I'm half Scottish. Any interesting facts about Scottish heritage? I know nothing about Scotland History?

Question

Thanks.

Answer 1

1) Scottish geography and climate have dictated Scottish history and culture: The Scots have had to work particularly hard to make the unyielding land serve their needs and have meanwhile shared an island with a people more wealthy and numerous than they.  

2)  At the time the Romans found it difficut to supply their troops in the north of Britain, the Picts were simply those Celts who avoided being assimilated into the Roman Empire.  By the 5th century CE, the Scoti from northeast Hiberia crossed the Irish Sea to what is now Scotland.  These "Scots" were Gaelic Celts as opposed to the Pretani Celts originally found in Britain.  In other words, immigrants from Ireland came to live among the original inhabitants of northern Britain whose ethnic heritage was more similar to the Celts now living in Wales. At the same time, Angles, Saxons, and Jutes first established themselves along the southern and south east coasts of Britain, some of whom would also eventually come to live in what is now Lowland Scotland.

3)  Scotland is a kingdom cobbled together from Pictland, Dalriada, and Strathclyde, to which may be added Lothia (originally part of English Northumbria), the Hebrides and the Western Isles.  While the Picts near the border with England remained the constant targets of English incursions throughout the Middle Ages, Viking raiders settled the Northern and Western parts of Scotland. The two main parts of Scotland since the Middle Ages have been the Lowlands (Edinburgh, Glasgow and the urban South) and the Highlands (the rural North).

4)  Traditionally, the Scots have fought amongst themselves since Pictish King Kenneth MacAlpin first proclaimed himself King of Scotland in 843.  By 1034, Scotland had the borders it does today, but Malcolm "Canmore" (r. 1087-1093), was the first king to rule a unified Scotland.

5)  The Scots, however, united when it came time to fight the English, whom they drove from Scotland in 1314 after the Battle of Bannockburn.  In 1320, Scottish leaders met at Arbroath Abbey to document Scotland's claim to a separate identity:  

"For we fight not for glory, or riches or honor, but for the freedom alone which no good man will consent to lose but for his life."

In 1328, the English Parlaiment agreed to terms of peace.

6) Unfortuately, during most of the Middle Ages, Scotland was ruled by a series of regencies since of the eight kings that followed Robert the Bruce, only two were adults.  This severely weakened the power of the Scottish Crown and increased the power of war lords and fiercely independent clans, such as the Macdonalds and the Douglases.  The Scots also struck up a lopsided trading and military partnernship with the French, referred to as the "Auld Alliance"--Scotland furnished the troops and sent young men to be educated in France.



7)  In 1503, James IV of Scotland married Margaret Tudor, the daughter of Henry VI of England, and the sister of Henry VIII.  This would later become important since Elizbeth I's nearest living heir was James VI of Scotland, who in 1603 simply added another title to his job description--James I of England--and moved to London. Since James let able administrators govern back home, he was actually one of Scotland's more successful kings.  During James' reign, he encouraged the settlement of Lowland Scots in Northern Ireland.  Their descendants today go by the names of Ulster Scots in the United Kingdom and the Scots-Irish in the United States.

8)  Because the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland during the MIddle Ages and Renaissance was known for its corrupt practices (kings routinely rewarded family members with Church offices and land), come the Protestant Reformation, the people readily abandoned the Church of Rome for the teachings of Calvinism.  Since parishoners needed to read the Bible to be saved (even if they never truly could count on this because of the doctrine of predestination), the Kirk placed much emphasis on education and literacy.  Consequently, Scotland was the first modern nation to require universal public education.  The Presbyterian governance system of the Church of Scotland wherein each believer had an equal say also encouraged democracy.

9)  With the succession of the son of the tragic Mary Queen of Scots, James VI,  to the English throne in 1603, the English and Scots were joined together in the personal union of two crowns, but their formal union didn't occur until the Act of Union in 1707.  Although the Scots benefitted economically from this merger, many then felt, and many still feel, that an unequal partnership was forced upon them.

10)  Because Scotland has always been a poor country, many of its citizens have exported themselves to other countries.  The Highland Clearances (1750-1880), for instance, resulted in the forced immigration of many peasants to Canada, the US, and Australia as Scottish lairds opted for "improvements" (i.e. sheep) over multitudes of crofters (tenant farmers who owed their loyalty to the laird).  Wool and Scottish whisky, traditionally associated with the Highlands, remain major Scottish exports.  

A larger percentage of Scots than any other region of the UK have also traditionally joined the armed forces of the UK, fighting with distinction from the time of the American Revolution to the present day.

The potato blight struck Highland Scotland about the same time it struck Ireland, but the widespread food shortage and famine there have always received much less publicity than they did when the same decimated Ireland.

During the Industrial Revolution, much of the "surplus" population moved to the cities. A large supply of cheap labor meant that Scotland along with England was one of the first countries to industrialize.  Until the 1960s, coal mining, ironworks, and shipbuilding figured most prominently in the Scottish economy. Today, the economy has evolved, just as in England and the United States, into a service economy, which in Scotland's case imeans jobs primarily in banking and computers.  Scotland also still provides the UK with North Sea oil and gas, although economists and geologists alike argue that these "fields" are past their prime.  

11)  LIke their fellow Britains to the South, the Scots speak English*, but their dialect, culture, literature, court system (based upon Roman law), and education institutions are very much their own. Indeed, for the first time in centuries, Scotland now can point  proudly to its own parliament. Even though Scotland makes up in population just five percent of the UK**, its talented, industrious, and energetic people have figured prominently in the modern-day history of Britain.  The last two prime ministers, Tony Blair and  Gordon Brown, for instance, are Scottish natives.

That's about all I can think of except that I'm proud to say that I'm an American of Scottish and Scots-Irish descent.

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*A small minority in the Highlands and Herbrides also still speak Scottish Gaelic, which is similar to Irish Gaelic.

**Americans with Scottish ancestry make up approximately 6 to 7 percent of the US population.  Americans were Scots-Irish ancestry make up about 7 percent of the US population.

Answer 2

Scotland came about as a country when Kenneth mac Alpin ( Kenneth son of Alpin ) moved from the home of the Scots in Dalriada( present Argyll ) to the Pictish Kingdom of Fortren and became the first King of what became known as Scotland . The Scots had come from Ireland and settled in Dalriada and inter married with the Picts ( the painted people ) Scotland was an independent country as was England until the Union of the Crowns when James Vl of Scotland became James l of Great Britain in 1603 . In 1707 the Parliaments  of the two countries joined thus establishing a political union . The Scottish Parliament was re convened some 5 or 6 years ago with what is termed " devolved " powers . After an initial Labour Government , the SNP ( Scottish National Party ) gained control . Taxation , defence and International relations are handled by the Westminster government - education , health and housing are handled by Holyrood in Edinburgh . Scottish Clans are basically Highland based families whilst the southern or Lowland families ( with the exception of  the border areas ) are " non tartan " !

Answer 3

The stereotype is of short, sturdy people with hairy feet, wanderlust and a love of practical education. There is a river or mountain named "MacKenzie" on every continent, I believe. It is no accident the engineer on Star Trek was "Scottie"; TV never saw a stereotype it didn't like.

Sometimes the men put on skirts and bite on the tails of cats hidden inside plaid bags. They call it "Bagpiping" instead of "Catbagging", for some reason.

Ask you rmom or dad, if you can. If it is your dad, treat him to three fingers of Cutty Sark in a mason jar to keep the vocal cords lubricated.

Answer 4

I know that the surname Scott used to mean Irishman.

Answer 5

Three:  Read more about...

1.  William Wallace

2.  Mary Queen of Scots

3.  The synergies among Scots, Scots-Irish and the Cherokee nation

You will find all of the above very interesting

Answer 6

They have very DEEP pockets & SHORT arms.

Only joking.

Answer 7

i'm half Irish half English i could also be half Scottish half Welsh were all celtic were all celts under the skin check out this website

http://scatoday.net/node/7214

my great grandfathers day was St Andrews he ancestors were Scottish so that makes me half Scottish i could also be half Welsh as well

you could be half Irish half Welsh  your Celtic we are all Celtic we are all Celts under the skin you check out this other website http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/ind...

http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/ind...

sorry i know nothing about Scottish history so i can't tell you

you could also be half English you may have Germanic

check out this 3rd website

http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/news/2006/07...

Answer 8

If you're looking for something more personally interesting, try to figure out what clan your family belonged to. If you have a fairly common scottish name, it shouldn't be too difficult. Try this: http://www.scotclans.com/  Your clan name may not necessarily be your last name!