What makes a Scot?

[Livingston]

Be civil? Thanks no fun. Oh well.

In my very humble opinion, I fell that I am first and foremost an American. Since the US is the vast melting pot of world, at least all of us that have had ancestors here for any length of time, we are each of too many different nationalities to difinitively say we are Scottish, French, English, Spanish or whatever. In the research I have done on my ancestors, I find that I am Scottish, English, Welsh, Norwegian, Spanish, French, German and... Well, I gave up at that point. If you base it on sur name, well, then I guess I'd be Scottish. So, for purposes of this board and in general, I fell that I am an American with Scottish heritage. And that's just my opinion.

[slohairt]

I'll be civil! If you're referring to the Celtic Nations discussion we had, you'll note that I respectfully but vehemently disagreed with most of seanboy's views.

What makes a Scot? Obviously the simplest answer would be someone born in Scotland. The rest are descendants using such terms as Scottish-American, Scottish-Canadian, Scottish-Australian, etc.

Greg, if the two halves of your family hail from Scotland and Ireland, that would make you more than just a Celt, it would make you a Gael. Think of the Irish language terms: Gael Albannach, Gael Éireannach, and Gael Mheiriceánach. You are an American Gael.

I suppose I would be Gael Cheanadach, but it's a bit different for me. I don't readily relate as much to the genealogy efforts of North Americans because I was born in Ireland (and spent a third of my life there), thus making my daughter the first-born generation here in Canada. I suppose I could relate in a way through my paternal grandmother, who was born in Scotland. I know much less about her family (Graham) and am just beginning to look into it.

So, it comes back to what I mentioned in another post about state citizenship and ethnicity/nationality. Someone born in the United States with Scottish ancestry is a Scottish-American, not a Scot. That would be someone specifically born in Scotland.

P.S. I'm fairly certain that Cape Breton dancing is from Scottish dancing. Cape Breton Island (Eilean Cheap Breatainn) was populated almost exclusively by Highlanders.

[McFarkus]

for purposes of this board and in general, I feel that I am an American with Scottish heritage. And that's just my opinion.

Ditto. I'm a Heinz 57 hyphenated American. It would be difficult to say that one part is predominant. However, both my mother and my paternal grandmother talked a great deal about their Scottish heritage and thus it became important to me and my siblings.

[Bugbear]

Ditto. I'm a Heinz 57 hyphenated American. It would be difficult to say that one part is predominant. However, both my mother and my paternal grandmother talked a great deal about their Scottish heritage and thus it became important to me and my siblings.

I can understand this. Sadly, my father clames all this Scottishness and bla bla bla, but it comes down to that he likes short bread, and that's about it. The rest is all talk, and he doesn't have the guts to put on a kilt. I saw him for the first time in seven years back in December. I had sent my step mother pictures of me wearing a kilt. I new he was just dieing to make some snide comment, but he new his place.That being said, I don't feel Scottish; I'm kind of... nothing. Nice to wear a kilt though.

[Bryan]

My mother was born and raised in Germany, but her father was an American. Does she consider herself German? No, she says she's an American. Do I consider myself German? No, but I do have a very direct German ancestry. Her family also has English, Welsh and Cornish lines. Dad's side is mostly German, Scottish, English.

I'm an American, born and raised that happens to have German-English-Welsh-Scottish-Cornish ancestry. But before all that, I'm a fiercely proud Texan and when someone asks what I am, that's my reply.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

I'm a fiercely proud Texan and when someone asks what I am, that's my reply.

Thank goodness we don't have a thread asking "What makes a Texan"!

[Bryan]

Thank goodness we don't have a thread asking "What makes a Texan"!

That may be any even tougher question as only a few of us on this site have been so blessed!

[ccga3359]

I am defiantly not a Scot and I cannot possibly answer that question. As stated before I was born in England (and lived there 'til I were 10), my home is Canada (for the past 32 years, citizen at 13). I am English by birth, Canadian by choice and damn proud of both. I still hold dual citizenship (travel on a British passport). Don't you dare hyphenate me though. I am Canadian, not English-Canadian, British-Canadian, just Canadian. Don't even think of calling me a plastic Canadian either, I assimilated and swore allegience to Queen and Country. Canada may not be my birth home but you'll not find someone more patriotic than I. So, perhaps a "Scot" feels the same about Scotland.

[ccga3359]

That may be any even tougher question as only a few of us on this site have been so blessed!

Sissy Spacek is a Texan. I love Sissy Spacek.

[beloitpiper]

But before all that, I'm a fiercely proud Texan and when someone asks what I am, that's my reply.

Haha, we have a saying here:

Wisconsinites: just as proud as Texans, twice as modest...