<P> None of the German states had American colonies . In the 1670s , the first significant groups of German immigrants arrived in the British colonies , settling primarily in Pennsylvania , New York , and Virginia . Immigration continued in very large numbers during the 19th century , with eight million arrivals from Germany . Between 1820 and 1870 over seven and a half million German immigrants came to the United States -- more than doubling the entire population of the country . By 2010 , their population grew to 49.8 million immigrants , reflecting a jump of 6 million people since 2000 . </P>
where did german immigrants settled in the 1800s
British colonies , settling primarily in Pennsylvania , New York , and Virginia