Maclean or MacLean

[davidlpope]

Thanks, Jeff, that's a superb explanation. We are not taught that much detail, though we do get a fairly fine overview of American history. That's not unlike the absence of Scots' history in your own curriculum, I suppose. In just two paragraphs you cleared up many misconceptions about Ellis Island.

Rex

Rex,

I think Jeff's explanation concerning your misconception is a big part of what makes modern "Scottish-American identity" such an intriguing sociological occurrence. Although some here at XMarks are only a few generations removed from Scots born in Scotland, most of us in the Southeastern United States who can trace Scottish descent must do so back over hundreds of years to reach a native born Scot. In my own case, I have yet to identify any ancestors who emigrated to America later than the American Revolution.

This is a direct effect of how early the Highland and Ulster Scots settled in this country. Although most of these groups were subsumed into a larger "frontier culture" there were some notable exceptions. For example, there were thriving Highland settlements in parts of North Carolina well into the nineteenth century (and even accounts of slaves owned by these Scots who spoke the Gaelic, because English was not used within the community as the primary language).

Taking all that into effect, most expressions of "Scottish-Americanism" in this part of the country are, by necessity, newly learned or invented (e.g. John MacWhatever "discovers" that MacWhatever is a Scottish name and buys a kilt in the MacWhatever tartan; American churches decide to celebrate a "Kirking of the Tartan", etc.). There are very few examples of direct, unbroken traditions dating from these immigrant Scots to their distant descendants. In cases where there are traditions (i.e. certain Appalachian fiddle tunes, the practice of first-footing, Scotch Fairs) they are probably not purely Scottish, having been mixed with the other cultural traditions which were present during the time that these practices evolved. Perhaps that's why we Americans seem to get things mixed up when we decide to participate in your culture...


Cordially,

David

[creagdhubh]

Rex,

I think Jeff's explanation concerning your misconception is a big part of what makes modern "Scottish-American identity" such an intriguing sociological occurrence. Although some here at XMarks are only a few generations removed from Scots born in Scotland, most of us in the Southeastern United States who can trace Scottish descent must do so back over hundreds of years to reach a native born Scot. In my own case, I have yet to identify any ancestors who emigrated to America later than the American Revolution.

This is a direct effect of how early the Highland and Ulster Scots settled in this country. Although most of these groups were subsumed into a larger "frontier culture" there were some notable exceptions. For example, there were thriving Highland settlements in parts of North Carolina well into the nineteenth century (and even accounts of slaves owned by these Scots who spoke the Gaelic, because English was not used within the community as the primary language).

Taking all that into effect, most expressions of "Scottish-Americanism" in this part of the country are, by necessity, newly learned or invented (e.g. John MacWhatever "discovers" that MacWhatever is a Scottish name and buys a kilt in the MacWhatever tartan; American churches decide to celebrate a "Kirking of the Tartan", etc.). There are very few examples of direct, unbroken traditions dating from these immigrant Scots to their distant descendants. In cases where there are traditions (i.e. certain Appalachian fiddle tunes, the practice of first-footing, Scotch Fairs) they are probably not purely Scottish, having been mixed with the other cultural traditions which were present during the time that these practices evolved. Perhaps that's why we Americans seem to get things mixed up when we decide to participate in your culture...


Cordially,

David

Well said David!

Cheers mate,