What are the Plymouth settlers known as in history books?

The Plymouth settlers are known in history books as the Pilgrims. They were English religious Separatists who wanted congregations independent of the Church of England, which they considered incapable of proper reform.

Many of the core group lived in Leiden, the Netherlands, before sailing to North America aboard the Mayflower in 1620. They established Plymouth Colony in present-day Massachusetts. The Mayflower Compact, signed before settlement, created a framework for self-government among the passengers.

“Pilgrim” was not the group’s most common name during their own lifetime. William Bradford used the word in his history Of Plymouth Plantation, drawing on the biblical image of religious travelers seeking a better homeland. The label became popular later, especially during 18th- and 19th-century commemorations.

A common mix-up is calling all early Plymouth residents Puritans or assuming every Mayflower passenger was a religious Separatist. The ship also carried “Strangers,” including people recruited for practical skills. The Pilgrims’ story is closely linked to the Mayflower, Plymouth Rock, and the Thanksgiving tradition, although later popular versions simplify their complex relationships with Indigenous peoples.