Final answer:
The greatest number of Latinos in the US trace their heritage to Mexico, which forms the largest Hispanic subgroup. Other significant roots include Puerto Rican, Cuban, and Dominican backgrounds, with Mexican descent representing two-thirds of the Hispanic American population.
Step-by-step explanation:
The greatest number of Latinos in the US trace their heritage primarily to Mexico. Mexican Americans form the largest Hispanic subgroup in the United States, representing a significant portion of Hispanic immigrants as well as those born within the country. Migration from Mexico began in earnest in the early 1900s and was driven by the demand for inexpensive agricultural labor. This significant demographic includes both recent immigrants and families that have lived in the United States across generations, particularly following territorial changes such as the annexation of Texas and after the War with Mexico. Puerto Ricans, who are U.S. citizens by birth, also represent a substantial portion of the Latino population, along with smaller numbers from other Latin American countries, such as Cuba and the Dominican Republic.
Hispanic Americans have a diverse range of backgrounds, but two-thirds are of Mexican descent or originate from Mexico, making it the most common heritage among the Latino population in the U.S. The term Latino is often used in the U.S. to refer to people with Latin American heritage, representing diverse nationalities and cultural identities. Additionally, the U.S. Census Bureau categorizes people of Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South or Central American, or other Spanish culture or origin, regardless of race, under the ethnicity 'Hispanic or Latino.'