What makes you Scotch.....

momat · Post by **momat** » Sun May 21, 2006 12:30 am

Pleased to read that others out there fell the same way as I do .
That SCOTCH is something that comes out of a BOTTLE.

My Mother was born in Scotland as was I ,so I am a SCOT of SCOTTISH descent from SCOTLAND.
Although I have lived in New Zealand for 46 years I still call myself a SCOT.Especially when it comes to all those official papers like census etc; that want to know what ethnic group you belong to!

Cheers.

JustJean · Post by **JustJean** » Sun May 21, 2006 1:48 am

I'm mostly English and only 1/4 Scottish....altho there are McDonald and McAllister and McKeen surnames way back on one Grandmother's line that surely must have come from Scotland at some time...just so far back that it can't be proven. In a history of the town of Gorham, Maine it is written that "the McDonald's or McDaniels as the name was often called came to this country from Glencoe Scotland and landed on Cape Cod. John McDonald probably went to Wells in 1726. He was in the war against the Indians and finally came to Gorham where he settled in the western part of the town on a farm." This John McDonald is a direct line for me but who's to say he's truly descended from the infamous Glencoe McDonalds????? So this is an example of my unknown Scottish heritage. As for the 1/4 I do know about....well they didn't arrive in Boston until 1891. But by the time I arrived on the scene 3 generations later so much of the culture was lost. I heard stories but never in the native tongue. I have mementos and treasured possessions that came over with them but they haven't given up any secrets. I've managed to puzzle out a few truths and have also proven a few mistruths.

I was born with a Scottish name but little else. I have to honestly say that it's been from meeting people through TalkingScot that I've finally come to have a sense of what it means to have a Scottish heritage.

Best wishes
Jean

StewL · Post by **StewL** » Sun May 21, 2006 2:50 am

Davie

I am a Scot, who has lived in Australia for 42 years. I came here when I was 11, but as for my nationality, I suppose I am an Ozzie born in Scotland, a point I always make on those forms, not just census either. My youngest brothers two girls consider themselves Scots/Ozzies as they were born here to a Scottish father and Ozzie mother, although how much a pun that is on their mothers MS (Scott

) only those lassies know

But in reality I consider myself a Scot who took Australian citizenship as a matter of course. But always remain a Scot at heart.

Oh and it is a bit of a shock too that I have been here for 42 years, where has the time gone

FionaZ · Post by **FionaZ** » Sun May 21, 2006 3:09 am

I am a mongrel! I have two sets of Scottish great grandparents, two sets of English great grandparents, One Scottish born Grandfather and one New Zealand born grandmother (or scottish parents) and two English grandparents. My mother was born in South Africa. My father in Ireland.
My brother and I were both born in South Africa. I now live in Australia and he lives in England. Our children were all born in South Africa but my grandchildren are all Australian born (and two South African born step-grandchildren!!) I am not sure who to support during international Rugby matches. But I love this website and have found many Scottish ancestors and just wish I could find some "cousins" that are living!!
Regards, Fiona

Post by **Ina** » Sun May 21, 2006 3:42 am

Although I left Scotland 45 years ago I still consider myself Scottish (never Scotch), and I still have my Scottish accent (just ask DWW). As I get older I seem to want to return to Scotland more and more……..almost like it’s calling me. Planning another trip home next year. Yes, I still call it home.

I tend to agree with Russell’s statement:
My only objection is to ex-pats who try to create a mythical land with magical clan roots which give them rights to set up clan societies and invent tartans and affiliations with Robert the Bruce or William Wallace or some such.

I’m not involved in any of the clans in the United States, in fact when I attend the Scottish games, I have a laugh at how people actually buy family trees from the clan tents. Of course if people want to believe they have traced their roots back to William Wallace, Robert the Bruce or whoever………… who are we to disagree?

Ina
Current AG chair

ninatoo · Post by **ninatoo** » Sun May 21, 2006 6:00 am

I am Scottish born, although I have lived in Australia nearly all my life. But I have never felt Australian in the same wasy that I feel I am a Scot. My homeland is Scotland and I am proud of it. There is just something in me that has always identified me as Scottish in my heart.

I don't speak with an accent, but I can put it on when I want to. Most are surprised when I tell them where I was born, but there was one fellow who picked up that I wasn't Australian by listening to my speech.

I have been back for two short visits, and now I am desperately wanting to go back and stay for an extended holiday to really delve into my roots in a way that can never be done while living here. I want to go and stand on the land where my ancestors lived, married, worked, died, were buried. I want to walk the streets that they lived on (those that are still there) and just appreciate where my family came from. And I want to soak up that incredible Glaswegian feeling that I remember well and miss terribly.

And as for the Scotch...whiskey and tape

Nina

AnnieMack · Post by **AnnieMack** » Sun May 21, 2006 12:53 pm

I was born in Scotland, live in Scotland (apart from 3 years in Canada when before I was old enough to go to school), I holiday in Scotland as I don't have a passport and feel no need for one yet AND all my ancestors beck to 1780 are Scots born so I think I qualify for the full 100% Scottish label.

I love Scotland and can't think of living anywhere else, though when my kids leave home and I get some money to spend on myself I might broaden my cultural horizons.

Annie

JustJean · Post by **JustJean** » Sun May 21, 2006 2:06 pm

Oh....and just to show you all that apparently at one time it was considered OK to think in Scotch terms.....this from a yellowed and brittle newspaper clipping.....I've no idea which paper or what year it was published but the copyright gives a clue to age and the fact that my rellies were in the vicinity of Boston gives the other clue....

That Little Scotch Mother

By Anne Campbell

There are memories woven of yesterday's gold,
Before childish dreams had grown dim.
There are pictures of friends who with me have grown old,
And my ears treasure still a loved hymn.
There are long country lanes and green woods and bright fields,
There are phrases, bejewelled and fine,
but the most precious treasury my memory yields
Is that little Scotch mother of mine!
She's as sensibly sweet as the land of her birth
With an edge to her sweetness and charm,
And she has a contempt for a "saft" life on earth,
Though her blue eyes are mellow and warm.
There's a blurr to her speech, and her hands are as strong
As her will; and there's scarcely a line
In the forehead of one I have loved for so long--
That little Scotch mother of mine!
There are highways that lead to quaint far-away lands.
There are journey's to take to the sea,
But I want to hold closely once more the hands
That made childhood a heaven for me.
Every heart has a glimpse of it's own paradise,
But mine is not hard to divine!
It is only to gaze once again in the eyes
Of that little Scotch mother of mine!

Copyright 1933

rdem · Post by **rdem** » Sun May 21, 2006 3:55 pm

I have to think about this. Yes, I consider myself a Scot. My racial lines are Gaelic Irish from my father's side, I'm fifth generation. My mother's lines are ag labs, carters, ploughmen etc in Kincardineshire and Deeside in Aberdeenshire. I was "wrenched" away from Scotland at the tender age of ten and Scotland has always had a tug at my heart. I perk up when I hear the accent when in a mall or a store. History was always my favourite subject even in school in Scotland. So I have read much on Scottish history in adult life and family history was just a natural progression.
I do believe we are quite willing to call ourselves Scots after a generation or two or have Scottish ancestry in even one line.

Post by **AnneM** » Sun May 21, 2006 7:05 pm

Hi

Like my almost namesake, I am Scottish born and bred and apart from 3 years in Yorkshire have lived all of my life in Scotland. I do however travel around as much as finance and conscience about global warming allow.

I love Scottish history. literature and music, especially the music which has a haunting quality all of it's own but I loathe haggis, porridge and whisky (that is all whisky except on particular Aberlour single malt which tastes like brandy to which I was introduced by a man in the Whisky shop in Inverary).

Most of my ancestors are Scottish and come from one side of a line drawn diagonally across Scotland running Northish West to South East passing just North of Perth. However I have the usual smattering of Irish rellies and just to add a bit of colour one line of German Jewish people.

Sometimes I cringe at the odd crass thing we do or the odd bit of the heritage industry got out of hand but mostly I am very proud to be Scottish ....which does not stop me being happily married to a man who considers himself to be English (despite the fact that I've lived in England considerably longer than he has) and also being a confirmed Francophile.

Here's tae us. Wha's like us.....

Anne

P.S. I'm also very happy to be a Scots lawyer to trade.