[3] The first families from Luxembourg arrived in the United States, around 1842, fleeing from the overpopulation and economic change in the newly independent country.

In the 2000 census, the states with the largest self-reported Luxembourger American populations were Illinois (6,963), Wisconsin (6,580), Minnesota (5,867), Iowa (5,624), and California (2,824).

In the large families of the time, the dividing up of inheritances led to fragmentation of land ownership.

Selling one's portion to the elder brother, however, provided enough money for the other siblings to pay for the voyage to America and to start a new life there.

After arriving in New York, Luxembourgers tended to move on to Chicago, as well as Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.