The American Mafia (also known as American Cosa Nostra or Italian-American Mafia) is an Italian-American criminal society an offshoot of the Sicilian Mafia. It emerged on the East Coast of the United States during the late 19th century following waves of Sicilian and Southern Italian emigration (see also Italian diaspora). In North America, the Mafia often refers to Italian organized crime in general, rather than just traditional Sicilian organized crime. For example the five main Mafia families include Gambino, Lucchese, Genovese, Bonanno and Colombo crime families with only Italian-American made members.