known as the Creole State.