Roots
"For that is the mark of the Scot of all classes . . . there burns alive in him a sense of identity with the dead, even to the twentieth generation."
(RL Stevenson.)
Rocking all over the world
The Scots, like many small nations, have settled all over the world, (it is estimated that between 28 and 40 million people around the globe claim Scottish descent), but few nations have inspired in their Diaspora such a profound sense of roots and identity as Scotland has.
Perhaps this is related to the very notion of 'the Clan', a concept which dates back to the 12th Century. The Scottish clans were originally extended networks of families who had loyalties to a particular chief, but the word 'clan' is derived from the Gaelic 'clann', meaning literally children. And how far the children of Scotland have travelled. . . .
Go west. Or east.
In America, where the Scots have been migrating for centuries, there are eight Aberdeens, eight Edinburghs, seven Glasgows, and eight Scotlands, as well as hundreds of St. Andrews Societies and Caledonian clubs, not to mention a huge fondness for activities like golf, curling, country dancing and malt whisky!
Moving further North, into Canada, the Scots influence is, if anything, even more profound. Indeed 'Nova Scotia' means literally 'New Scotland' and it has sometimes been said that Canada is almost an extension of Scotland. John MacDonald, Canada's first prime minister, was a Scot. As was Alexander Mackenzie, the first explorer to cross from the east to west coast of the country, and yet another Scot, Forres-born Alexander Smith, built the great Canadian-Pacific railway.
The Scottish contributions to Canada and America are well known but, moving to the other side of the globe, how many people know of the Scottish side to Singapore? Sir Thomas Raffles is widely recognised as the colonial founder of the country. It is less well known that his co-founder, William Farquhar was a Scot. If you walk around Singapore today you need only look at the place names – St. Andrews Cathedral, MacRitchie Reservoir, MacDonald House, Campbell Lane – to understand the tremendous influence the Scots have had there.
How Scottish are you?
From Singapore, all through Europe to the US and Canada there are people with a profound sense of Scottish ancestry and nowadays, thanks to the information superhighway, it has never been easier for Scots as far apart as Krakow and Kilmarnock, from Florida to Mount Florida, to trace their roots back to the glen or village where they began. If you're in Edinburgh try the SCOTTISH GENEALOGY SOCIETY – which has been helping people do just this since 1953 – or the NATIONAL LIBRARY of SCOTLAND, while, in Glasgow, THE MITCHELL LIBRARY has extensive family histories, voters rolls, street directories and graduation and emigrants lists. Or click on one of the following links and find out just how Scottish you are. . . .
May 2007
A Mint from a Print A look at the history of Scottish banknotes, and the success of its banking institutions.
February 2007
Scotland's legacy in Sri Lanka Geographically and culturally Scotland and Sri Lanka may seem to be far apart but the two countries have a fascinating shared history.
April 2006
Thistle and Broom There is no place on Earth which has ever consistently inspired me to stop, take a deep breath and sigh out loud in wonder, as much as Scotland . . .