Scots-Irish

[Jerry]

I might be wrong, but I have always used thr term Scot Irish tom reflect the fact that my mother's family (Gordons) are Scots, and my father's family (McNeill) are immigrants from County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. Thus, I am Scottish on one side and Irish on the other. Of course, now that I have discovered (Irish American Society), ther Irish part of my family are considered Scots also, Maybe I should call myself "Scot/IrishScot" Overall, I guess I'm just another "mongrel American" with an interesting ancestry (even a little Carolina Indian thrown in)

[Moosehead]

Wow, I've given myslef a headache! In further searching, it seems (to me anyway) that there is as much, if not more, "hatred" between Republicans and Unionists in the US as there is in Ulster.

The only agreement seems to be that the Ulstermen (protestants anyway) are not Irish.

I actually did a short tour of duty in NI when I was in the RAF. Unfortunately, considering the circumstances, we were not allowed to venture out into the community.

[macwilkin]

My fiancee is part Scot, part Irish, hence Scots-Irish. There are a couple others in there, but they're a small minority. Most Americans are very much interested in where their ancestors came from.

The term Scots-Irish refers to Scots who settled Ulster, Northern Ireland, and then later immigrated to America and in some cases, Canada.

Yes, there folks who are half-Scottish, half-Irish -- but the term "Scots-Irish" really describes a whole other creature, so to speak.

A good general article can be found here:

http://www.ulsterscotssociety.com/about.html

Cheers,

Todd

[auld argonian]

Try:

http://www.electricscotland.com/book...cots_irish.htm

I've seen a few explainations of the history of the Scots-Irish...my most direct ancestor that came to the "colonies" lived in Londonderry and emigrated to the Americas.

Best

AA

[Cawdorian]

Many of the Scots-Irish who emigrated to America about 1700 settled in Pennsylvania, Some later emigrated along "the Great Wagon Trail" from Pennsylvania into Virginia, and on into Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia.

That is the reason why so many Highland Games and other Scottish events are held in this part of the country, there are still many people of this heritage who still live here. If you look at the "Kilt Map", this concentration of people of Scottish and Scots-Irish descent is shown quite graphically.

I'm proud to be of Irish, Scottish and Scots-Irish descent (with a few other things thrown in no doubt).

[Moosehead]

Cawdorian,

must admit I find it somewhat amusing (no offence intended to anyone) that all those Lowlanders have so many Highland games. :grin:

As for my GGranny Cowan, it is also possible that she descends from the earlier emigration of the MacDonalds to Ulster. Both MacDonalds and Colquhouns claim Cowans as septs of their respective clans. Bloody confusing.

[Cawdorian]

It is confusing, you should try to place the Browns in a clan, Broun, Lamont, McMillan or who knows which other clans may claim them.

[M. A. C. Newsome]

Scots-Irish is a very confusing term, but it actually has a real meaning.

First, it does not refer to someone of mixed Scottish and Irish heritage. It is incorrect to use it in this manner.

It does refer to a particular migration pattern, which began in the Lowlands of Scotland in the early seventeenth century, moved to Ulster in northern Ireland, and then during the eighteenth century migrated to North American (largely to Pennsylvania, though to other port areas, as well).

I have an article about the migration here:
http://www.scottishtartans.org/ulster.html

In brief, these were people of Scottish descent who had been living in Ireland for a time prior to their arrival in North America. Think of it as akin to the term Scottish-American (people of Scottish descent living in America). One other thing to keep in mind is that "Scots-Irish" is largely an American term. The people were not called that until their arrival in North America, largely to distinguish them from the Irish Catholics, who arrived in another migration entirely.

Those of Scottish descent who still reside in northern Ireland are usually referred to as "Ulster Scots."

So, unless you can trace your heritage back to the migration of the Ulster Scots to North America, it's not really correct to refer to yourself as "Scots-Irish."

Aye,
Matt

[Jerry]

My family immigrated in the late 1920s, and like I said earlier, The Irish American Society reps at the richmond Highland Games told me that they were really Scots. Although, with the passing of my uncle in 2002, I lost all contact with anyone, I believe I still have relatives in Northern Ireland, both McNeills and Farrels. So, Matt, if I understand you correctly, they are "Ulster Scots"?

[macwilkin]

My family immigrated in the late 1920s, and like I said earlier, The Irish American Society reps at the richmond Highland Games told me that they were really Scots. Although, with the passing of my uncle in 2002, I lost all contact with anyone, I believe I still have relatives in Northern Ireland, both McNeills and Farrels. So, Matt, if I understand you correctly, they are "Ulster Scots"?

Ulster Scots/Scots-Irish.

T.