I'm Welsh, I speak Welsh, but I have notice a sad cruelty that Highland Scots and Americans who descend from Highlanders seem to derive joy in telling Lowlanders that they're mere "Anglo-Saxons" or "Anglo-Norman", etc. DNA has shown us that having a Norman name does not always mean that the modern Norman-names Scot has any Norman or French, or Danish DNA. There were various types of surnames that came in vogue at different points. A MacFarlane may be a descendant of someone who was adopted into a clan - they may very well be from Viking roots. Conversely, a modern Armstrong is often the descendant of Brythonic-speaking Celts/Britons. I do a lot of Genetic Genealogy and have seen this time and again. Even modern English are more likely to directly descend from a native Briton/Celt than a Dane - which is why English are not that blonde, compared to Scandinavians. Also I've noticed that when a Highlander discovers he comes from Nordic stock, they like to claim they Vikings, whereas they refer to lowlanders as mere "Anglo-Saxons". Also the Gaelic thing: it was a Western Scottish thing really. My friend's Murdochs were from Ayrshire, and were surprised that some of their records were in Gaelic, but Western Scotland used Gaelic, just not as recently as the North. Many lowlanders and people descended from Picts have ancestors who spoke Brythonic, but had to speak English, due to their proximity to England. The Welsh (Cymraeg) Celts do not seem to have the same hostility and weird inferiority complex, likely because many of us still speak our language (unfortunately not enough) so our sense of self is not so derived from the idea that our great-great Grandfather wore a tartan; when in reality, we know from the Greeks and Romans that tartans were NOT specific to Scotland so much as that was a common way non animal skin clothing was made in the post Bell Beaker Hallstatt, La Tene, etc. eras. Peace be with you

@thescottishclans

Жыл бұрын

I didn't find a thing you said that I have any problem with. I personally have ancestors from every part you mentioned, with my paternal line (Edwards) being Welsh. I'm not sure about inferiority complexes cause I don't have enough experience over there to know whether or not that's true. But surely it's misinformed to make generalized, sweeping statements about Lowlanders being Anglo-Saxon. I imagine, in many cases, unless the historic record is strong otherwise, any given kindred in the Lowlands or Highlands are mostly descended from whoever was originally there. Even in Anglian Northumbria, the core population might have been mostly British. What we're really dealing with is a language/culture thing, which is also often less straightforward than many would like to believe.

@Jamestele1

Жыл бұрын

@@thescottishclans I read a article the other day stating that English average from 60 to 70 percent Native Briton. Peace

@straycat1674

9 ай бұрын

Those of Highland Scott heritage need to realize that a lot of people in the lowlands, their ancestors migrated from the highlands. There are several clans that are also descended from Somerled. But Scotland itself as a whole is diverse. And people need to realize it’s no longer about Highland or Loland or border or whatever, it’s about being Scottish. It’s about being Scottish American or Scottish Canadian or Scottish Australian. It’s about the pride you choose to have in your ancestry and the version of heritage that’s evolved where you live.

@BeautifuLakesStreamsBiologists

7 ай бұрын

As I follow my lineage though time I came to realize I am CosmoCeltic with roots in the Highlands, Borders, Wales Ireland and England. If you blend equal parts of Kerr, Rose, Maddox, Moore, McKane, Robertson, McAlpin, and many others from Ireland to Dál Riata: and Pictland, you end up with something like me and many many others. Even my borderer surname ( Sero Sed Serio) was scattered across much of Scotland. Those with a higlhand surname have no purchase on the rest with Celtic ancestory.

@danialinnes8588

7 ай бұрын

Low Landers are more English than Scottish and the people from the north of England are more Scottish then English

I am a Hay. My great grandfather. Robert Hay and great grandmother Mary johnstone emigrated from glasgow in early 1930s and came to the west coast of the USA. OREGON. Nice video I enjoyed it. Good information

@doc3162

8 ай бұрын

I'm in Oregon and I'm from the Douglas clan, nice to meet another Scotsman.

The Border way of living didn't end or begin at the Anglo-Scottish Border, the Northumberland folk of Tynedale, Coquetdale, Redesdale and the various dales and valleys of Cumberland and Westmoreland all lived under similar conditions and had a similar lifestyle to those north of the Border, and in a lot of cases were related by blood and marriage. If anybody is really interested George Mcdonald-Fraser authored a good book - called the 'Steel Bonnets' - about this particular part of the world. Be warned though, Mcdonald-Faser's account pulls no punches and while he does recount the romantic episodes of derring do, he also recounts the other side of the coin, the murders, burnings and summary justice dispensed by the locals and by the Wardens of the Marches. This part of the world had been used for centuries by the relevant Monarchs of Scotland and England in a callous and cynical way to apply pressure across the Border in both directions, so the people were a very hardy and - let's not skip about the bush here - a very vicious lot, used to dealing with guerrilla raids and also no stranger with dealing with the various armies that tramped through this part of the world, heading North or South, depending on the nationality. Funnily enough, the meeting between the Highlanders and the Borderers did occur in 1513 at a place called Flodden.

@the-kilted-trucker59

Жыл бұрын

That is when clan Muirhead lost its chief as well as many a clansman backing the scottish king.

@stuartridley2222

Жыл бұрын

The Steel Bonnets is a fantastic book. Well worth reading.

@michellealexander3787

5 ай бұрын

Steel Bonnets is a phenomenonal book and a great lesson in history.

@DFMSelfprotection

4 ай бұрын

When they mean borderlands they don't mean a strip on either side of the line: they mean south Scotland and the north of England from the Tees upwards for example.

I'm from Dumfries and Galloway scotland and I can tell you, there is far more history in the Lowlands than the highlanders like to believe. We are all Scottish. Be proud of iy

If you have a Reiver Clan surname, your more likely to be descendents of people from the Kingdom of Norhumbria rather than Scotland. Newcastle upon Tyne had the Armstrong, Ridley and Scott families running the town in the 11th century Peter Scot was Mayor from 1245-1251, one of the first in history to go by that surname, and chances are you will have Brigantine ancestors. DNA tests on descendents still living in the Border area saw a significantly higher proportion of Ancient DNA than anywhere else in the UK, basically if you're a descendent of the Reivers your roots could in the Dark Ages or Roman British.

@matthew-dq8vk

Жыл бұрын

Actually I would argue most border surnames in America come from Ulster. I have Foster and Scott on my moms side and her ancestors immigrated to America from northern Ireland.

@joeytodd795

Жыл бұрын

@@matthew-dq8vk he's talking about well before that. Some of my ancestors, about a quarter, were sent to Ulster, but before that, they were Annandale, Dumfrieshire Carruthers Reivers. And before that sort of that Celtic Kingdom hodge podge. (Think Caer Rhydderch 'Rithers' in sound... And before that, well, Roman. (They spent hundreds of years between two massive Roman frontier walls. (Carridus) And before that, Brythonic tribes (specifically Selgovae, under leaders like "Caracticus".) And before that, basically proto-Welsh confederations. ...and before that...way before that... ...Ogg Carruthers, Jr... PENDING ARCHEOLOGICAL EXAMINATIONS of their no doubt LAVISH CAVE FLATS! ... probably.

@joeytodd795

Жыл бұрын

Genuine question, what are the Brigantine folks, ethnically? Like the old Brythonic group?

@inyobill

Жыл бұрын

My ancestor came to the Colonies apparently through London to Virginia in the first quarter of the 18th century, likely close to 1715.

@CharlieBell-lr1zx

Жыл бұрын

Or french~norman I'm a Bell we descended from from the Normans and French

The biggest difference between the two for me is their skill as horsemen in the Borders. Really isn't enough emphasis on how well they could travel hilly boggy ground on ponies and evade soldiers sent to capture them. Still to this day many people ride horses in the Borders, many taking part in the annual common riding festivals.

@knutclau705

10 ай бұрын

The highlanders were well kenned for being swift of foot and being capable of outrunning heavy horse in rough terrain, they even surprised english (and french!) cavalry by charging THEM!

As an American my ancestry is mostly Scottish and English. I have many, many border names on my family tree but I also have highlanders as well. A mix of both. Something that is interesting to me is how these cultures and ways of living shaped our families and us to this day. The Scotts Irish or Ulster Scotts came from the lowlands and borders of Scotland and when they came to the American colonies they brought that culture with them. The more I study the border culture the more I understand my own family. Why they think the way they do. Why they did things the way they did. It is very insightful. Whether I like how things were or not; now I know why.

@DFMSelfprotection

4 ай бұрын

Nope - they didn't just come from Scotland but the north of England as well. This is why if you go around N Ireland's cemeteries you find names such as Ridley, Forster and Charlton, Dodds etc.

@RuthHernandez-ce2po

4 ай бұрын

@@DFMSelfprotection I agree with you. It was a regional thing. They came from that area (both sides of the border.) My people are mostly Scottish.

@chiefgilray

3 ай бұрын

Ulster Scots... Aka the irish

If You are interested in what activity your family name was apart of. it is worth reading the Book ''The Steel Bonnets''. the index tells you what pages refrence your family name. Beattie is my family name and if it wasnt for the book, i wouldent of found out that they used to take part in raids done by the Armstrong's. Loved the video, thanks for making it!

@Nunzio1911

3 ай бұрын

I have that book. Found out my Clan Scott ancestors were Border Reveirers in the Middle March.

@bellie6412

2 ай бұрын

My family (Bell) was part of 'the devil's dozen' making raids into England often

The borderers on both sides had _surnames_ which were often on both sides of the border.

I was trying to explain this very same thing to some relatives. Clan Hall were border reivers who did not think of themselves as Scottish. They most certainly did not wear kilts. However because of the efforts of one Atlas Hall we now have our very own official tartan (eye roll).

@thescottishclans

8 ай бұрын

I love that Highland culture has pushed south and parts of it adopted by the Lowlands.

@DFMSelfprotection

4 ай бұрын

Well since the majority of Halls didn't live in Scotland but Redesdale they wouldn't see themselves as Scottish. Many border families lived on both sides... including the Armstrongs, Bells and Grahams. The reason for that was if part of a family pee'd off one of the Crowns they just move over the border and usually settle near one of their allies on the other side. Hence, some Armstrongs moved to the Bellingham area and fell under the protection of the Armstrong allies the Dodds!

The Bells are Boarder Reivers from the boarder of both Scotland and England. They originated in Flanders, and came over with William the Bastard.

I just found this channel and find it extremely informative! As Clan Logan I love the deep dive as Logan is split between highland and border groups.

I'm from the north east of Scotland, Aberdeen. The last Gaelic speakers died out in the 1980s. Angus, Aberdeenshire, Fife, all have a predominance of Gaelic place names, and people names. My own family is a mix of Highland and Border clan names. Scott from the Border, the rest are Stewarts, MacDonalds, MacKays etc

@chiefgilray

3 ай бұрын

There is a great gaelic renaissance happening across Scotland, people rediacoring a language that was outcast and outlawed by the english

@viking_training_system

3 ай бұрын

Same with Galloway..they had a clan system there and spoke Gaelic into the 1800s.

Could some of the words come from the Picts

On the pronunciation of Buccleuch / Buccleugh - it depends. If it has the 'ch' ending, you're nearly there (apart from it's 'byu' - rhymes with yew) - if it has the gh ending, its 'byu-cluff'. Which you use will largely depend which part of the borders you're from.

Pretty safe to say most of what we think of as “Scottish” are modern inventions that owe a lot to the English royals.

Really enjoyed your video. I come from a Border “riding family “,who occupied lands on both sides of the border and fought with or fought against any threat from both England and Scotland. Nationality was of little concern. Indeed they would steal horses from armies of both nations without compunction. The Highland clan system,however,was a brutal dictatorship,where the clan member was forced to fight and possibly die for his chief on pain of the burning of his house and the destitution of his family, and had to pay for the privilege in taxation. Forced loyalty.

I grew up surrounded by my mother's side of the family (Horsley surname found in old Northumbria). They were the miners who became moonshiners and raced their getaway cars just like those Appalachian people that Nascar was born out of (we live in the Alabama foot hills). We have relatives who are Armstrongs. There are Kerrs nearby as well as Kerr Road. My cousin had a couple red haired children with a MacPherson. On this same side of the family my ancestors' surnames also include Peoples, Pickens, Wallace, Gilmore, and Kendricks which I believe are all first recorded in southwest Scotland. However, on my dad's side of the family we are mostly English. My 2nd great grandpa Richard Rouse went down with the Titanic.

True the border Reivers didn't wear kilts and tartans back then. But here in modern times the border clans have officially recognized tartans that can be worn at Highland Games or Burns Night. And many have recognized tartans for over a hundred years now. Clan Armstrong's tartan was created in 1842. But they were clans and considered clans by the government . The Armstrong's at one time could raise 3000 horsemen for battle or raiding. I've got a Border Reiver name Armstrong and this is modern times so I can wear a kilt and play Highland Pipes if i want. I do have Highland Macentire's on my mother's side . The kilt started with the Highlanders but it has become a Scottish symbol and anyone can wear a kilt to show pride in their Scottish ancestry no matter what part of Scotland they came from. The astronaut Neil Armstrong proudly took a piece of Armstrong tartan to the moon . Plus if you wanted to wear authentic border reiver clothing you'd probably have to have it custom made and it would probably cost more than a kilt and be difficult to get it to be accurate.

@thescottishclans

Жыл бұрын

I'm actually glad to see Highland culture expanding instead of retreating like it did for so many generations. I love that Lowland kindreds have adopted some of these Highland emblems. And not just Lowland, even the Welsh have kilts (cilts) and tartans.

@drrd4127

Жыл бұрын

You could say the same about Tartan! The only proof of ancient Tartan in Scotland is in the Lowlands on the Antonine wall, Falkirk on a Pictish settlement. The ancient Britons wore Tartan but there is no proof of the Irish Gaels ever wearing Tartan. When the King of Scots took over the Kingdom of the Picts Lowland and Highland culture mixed, the Picts wore long Tartan clocks over there shoulders, we have proof of this so maybe that's where the Great Kilt came from. As someone actually from Scotland, I am from the borders of the Highlands and Lowlands, we see our culture and lifestyle as the same!!! We don't separate ourselves in to Lowland Vs Highlands unlike the English devide between the north and south.

@matthew-dq8vk

Жыл бұрын

@@thescottishclans The English did a fine job of making sure the lowland scots were ashamed of their Celtic heritage for a long time.

@nathanarmstrong7636

Жыл бұрын

Invictus maneo.

@ianlayton6949

10 ай бұрын

​@@thescottishclans Pretty much anyone can have a tartan and kilt nowadays. I'm English from a family rooted in Yorkshire and/or Lincolnshire right back to pre-Norman days - not a trace of Scots and not much history of involvement north of the border - but we Layton's have a tartan that we can wear in our Derbyshire village where even the Peak District National Park has it's own tartan. I don't know how much a tartan stands for nowadays.

Was great to run in to you at the Payson Games this year. I found this channel from a DNA project I am involved at FTDNA. Great info on your channel, btw!

@thescottishclans

8 ай бұрын

It was a pleasure meeting you as well, David!

Is there a difference between Mac and Mc names?

Most Border families don’t think of themselves as clans but rather families. Galloway Gaelic wasn’t the same as highland Gaelic. The two types were Q and P Gaelic. One of the people who moved into Scotland from the 11th century that is overlooked were the Flemish. Often they changed their names to something Scottish like the Grahams, Murray’s and others. In the eastern shire of Berwickshire there are still a lot of families called Fleming because a lot of weavers came there because we had no weavers in Scotland at the time. David 1 founded Berwick to export cloth to the Low Countries. Of course, Berwick is pronounced Berick, leave the w unvoiced.

I have seen it written that my clan was considered a border clan in away. Though we are coastal Galloway what I’ve read says that we were considered a border clan because we were essentially a border not between England and Scotland but between Viking Ireland and Scotland. It was that our clan chief could muster upwards of 500 men at any given time to protect the coast from Irish and Viking raiders. Not sure if that would be considered really the same as a traditional border clan, but I would love your input on that?! Clan MacCulloch of Myrton, Cardoness.

First time being here. Thank You for sharing. Have a fantastic day

As an ancestor of the Bell clan, I can appreciate much of what you said here. The Bells were so small in number they got absorbed into a larger clan. And yes, we were reivers. ;-)

@DFMSelfprotection

5 ай бұрын

Bells were in both Scotland and England, one of a number of families that were like that. In the 17th century during Elizabeth 1 reign there were Armstongs in Liddesdale, Scotland, north and south Northumberland and south Cumberland. The Redesdale Halls were also in Scotland... there were Scottish and English Grahams etc etc. At one point half of Alnwick's (Northumberland) population was Scottish.

@eric8381

4 ай бұрын

I don't know if you would describe the Bells as a small clan, especially in Middlebie. Also, a hello to my distant relative.

The border reavers crossed the border , England and Scotland. They associated with kin more than which nationality. This could change depending what suited them at the tine.

My people were Border Reivers.

@26Rudders

4 ай бұрын

Are you a Rutherford? I think we are Reivers?

@janibeg3247

4 ай бұрын

@@26Rudders not Rutherford

I believe I am a highlander ... glad to run across this channel, it has all been very confusing and am also a visual learner so sounds fun.

I wish I wasn't so late to this party here, but, I can't help but notice you said Clan MacFarlane Hunting. That warms my heart as my ancestors, the Callanders, were clansmen. I also like that you mentioned the Septs. Clansmen who might not have been related (so far as anyone knows) but were loyal nonetheless.

scottish history in a nutshell, each clan robbed/stole as much as they could get away with, no matter its location, and switching sides was key to survival, whether that be with an english, or scottish overlord.

Galloway had more recent Irish admixture, the scots came to scotland around the 5th century and the Norse-Gaels invaded Galloway at around 12th century. Galloway means "land of the foreign gael" and also explains why the RM222 genetic marker is found in Galloway. It also sounds a lot like Galway which is in Ireland.

I'm curious of those in the lowlands, I'm clan Lindsay, if I can say the word clan?! Being that they were close to the highlands, in the Angus area, would there be influence overflow in regards to hierarchical "clan" structure?

Thank you for a little more clarification as to the highlands vs. the lowlands, and where the 'line' is between them. (I've been trying to figure out from which side of the line I descended. As to the question of Laird or Chief, if you don't mind a little levity, in the Scottish song sung by The Corries, "Bonnie Dundee", there is a line "Be there Lairds in the south, there are Chiefs in the north". Thanks again for the perspective.

My ancestor was Robert, King/Earl of Dunbar later the Marches and his family were the Gospatricks of Dunbar and very involved in the Borders, sometimes they sided with England and others with Scotland. The history of the border is complex with many strategic marriages and alliances. The ancient kingdom of Bernicia stretched both sides of the border and was a major power in the early medieval period.

Just found your channel. In the future can you put the links in the description box. Thank you. Alberta Canada

@thescottishclans

Жыл бұрын

You bet.

Heidsman... that was the name of the head of a Border family. Pronounced Heedsman. Yes there were family groups that answered to a Heidsman on the English side. For example, the Heidsman of the Dodds was the Great Dod. The Fenwicks to Lord Fenwick. But they also grouped by valley... so, the Men of Tynedale supported each other and reivered together, ditto Redesdale. The biggest Reiver families of Tynedale included the Dodds, Charltons, Robson, Milburns... they were the bad boys. In Redesdale there were the Halls, Hedleys, Andersons, Potts, Reades, Dunnes, Milburnes...

Try and think of the Borders as distinct from either Scotland or England and very much a culture that is blend of both. Border clans had alliances and rivalries across the borders often having branches of their families in England and Scotland. An English Reiver clan would have far more in common with a Scottish Reiver clan than with people in the rest of England. A Scottish Reiver clan would have far more in common with and English Reiver clan than with Scottish clans further north. Remember that the Kingdom of Northumbria that pre-dated the formation of England or Scotland stretched across what would become Northern England and Southern Scotland and the border people could probably be viewed as a Northumbrian people stuck between these two newer kingdoms.

@janice506

11 күн бұрын

Bet they’re dna would come back Scottish more than English regardless

Awesome video, it is very helpful! Ive read online that most people surnamed Gracey can trace their lineage to Argyll, however my paternal line is Scots-Irish and can only be traced as far back as the 18th century in Northern Ireland (specifically Belfast, Ulster). Most my fathers autosomal dna is Scottish and French, not Irish. So my question is, did all people in Scotland originally belong to a Clan? Or were there other Scots that did not belong to any clan and eventually took names that are not related to pre-existing Scottish surnames/clan names? I know there is a Gracie surname in Scotland, and they belong to Clan Farquharson. We have the exact same family crest, a Lion Rampant (black and yellow). People online link Gracey and Gracie to a common source, however my paternal haplogroup is RM222 and the Gracie family is ancestral to RM222, RM269. This suggests we are not directly related, although it is possible that the tests done on the Gracie samples were of low quality and could not test more SNPs to arrive at a result of R-M222. I just want to know who my ancestors were prior to being surnamed Gracey. I tried asking chatgpt about my surnames origins and it says it comes from the Irish Gaelic term Gradaigh, meaning "Noble". It also says the family originates in Dal Riata, but there is no documentation of us from back then and chatgpt keeps contradicting itself. It even said we are an offshoot of the McGregors. Interestingly, mytrueancestry says the clan closest related to me on a patrilineal line is Clan McNab. They supposedly descend from Abraruadh, a younger son of Kenneth MacAlpin. Well, McGregors claim descent from Kenneth MacAlpin. Considering my name pops up after the McGregor name was banned, and is tied to Argyllshire where the McGregors had quite a lot of land, do you think that what chatgpt said is plausible at all? Any info would be greatly appreciated!

@KingdomAgeWarrior

3 ай бұрын

That was all very interesting. My Mom's mom, my grandmothers parents, my great grandparents, I believe both came from Ulster. They both immigrated to America roughly in the early 1900s and identify themselves as Irish-Catholic. Just recently I found some information through Ancestry on their family tree and found a few Gracey Ancestors from County Down. So thank you for that information on the Gracey surname.

@l.b.d

3 ай бұрын

@@KingdomAgeWarrior very cool! And no problem brother. Do you happen to have a John Gracey in your tree?

@KingdomAgeWarrior

3 ай бұрын

@@l.b.d So I just found through someone else's family tree that connects to mine a John Gracey born in 1597! It doesn't say where he was born but it has his kids and grandkids both being born in Scotland!

@l.b.d

3 ай бұрын

@@KingdomAgeWarrior wow that’s awesome! The John Gracey I am looking for is from the 1800s. I unfortunately have not been able to trace my paternal line past that though. I speculated its because the lineage comes from Scotland with the plantation, and your findings now corroborate that. Thanks for the feedback brother 🙏

@KingdomAgeWarrior

3 ай бұрын

Your welcome brother. And I am glad I was able to help in any way. 🙏 Here's a little more information that may be connected to you and may be of interest to you. According to this family tree that connects to my family tree on the Gracey family, there was, what would be considered an Ancestor of mine by the name Robert Gracey born 1645-1694 who immigrated to Stoney Brae Down, Northern Ireland from Inch Scotland. Inch is in the very extreme south west part of Scotland, located in Dumfries and Galloway. So Perhaps that may be the same part of Scotland your Gracey ancestors came from as well? And according to this video, that part of Scotland, Galloway in particular is the more Gaelic part of Southern Scotland. This could explain why they were able to amalgamate with the indigenous Irish Catholics. Like the ones in my own family tree. Now just a little off topic. When I first replied to your post on here, I didn't even look at your channel at all. But then I noticed the name Eliam. That caught my attention because I have had a personal interest in that name. So I decided to check out your channel, and I like what I saw. Really digging a lot of your content! So I subscribed! I too am a believer in the Anglo-Isreal view! And it's refreshing to find someone else who is as well! God bless Brother! 🙏

22:12 Chief may have been a loanword from the Bretons, Flemish or Norman's who came to Scotland.

Awesome job dude glad this popped up in my recommendations. I also own a great kilt from USA kilts still trying to figure out how to pleat it lol.

I am a Stringfellow, out of Armstrong (Strong-Fellow, Strong-Armed) and we were Border Reivers. (Sadly but that's what it was) Until the late 1500 and my actual ancestors fell inline with the English for about 100 years, but moved to the new world in 1660 when Charles II took the throne.

@jeffphillips3933

Жыл бұрын

Hate to tell ya but the Armstrongs were forced off their lands by James Stewart the Scott/English King. It's on wiki . I have Armstrong ancestry too Mabel A. Armstrong is my Great Great Grandmother.

@mrkitcatt2119

Жыл бұрын

Armstrong descended from the anglo danes

@Jamestele1

Жыл бұрын

@@mrkitcatt2119 You must be from Highland ancestry. I'm Welsh, I speak Welsh, but I have notice a sad cruelty that Highland Scots seem to derive joy in telling Lowlanders that they're mere "Anglo-Saxons" or "Anglo-Norman", etc. DNA has shown us that having a Norman name does not always mean that the modern Norman-names Scot has any Norman or French, or Danish DNA. There were various types of surnames that came in vogue at different points. A MacFarlane may be a descendant of someone who was adopted into a clan - they may very well be from Viking roots. Conversely, a modern Armstrong is often the descendant of Brythonic-speaking Celts/Britons. I do a lot of Genetic Genealogy and have seen this time and again. Even modern English are more likely to directly descend from a native Briton/Celt than a Dane - which is why English are not that blonde, compared to Scandinavians. Also I've noticed that when a Highlander discovers he comes from Nordic stock, they like to claim they Vikings, whereas they refer to lowlanders as mere "Anglo-Saxons".

@joeytodd795

Жыл бұрын

@@Jamestele1 Id have loved to see the "Lord of the Isles" or some such lunacy come down in force like they did outside of Aberdeen, only a century or so later, and to the Borders. We can call it a "lang may yer dong leak" grudge match. Loser has to stfu and go back to pulverizing the backsides of their poor sheep lol I don't think the middle highlanders ever had to deal with anything like reiver light cavalry. Might be surprised. We could read, too. That's a big plus LMAO. Just kidding, of course. We're all Jock Tamson's Bairns.

@Jamestele1

Жыл бұрын

@@joeytodd795 Too funny!!

My fathers family are from the Ridley’s of Haltwhistle in the English Borders which is Northumberland. My mothers side being the Laidlaws and Grieve’s from Jethart in the Scottish Borders. Rich Reiving history.

My last name is Burns. I really can’t figure out if it was a highland clan associated with clan campbell or a lowland clan or border clan. Anyone know?

I’m 8% Scottish. On my father’s side, I’m a Chisholm, on my mother’s side, it’s speculating that I can pretty much be Kirkland (a clan sept from Maxwell and Douglass). It’s possible I can be of those clans considering of my Scottish ancestry and the resemblance is strong. But I want to research more for further proof.

The Burrell are an ancient family of Northumbria. We are said to be Boernician (Viking, Pict, Angle mix) I just found out that the Boernician's are a Border Clan. Is that correct?

Do you know anything about the snowdon family around the borders?

A highland clan had a presumed common ancestor. In the case of new (external) member the kinship was symbolic. The non-kindred members of a boarder family had a client relationship. Like some one owing a favor to a Mafia don. Any pre-state society was kin based, but clan refers to a specific ethnicity. The borders did share this ethnicity, with the Highlanders. The kinship groups in Zulu society are referred to as clans, they have a chief (head of family), a nominal common ancestor, and a common ethnicity (Zulu). But they are cannot be referred to in the Highland sense of clans. They do not have a Gaelic ethnicity.

According to my knowledge on the history, the clans worked as Households, which is the official meaning of the word Tribe. The Clans originally were all a unified whole: the chieftains were the fathers or heads of the body of each household. Some of the Clans had to act as beneficiaries to others, where they may provide certain things: wheat, cattle, resources, trade, work, protection, or herding and so on. What led to their demise, where they degenerated into crookedness was lack of effective policing, judiciary or justice another word for charity was lack of law enforcement. There's no other logic to conclude as to how they got by with their lives; unless people believe in false facts or secondhand info. The lands they lived in were very inhospitable; dark, cold and gritty; where they may have been gruesome encounters to survive between each household, where they acted desperately. Nevertheless, they were human beings. Most history displayed about the Reivers or their correct name: the Boarder Clans, is mostly gloomy cowboyish bravado and perhaps not at all accurate.

Where is the division between Borderlanders and the Lowlanders. I'm of Clan Duncan (Donnchaidh) and was surprised by DNA to find out my haplogroup was from the Lowlands or Lothian Scott's,Gallaway,Stathclyde, Berwick and Ulster in Ireland and not the Highlands or around Argus and Aberdeen area.

I'm half Italian (other half Scots Borderers). The kinship system of the Borderers reminds me of Italian mafioso, but instead of chief we call them dons or coppos.

@DFMSelfprotection

4 ай бұрын

The border families were very much like the mafia with protection rackets - the word blackmail is a border word, you paid the silver or white rent (mail or mael means RENT) to your liege lord or the crown, depending who owned the land, and you paid blackmail, or protection money, to the local riding family or else! The word BEREAVED is also a border word which originally meant to lose a loved one to a reaver (or reiver) raid! As one wag put it: "There's a reason why bereft rhymes with THEFT!"

The title earl is of Scandinavian origin and first appeared in England under Canute (1016-35) as jarl, of which the Anglo-Saxon version was eorl. Originally it referred to a man of authority, civilian or a warrior (or both). A clan is a group descended from one man, real or from folk law. This descent is usually unilineal, or derived only through the male (patriclan) or the female (matriclan) line.

Really enjoyed this. Thank you!

@thescottishclans

Жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it!

My ancestry is Highland AND Lowland clans. What would you call clans that aren't in the Borders but not in the Highlands.? (Lowlands?) Wallace and Ochiltree groups both come to mind. One clan , Turnbull, I know is very close to the border, (they are also famous for stealing cattle) My highland clans are McFarland an Calhoun (Cowan is a sept of Calhoun)

So, my dna shows 61% Scottish. Both my parents were over 50%. On my paternal side the name is Wilson and it looks like they immigrated to the US in the 1800's. On my maternal side the name is Hall, her maiden name, and the Halls have been here since 1630. There is also a Douglas. My grandmother's line is Orem (is that Scottish?). This information is new to me so I know nothing about clans. Could someone point me in the direction to explore any or all those lines histories? Just an aside, both my parents were Rh negative blood types as am I. Seems Scots have a much higher percentage of that type than any population other than the Basque.

@thescottishclans

7 ай бұрын

To know if you connect to a clan you would need to trace any of those lines back to a certain time and place. Not every Scot was part of a clan. Some of them thought more of themselves (outside of their immediate family) as a citizen of a burgh or a guild, etc.

@DFMSelfprotection

4 ай бұрын

Sorry, but I hope you didn't use one of those Ancestry websites - they are utter rubbish and highly inaccurate according to real DNA experts. Here's something weird for you and nothing to do with clans etc. The RH negative blood group according to two studies score highly in alien abduction. In one study 80% of those who claimed to have been abducted by aliens were RH negative and in another 60%! Have you ever been "probed" ha ha ha. Just a joke but the studies are real.

Well done, Clint. Nice mustache as well.... will you do your next podcast/video with your best Scottish accent the whole time? I'm thinking "Angry Scot Accent"...

@thescottishclans

Жыл бұрын

Good idea!

Do you know how the Nixon's came to be in Cumberland? I am a Nixon, I have traced back to 1500's. It seems they were possibly clan MacNicol from Skye. The chief sent warriors to the borders in the 1300's, and it seems this is how Nix/Nixon attained their family seat in Cumberland. My other theory is that they were there since Strathclyde. Which would still remain a mystery how they got named sons of nicols. The haplogroup is r1b1b2a1b p-312. My Nixon paternal line was definitely not Anglo, or Norse.

@viking_training_system

3 ай бұрын

Nothing to do with any highland clan or family the reiver families were all there for a long time. Tracing your family back to 1500 is quite impressive.

I am not sure why, but my family I think originated in the Hebrides, North Uists, I believe. We ended up in the Galloway area. I often wondered why we have a highland name, MacLellan, living in the Lowlands. We landed in Nova-Scotia in the mid 1700,s when England kicked all the Acadians out of Nova-Scotia and replaced them with Scottish Clans. We are related to Cameron, Lindsy, and Grahams. Great video, thank you.

@joeytodd795

Жыл бұрын

Hello ancestral neighbor! Regional representative for Clan Carruthers here! Traditionally stewards of Annandale under Bruce till passing the office to Clan Johnstone I believe around the time our reiving really picked up lol Super tight with the Stewarts of Galloway since time immemorial. Slàinte mhath, cousin.

@jamesjames3146

Жыл бұрын

@@joeytodd795 Halo cousin good to hear from you

@joeytodd795

Жыл бұрын

Are you still in Canada, if so, NS?

@joeytodd795

Жыл бұрын

Oh, and side note, you gotta just sit back and admire/wonder at the way things work out, sometimes, and the things we pick up on. Just the other day, I was wearing my festival "uniform" (not formal, punky, fashion forward, Adam Ant but a Reiver thing.🤣 i do kind of a military style fly plaid thing going on, but loosely worn like a fly/sash. Let em say sash's are for ladies. Ladies are classy, apparently dashing even 🤣🤣🤣🤣) and I ran into a business owner who asked about the tartan and said she was on a journey to her roots, herself. I looked at her a minute and told her ya know, you might be of border stock. We might've been neighbors! What's the surname? She said Johnstone. I just started grinning because what're the odds I'd be in that store in that outfit, that day, she's working, and happens to be in the middle of a genealogical deep dive, surmise through... something...she's got Borderer in her makeup, make a joke that we're neighbors, and then find out we share a march, a shire, and an ancestral border, formerly (possibly today, even. I think the only direct family still on the original land are the Carruthers of Dormont. Head of the house i believe is Kit Carruthers, who distills Ninefold Distillery rum there. It's phenomenal.) some of our lands went into your care when our Mouswald line was extinguished in a border raid, some say the Battle of Kirtle. We also stood with you lot at Dryfe Sands, specifically the House of Dormont, actually. I've actually found three Johnstones this month in similar fashion. You're a unique lot. I really like you guys.

@jamesjames3146

Жыл бұрын

@@joeytodd795 We are meant to meet those connected to us, I love my history, I certainly wish I knew more. We are still in Canada, my dad sold the rest of our original land in NS. There is only three of us males left in the family, the last of the bloodline is my grandson.

At 25:43 that image looks like Flemish cavalry.

I am a Cameron and I am very proud of my Clan and its history ,I am nearing 84 ,I live in New Zealand but was born in Scotland ,I still have an accent of which I am proud . Alba gu brach

My Great Grandfather was from Hellensboro Scotland. He came to America on the Caledonia, a ship that was in the same cruise line as the titanic. I found out that I have Scottish on my fathers side as well. I can trace back to the Hamiltons and the Stewarts.

@MrHughk1

10 ай бұрын

Helensburgh. And its pronounced like this..... www.google.com/search?q=how+to+pronounce+helensburgh&client=ubuntu&hs=qb5&channel=fs&sxsrf=AB5stBhLlEe-gK_LGpTii29nKIYXt1GCeQ%3A1689353541225&ei=RX2xZOasDc2FhbIPt4qSUA&oq=Helensburgh+pronunciation&gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiGUhlbGVuc2J1cmdoIHByb251bmNpYXRpb24qAggBMgUQABiABDIIEAAYigUYhgMyCBAAGIoFGIYDSMWDAVDPElidWnABeAGQAQCYAaUBoAHVC6oBBDEwLjW4AQHIAQD4AQHCAgoQABhHGNYEGLADwgIEECMYJ8ICBxAAGIoFGEPCAg0QABiKBRixAxiDARhDwgIIEC4YsQMYgATCAhAQLhiABBgUGIcCGMcBGK8BwgILEAAYgAQYsQMYgwHCAgsQLhiABBjHARivAcICChAAGIAEGBQYhwLCAhoQLhiABBjHARivARiXBRjcBBjeBBjgBNgBAcICCBAAGIoFGJECwgINEC4YgAQYxwEYrwEYCuIDBBgAIEGIBgGQBgi6BgYIARABGBQ&sclient=gws-wiz-serp

@davidmacgregor5193

8 ай бұрын

Div ye mean Helensburgh?

I have one line I almost definitely trace back to one of the smaller, but oft mentioned border families.

Genetic heritage of Highland vs Border?

Is there a way to tell what clan settled in Kentucky

@Realalma

Жыл бұрын

More than you can possibly imagine. My families have been in Virginia/Kentucky for over 300 years. I just did my dna deep dive and match with over a 100 clans.

@robertlamb7513

Жыл бұрын

@@Realalma thanks I was wanting to know because my last name is lamb and I have found it was either changed or that lamb was what one was called if they raised sheep

The Borderers never get a lot of attention in Scottish/English history books. It is strange to me given how many of my countrymen are descended of them. That said, Border Reiver history is my favorite part of British history and I am very proud to be able to trace many of my ancestral lines to border clans on both sides of the Anglo-Scottish border.

In the clan. Some people gave there kids to the chief of clan to bring up. To keep the clan. Strong

I am a Haynes, but I was told by my paternal grandfather that our family name was Hay before coming to the American Colonies. Can someone tell me if that is probable?

@thescottishclans

Жыл бұрын

It's possible but I seem to remember hearing that there was an Irish Gaelic surname that was Anglicized as Haynes. Not completely sure.

@inyobill

Жыл бұрын

My earliest documented family members went by Bull. The original Bull came to the colonies ca. 1715. Almost every descendent line of his changed their family name (back) to Turnbull after severakl generations. My Gr grandfather (returned) to using Turnbull after 7 generations, about 150 years after the family came to America! A long time to maintain the tradition. My yDNA, and others', demonstrate the genetic link to the ancestral Turnbull line. I can only conclude that the families maintained the tradition that they were actually Turnbulls. The Turnbull surname (and others) could be all it took to get you on the docks in the early 1600s.

@inyobill

Жыл бұрын

In short, I suggest you do a yDNA test.

@delmarhaynes7006

Жыл бұрын

@@inyobill I took the test and did my Ancestry homework. It appears that I am 47% Scottish. Just a little bit of Irish. But in my research I found McDonald's, MacAllister's and a few other Scottish names. Go figure! I always wondered why I liked Scotch whisky 😏

@inyobill

Жыл бұрын

@@delmarhaynes7006 Thanks for the friendly reply, mate.

Speaking of Armstrong's my mothers maiden name is Elliott were all Armstrong's and Elliott's here boarders were a brutal place IV been blown away by some of the stories likes of little jock Elliott and red Hugh's red cap matters not boarderir highland to have Scottish history is amazing it's a feeling of belonging that no other lineage encaptures the same way (Livingstone) the bagpipes have always given me goosebumps even before I started learning none the less .thankyou

members of clan households - servants , soldiers etc would often adopt the clan name even if not related.

@kevinruddy448

Жыл бұрын

Hey, American person, us English 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿ain't clanny 🖕get my backwind 😁, bumflap 😅

@inyobill

Жыл бұрын

Henc e the value of my yDNA evidencing my almost definite lineage to a smallish infamous Borders family.

There were Riding Names in the Borders, led by a Riding Leader or Riding Captain.

Very good wee video. From a Glaswegian Border reiver

@thescottishclans

Жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it

@patriciayohn6136

Жыл бұрын

My maiden name is Bell and my Great Great Grandfather, John Bell emigrated from Paisley to Philadelphia in 1859. He was born in Clones, County Monaghan, Ireland but the family moved back to Scotland where most of their family was at the time. Those of my family born here in Lancaster, Pennsylvania are baptized Presbyterians. My Great Grandmother Bell was born a McVey. Proud that my Brother James and I are both members of Clan Bell N.A. and James is participating in the Clan Bell DNA project.

My family name originated from the Scottish highlands as did our clan known as clan Gunn We were of Anglo Saxon and Celtic decent . It’s recorded that our clan was known as a fearsome warlike tribe that would fight against any threat against them. It’s recorded that the clan chiefs dawter was coveted by another clan member of another clan who she hated. So when he found out she would be marrying another who she loved from an allied clan of clan Gunn he killed several clan Gunn members and kidnapped the girl who killed her self by throwing herself off the ramparts of her kidnappers dwelling. That started a fued between the clan’s from roughly 1200 to sometime in the 1960s when a pact was signed ending the fued . As to what extent our family took part in the fueding isn’t known that being the Robson family. As an American I’m proud of my Scottish heritage and history. Finding out our family history has been difficult since much of the records have been destroyed or lost over the centuries. It’s not fully known either as to what extent our clan and family took part in the Scottish wars. One account claims we did not fight but instead sat upon a hill and watched the battles because it’s been claimed that our clan had family on both sides and neither side wished to kill there own family members. So it was agreed that the losing side would surrender to the winning side of the clan. How true that story is I don’t know. We haven’t found much on it . But records were poorly kept during the time or lost. It would be great to learn more if you have anything that you can share that would help.

I’m not positive about this, but the idea of kin groups probably didn’t just end at the border with England.

@DFMSelfprotection

4 ай бұрын

It didn't - my ancestry is Dodds and they were every bit as kin group as anywhere in Scotland and their heidsman was known as the Great Dod

i served in the kings own scottish borderers infantry

From UK, X British soldier, my regiment was The Black Watch, I identify as a Campbell. My lineage is Laurie, Kennedy and all I can say about my country is I am British. In my soul I am Scottish. Who dare meddle with me,

Border clans (surnames) existed on both sides of the border and some had people on both sides.

If any problems. The lower farmers. Etc. Would go to chief to get weopons if need to fight

I have an intresting thought and i am very used to it that getting genuine feedback is very unusual however be there as it may here is my thought on history of the Clans.First of all i find the subject extremely intresting but,the trouble with any history at all is that the authors who write them make no complete account of what happened so we have a situation where one author says this and leaves out something important and another author who says that and leaves out something else important so what i am trying to get at is this there should be one author who should write down all the important things concerning the clans and not leave anything out in a word a complete book of the Scottish Clans. What i did was read all the histories of the Clans and compiled my own book not leaving anything out with all the facts and finding it very good i was completely satisfied and well worth the effort,this of course was my personal hobby and intended for my own use...

There are only a few documents that refer to Border reiving famlies as 'clans'...they certainly didn't refer to themselves as such.

Interesting. My grandmother was a Cummings or Comyn, Norman/Highlander and my grandfather, surname Fairbairn (Clan Armstrong) from the boarders.

One one side I have Armstrong , the other Templeton that went back to alot of clans,MacDonald, Campbell, Ogilvy,Douglas,Colquhoun,Fergus, Ruthven, Ross, MacKay Kennedy, Sinclair and Bruce. I am a direct decendant of Robert De Bruce.

@loganparker180

Жыл бұрын

I am a descendent of the McDonald’s and douglas

@johnrobertson9875

Жыл бұрын

I can almost guarantee you're not.

@jeffphillips3933

Жыл бұрын

@@johnrobertson9875 I can clutz. I know my ancestry bozo. My Great Aunt traced my linage and I have all her notes.

@jeffphillips3933

Жыл бұрын

Tracing back damn near 1500 years alot of clans intermarried. I'm not just Scotish on one side of my parents but Both.

@johnrobertson9875

Жыл бұрын

@@jeffphillips3933 Church records didn't go back that far so no proof who you were related to. I'm guessing you're American?

The kilts are from the 19 century this era

The word clan has too many connotations, and should should no be used for border 'families'. Protection was a major dynamic in the borders. Remember that scene in the Godfather, when a wronged man came to ask the Godfather for justice. That was what being a member of a border 'family' was mostly about. You needed protection from your thieving murdering neighbours, and the big man in the neighbourhood could provide it. As to everyone who has ever drank a tot of whisky having a tartan, this is what started the fad: kzread.info/dash/bejne/hophra-Ph7vAaco.html, and a Lowland eye for a business opportunity.

BIG difference...Truely.

My Clan Gow has no chieftain but have sworn loyalty to clan MacPherson so follow their chieftain

@viking_training_system

3 ай бұрын

Gow is not a clan per se. It is a name associated with many clans as it is Gaelic for Smith.

If people listening to this are genuinally interested in the topic there are two essential books - The Steel Bonnets by MacDonald Fraser and Warriors of the Word by Michael Newton.

Another of my X great grandmothers was a Maxwell married a Irwin

Low Scots, (think Robert Burns) is a lot like English, but is regarded as a separate language.

@DFMSelfprotection

4 ай бұрын

Auld Scots - or inglise - is Northumbrian. It is part of the Great Northumbrian Language Group which is split into north Northumbrian and south Northumbrian. South Northumbria is the dialects of the Yorkshires and Elmett (North Lincolnshire). North Northumbrian is Auld Scots, Ulster Scots, the tongues of Tyne and Wear, Northumberland, Cumbria, pitmatic, north Lancs, Durham and Teesside. The Tees is one of the borders between south and north Northumbrian. That means that people in south Durham and Teesside retain many south Northumbrian sounds in their dialect but also many north Northumbrian ones as well... so a mix. The further you move from the Tees the more it sounds like auld Scots - or to put it another way - Scots sounds more like the tongues of Cumbria and Northumberland... Northumbrian is a hobby of mine.

Kinmont Willie Armstrong was rescued by William Redcloak Bell!

Clan Muirhead lost their Clan Chief in the early 1500s while backing the Scottish King against the English .

USA casual kilts are good for daily wear or on the job, such as truck driver. I get the ladies attention!

@bobdidit55

Жыл бұрын

Very weird and creepy. We don't even wear kilts unless its a wedding or an event.

@the-kilted-trucker59

Жыл бұрын

@@bobdidit55 it's not weird, I wear a kilt daily. As a trucker it is cooler and more comfortable while driving.

@mrkitcatt2119

Жыл бұрын

@@bobdidit55 aye kilts seem to more of a usa dress up thing no clue that ordinary Scots tend to just go around in normal clothes

Could it be that they were Pictish clans and great horsemanship was passed down?

@thescottishclans

8 ай бұрын

The Brigantes tribe, not Picts but native Britons, were known for horses (trading? riding?) and they lived in the vicinity of the Borders.

I have Border Reivers on both sides of my family. Forsters and Maxwells

My Husband is a Child of Duncan he is a Descendent of Daniel Robbins son of Richard Robertson so of king Duncan? He did a DNA test as well

A Northumberland born Forster and proud of it

Ferniehirst Kerr/Carr. Came to the new world in 1630's.

The narrator must be from clan McBald

Clan Bell of the west marches!

I did a DNA test also and it's very interesting

Would be have been good to have mentioned when the border folks started wearing kilts. In the Victorian times, being Scottish and all things Scottish became in fashion. Then many in Scotland and England started wearing the kilts and more highland in dress. At least that's how I've read and seen on many videos. USA Kilts and Culture mentions this regularly on their video as.

Start at around 4 minutes if you want actual content.

@helenelliott2375

Жыл бұрын

thank you so much