Exploring Scottish Ancestry: Tracing Your Roots to the Highlands
Are you fascinated by the rich history and captivating heritage of Scotland?
Do you feel a deep connection to the land of the tartan and bagpipes?
If so, you may be intrigued to discover your Scottish ancestry and unravel the tales of your forefathers.
We’re a local tour company and have led 100’s of ancestry tours throughout Scotland, from MacLeods on Skye to Fergussons in Aberdeenshire. If you’re interested in coming to Scotland and exploring your ancestral roots in person (there’s nothing more exciting!), then get in touch!
We offer personalised private tours where we’ll create the ideal itinerary to visit locations around Scotland connected with your ancestors & Scottish heritage.
Today, though, we’ll explore Scottish heritage. Read on to learn the history of the Scots, Gaels & Picts as well as how to discover more about your own heritage.
Who are the Scots descendant from?
The Scots are an ethnic group and nation native to Scotland. They emerged in the early Middle Ages through the merging of two Celtic-speaking peoples, the Picts and Gaels.
The Picts and Gaels established the Kingdom of Scotland (or Alba) in the 9th century. Over time, additional groups became part of Scotland, including the Cumbrians of Strathclyde, the Germanic-speaking Angles of north Northumbria, and Norman nobles during the 12th-century Davidian Revolution.
In the 13th and 15th centuries, some Norse-Gaels of the Western Isles and the Norse of the Northern Isles also joined Scotland.
In modern usage, the term "Scottish people" or "Scots" refers to individuals with linguistic, cultural, family ancestral, or genetic connections to Scotland. The term "Scoti" originally referred to the Gaels but later encompassed all inhabitants of Scotland.
It's important to note that the term "Scotch" has been used but is now primarily used outside of Scotland and often considered an insult. Scotch is a term more appropriately used to refer to Scottish whisky!
How do I find out my Scottish heritage?/ Am I of Scottish descent?
Discovering your Scottish heritage can be an exciting and fulfilling journey. Start by gathering information from your family and speaking with older relatives who may have knowledge of your ancestral roots. They might provide valuable insights, stories, or even documents that can guide your research.
Additionally, explore genealogical records, such as birth certificates, marriage records, and census data, to trace your family lineage. Online genealogy platforms and archives can also be invaluable resources for uncovering Scottish ancestors.
The likes of Ancestry or MyHeritage can help you find out you ancestry through looking at your DNA and providing you with a map of where you’re family came from.
How rare is Scottish DNA?
Scotland has seen a diverse array of genetic influences over the centuries due to migrations and interactions with neighbouring populations.
Scottish DNA often exhibits a mix of Celtic, Viking, and Anglo-Saxon genetic markers, along with traces of other groups that have left their mark on the Scottish population.
The Scots have also had mass periods of immigration (The Highland Clearances and Jacobite Expulsions). Considering your here looking into your Scottish heritage it’s possible you’re the ancestor of a Jacobite or crofter forced to find a life elsewhere.
Long story short, it’s not ‘rare’ to have Scottish DNA but it can be an adventure into understanding where you’ve come from and the struggles your forefathers faced.
Imagine traveling to Scotland as a MacLeod and visiting the castle clan seat where MacLeods have lived for hundreds of years (Dunvegan Castle, pictured above).
Tracing Back Your Scottish Ancestry
Can you find your surname on the map?
Are you already aware of your Scottish ancestry?
For the many reasons that visit come to Scotland and tour with us, uncovering their Scottish ancestry and exploring places connected to their family name are top of the list.
If you’d like to head out on an adventure of a lifetime, travelling Scotland in search of the historic locations associated with your clan then fill out one of our private tour forms.
We’ll help craft your DREAM tour, provide you with an expert, story-telling guide and make sure it’s a trip you’ll never forget!
Click here to check out private clan tours.
You can also discover our 8-max group tours here, from day trips to multi-day island adventures!
Whatever you decide to do, hopefully you’ve learned something and have a better idea of Scottish clans and ancestry. You can grab a free interactive map of Scotland with over 450 epic locations to visit from View Points to Highland Cow stops.
