Scott is a common Borders name and was one of the reiving families. There could be many reasons why they left Scotland from the persecution after the Union of the Crowns when many of the border families were killed off and others would have escaped. Also there was much trade between the Port of Leith and the Low Countries, Scandinavia and the Baltic states and many Scotsmen would have settled there in business. Also many Scots fought on the Continent as mercenaries, famous examples being the Gordons who fought on both sides in the religious wars of the Holy Roman Empire and Catherine the Great's admiral who was also a Scotsman.