American Colonists who supported the British during the American Revolution. They fled to Canada after the United States beat the British. They all were awarded the honor of adding UE (Unity of Empire) to their names, thus comes the name United Empire Loyalists. To qualify as a true Loyalist they had to be born in the US, and have given considerable service in the war, as well as have left the states at the end of the war. People who came later are know as Late Loyalists.