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Celtic Radio Community > Scotland > Scottish origins

Posted by: Macfive 08-Jan-2002, 11:04 AM

Maggie,

I am very interested in this. Could you tell me the link or where you heard or read this!

I know that the Romans had a big influence on England, but stopped short of invading Scotland because they referred to us as Barbarians. They built a hugh wall to keep us out! There has been some very historical discoveries found of ancient Roman buildings and artifacts this year in England.

Thanks.

Posted by: NightHawk 16-Jan-2002, 04:01 PM

Hi Maggie, hi Mcfive,

Just have a look at following url. It may contain what you are looking for:

http://www.st-andrews-scots.org/mainhall/mharticle8.html

Following quote comes from there:

(quote) ... This however is not the whole story. The Stewart's are not originally Scottish. They are a Norman family, part of the Norman invasion of England in 1066, and therefore are probably of Viking/Norwegian origin, that being the group who occupied the Norman (Norseman) coast of France. The family myth is that the Stewarts are descendants of an ancient Egyptian Princess named Scota. This is not necessarily a problem as the Scots themselves are not the original people of Scotland, the term Scot meaning Pirate from Ireland, again a Norse group who battled the Celts of Ireland (who had already replaced an earlier people living there) intermarried, and went on the battle the Picts, Celts and Vikings of Caledonia and the Britons of Wales, and intermarried. The first Stewarts, were actually Royal Stewards brought by the Scottish king David III, when he returned from England after being "educated" in the English Court, and intermarried. ... (End quote)

Slàinte (b)

NightHawk

Posted by: maggiemahone1 07-Jan-2002, 12:24 PM

More info I found that I thought was interesting. One of the most unusual theories of the term 'Scot' is that is derived from the name Scota, an Egyptian princess who brought the Stone of Destiny across to Scotland. Just a theory. maggiemahone1

Posted by: maggiemahone1 08-Jan-2002, 05:31 PM

Macfive, I'm not sure what link I got that off of, but I do believe it was off of 'The Scottish Thistle'. I did find a site about Hadrians Wall that was built in 122 AD and it was built to seperate the Romans from the Barbarians. www.hadrians-wall.org/ I got this off of the BBC site. www.bbc.co.uk Maggiemahone1

Posted by: Macfive 17-Jan-2002, 11:49 AM

I love reading articles like this! Thanks for the link! So, what your saying is that the name scota means pirate?..arrrrrrr?whares me pot of gold! (Had to say that!

Seriously, I think this article highlights a theory I have about people of Scottish Descendent. Our forefathers needed to have a lot of smarts, strength and abilities in order to navigate the clan system. Centuries of this system resulted in only the most able to survive. Genetics plays a lot in this and over a period of time I believe certain traits can be passed down. For example, musical ability runs in my family. God has gifted me with the natural talent to play music by ear. I can ear a tune and when I sit down at the keyboard I usually get the song correct on the first try. Wasn?t it strange to find out that when I began researching my family roots in Scotland that it turns out that the MacArthur?s had a long line of bagpipers that were quite famous. Culminating in a Bagpiping school, run by MacArthur?s, sometime in the 1700?s.

So my point, and theory is the Scottish people enjoyed a greater success in developing countries because of these naturally born talents to survive, adapt and prosper. Probably the greatest gift that Scotland could give to the world was the mass exodus that occurred in the 1700 and 1800?s due to the clearances and other factors. While at the time this displacement of Scots all over the world was probably viewed with hardship and heartache, the descendents of these Scots certainly have contributed an immense amount of accomplishments to mankind.

Posted by: Jenni 03-Feb-2002, 09:39 PM

Quote (Macfive @ Jan. 17 2002,12:49)

Probably the greatest gift that Scotland could give to the world was the mass exodus that occurred in the 1700 and 1800?s due to the clearances and other factors. While at the time this displacement of Scots all over the world was probably viewed with hardship and heartache, the descendents of these Scots certainly have contributed an immense amount of accomplishments to mankind.

They have indeed!

Now if only the Scots in Scotland would realize how much (truly) they have contributed. Scots are slowly but surely gaining their confidence back after being oppressed by England for centuries. They are looking to countries like America and Canada to gain knowledge about how we "pioneer" and apply what they've learned to their own country and culture. Because of that, they are finally realizing how many of their own sons and daughters contributed to the world through discoveries and inventions. It's coming around full circle to re-inspire the Scots to be a great nation and independent from England.

Posted by: Macfive 05-Feb-2002, 09:43 PM

Quote (Jenni @ Feb. 03 2002,10:39)

Now if only the Scots in Scotland would realize how much (truly) they have contributed. Scots are slowly but surely gaining their confidence back after being oppressed by England for centuries. They are looking to countries like America and Canada to gain knowledge about how we "pioneer" and apply what they've learned to their own country and culture.

Jenni,

You seem to have some good insight into all of this. I never really thought about this, but you are right - being oppressed for centuries would have this sort of effect. It really is amazing how much people of Scottish origin have contributed - look at Thomas Bell - father of the telephone or General Patton (Clan MacDonald) or General MacArthur (Clan Arthur).

This world would surely be very different today if it were not for the skills of the Scots - learned from centuries of warefare and the clan system!

Posted by: Jenni 07-Feb-2002, 01:21 AM

Quote (Macfive @ Feb. 05 2002,10:43)

Quote (Jenni @ Feb. 03 2002,10:39)

Jenni,

You seem to have some good insight into all of this. I never really thought about this, but you are right - being oppressed for centuries would have this sort of effect.

It's only after five visits over 6 years that I've started to understand. This past August I was there for 4 weeks and stayed with friends instead of in hostels and hotels. It made all the difference. It gave me the opportunity to observe much more than if I was just playing tourist. I also got to have some pretty interesting conversations with a number of people I met during my stay. I took the train a lot and always met someone interesting to talk to. I also started reading the papers and asked my friends lots of questions about things going on in the news. (I had no access to American news while I was there - only the BBC which is horrendous if you want to know ANYTHING about happenings in the USA at all). I ended up gaining an understanding of Scottish and English politics that you can't get in a classroom. And I gained insight into how Scots and English view America and Americans. It was a very enlightening and humbling experience.

While on the surface, Scottish and English culture seems very similar to ours, it truly is VERY different. And Scottish culture is VERY different even from English culture. I'm going to generalize here for a minute, so please, no one get offended. Basically the differences are these: The English still have an Imperialistic attitude and look down their noses at everyone. However, collectively, they were very hurt when Scotland wanted and got their own Parliament. The Scots are reserved, hospitable and self-effacing - to their detriment, but GREAT fun at a party or at the pub. They need all the help they can get and England does not help but hinders them almost every step of the way. Americans are the eternal optimists and cannot understand why other people in the world don't like them. We have that 'can-do' attitude that everybody admires but is also envious of.

When it gets right down to it, people are people everywhere you go. But as an American, I've realized we've got a long way to go to understand other cultures in the world.

Posted by: maggiemahone1 07-Feb-2002, 07:30 PM

My opinion for what it is worth is if people would come down off their high horses and treat one another as they would like to be treated this would make for a much nicer world. Just in my part of the country people look down on others because they don't meet their standards. I'm thankful I wasn't brought up like that.

There has been oppression since the beginning of time and probably till the end. Its a shame there is always big I's and little you's.

maggiemahone1

Posted by: Macfive 14-Feb-2002, 03:25 PM

You are right Maggie about there being oppression since the beginning of time. I heard a radio commentator talking the other day about how most people can trace their roots back to some one, whether it is 500 or 5000 years ago, that was oppressed or forced into something they did not want to do. His point was that some people use the fact that they were oppressed as a crutch to blame people or people(s) for the situation they find themselves in today. Alot of what the American dream is all about starts with you and remembering that you, ulimately, are responsible for your own happiness.

Ok, I will get down from my soap box now!

Posted by: NightHawk 21-Feb-2002, 01:28 PM

Wha's like us
The average Englishman in the home he calls his castle, slips into his national costume
a shabby raincoat ~ patented by chemist Charles Macintosh from Glasgow, Scotland.
En route to his office he strides along the English lane, surfaced by John Macadam of Ayr, Scotland.
He drives an English car fitted with tyres invented by John Boyd Dunlop of Dreghorn, Scotland.
At the office he receives the mail bearing adhesive stamps invented by John Chalmers of Dundee, Scotland.
During the day he uses the telephone invented by Alexander Graham Bell, born in Edinburgh, Scotland.
At home in the evening his daughter pedals her bicycle invented by Kirkpatrick Macmillan, Blacksmith of Dumfries, Scotland.
He watches the news on T.V., an invention of John Logie Baird of Helensburgh, Scotland
and hears an item about the U.S. Navy, founded by John Paul Jones of Kirkbean, Scotland.
He has by now been reminded too much of Scotland and in desperation he picks up the Bible, only to find that the first man mentioned in the good book is a Scot ~ King James VI ~ who authorised its translation.
Nowhere can an Englishman turn to escape the ingenuity of the Scots. He could take to drink but the Scots make the best in the world. He could take a rifle and end it all but the breechloading rifle was invented by Captain Patrick Ferguson of Pitfours, Scotland.
If he escaped death, he could find himself on an operating table injected with penicillin, discovered by Alexander Fleming of Darvel, Scotland,
and given an anaesthetic, discovered by Sir James Young Simpson of Bathgate, Scotland.
Out of the anaesthetic he would find no comfort in learning that he was as safe as the Bank of England, founded by William Paterson of Dumfries, Scotland.
Perhaps his only remaining hope would be to get a transfusion of guid Scottish blood which would entitle him to ask
"WHA'S LIKE US"