Itinerant groups in Europe

Indigenous Dutch Travellers, known in the Netherlands as Woonwagenbewoners (English: caravan dwellers), were first recorded as a population in the 1879 census, but have existed since the advent of industrial mechanization in the first half of the 19th century.

They travelled around in search of employment and practised traditional professions like chair bottomers, tinsmiths, broom binders, traders, peddlers, artisans, etc.

[4] Living in trailer parks or caravan camps gave rise to the pejorative name Kampers to refer to Dutch Travellers, while the latter prefer to call themselves Reizigers ('Travellers').

It was only later that they started building covered wagons, a simple cart with a tarpaulin over it, which they pulled themselves or for which they harnessed some dogs.

[5] Indigenous Norwegian Travellers (more commonly known as Fanter, Fantefolk or Skøyere) are an itinerant group who call themselves Reisende.

This term is also used by Romanisæl Travellers (the largest population of Romani people in Norway and Sweden), though the two groups are distinct.

[7] Travellers refer to themselves as Mincéirí or Pavees in their own language or in Irish as an Lucht Siúil, meaning literally "the walking people".

[8] The vast majority of Irish Travellers are Roman Catholics who maintain their traditions and culture in a close-knit community of families.

The Romani have Indo-Aryan roots and heritage and first entered Europe via the Middle East around a thousand years ago.

The Highland Traveller community has a long history in Scotland going back on record to at least the 12th century.

Nowadays, the majority of Highland Travellers have settled down into organized campsites or regular houses.

[10] Travellers' outstanding contribution to Highland life has been as custodians of an ancient and vital Gaelic singing, storytelling, and folklore tradition.

In German-speaking Europe, France, and Wallonia (part of Belgium), there are the Yenish people (Jenische or Yeniche in German and French, respectively).

These groups formed across Europe, and included the families of travelling markets, funfairs, carnvials, and circuses, which required frequent mobility.

For example, the Showman's Guild of Great Britain requires that applicants have a parent from the funfair travelling community.

[citation needed] The Camminanti are an ethnic group in Sicily, originating from the end of the 14th century.