Quick Question

[ANP3]

I have a question, mostly just to hear your opinion:

Okay so my Family's ancestry is overwhelmingly Scottish, and my Grandmother who was Scottish, Welsh and a little bit English grew up in London during the Blitz and always called her self Brittish, in fact There are pictures of my mom and her sisters in Stewrat Kilts when they were little. Her husband family lived in America from colonialtimes forward, but, they acted like they still lived in Scotland, because nearly every name, except for two which are English and German, was a Scottish name. Second My Great Great Grand mother on my dad's side was a MacDonald who lived In Ireland, and his mom is the first member of her family not to be bron In the UK or Ireland.

But Here's the Hitch, while I grew up spending time with Grandmothers who filled me with pride in my families history and such. I have an Italian last name. Pavio, in case you were wondering. But My Great Grandparents from Italy fled because they were escaping prosecution from the facist government, so when they arrived in America they all-but left their culture and traditions at Ellis Island.

Anyway, My British Grandmother toght me to be proud of My Brittish Heratige and accept the rich History and traditions of the Scottish, Welsh and English, especcial those of the Celtic peoples. She could Speak Welsh as a matter of fact. My other Grand father told me how even through 200 years of history his family still maintained great pride in their Scottish roots. Like wise My other Grandmother brought me to many Irish hereatige events, and is happy to learn her Grand Mother had the name of one of the great Highland Clans.

So, despite my last name, I feel no connection to my Italian heretige, because my ancestors left it behind, but the rest of my family didn't. My dad is prod to be Irish, my mom is proud to be British. And because both of them have Scottish roots, I'm proud to be Scottish. I play Bagpipes, and Have a MacDonald modern kilt, with antique military pin. But I feel "wrong," wearing Clan tartans. I don't say I a member of the Clan...because I'm not. But I wear Clan tartans in honour of my ancestors. Who can be traced to four seprate Scottish clans.

Even though I have 20+ Scottish ancestors and 2 Italian ones some how I feel like my "scottish-ness," is hard to prove. What do you all think?

Thanks,
Nick.

[Drac]

First, welcome to X-Marks.

Next you can have fun woth it. My family name is French (Drouillard) and I have fun When people ask me what my family name is and I tell them. They always ask what clan is that and I get to say none, it's French. My Scottish is fairly thin (a great grandmother on my Mom's side) and you find a few people don't even have any.

WE are here to enjoy wearing kilts.

Jim

[ANP3]

I have fun with it, but I'm "more," Scottish than anythings else in terms of Heratige, so I'm much much closer to my Scottish heratige than anything else. It was the wearing of Clan tartans I was wondering about. I know some people get rather pickey about that.

Thanks!
Nick.

[Grizzly]

I am not Scottish either nor do I feel that I have to be. I am Anglo Welsh by parentage, but I feel that its greater than that. The welsh have a word for it, it is hiraeth, a feeling of belonging and yearning for the homeland. Whenever I am in the mountains I feel that I am home, whether that is in Wales, Scotland, or wherever, it is that hiraeth and the celtic connection therein that calls out to me to embrace the celtic heritage. I dont have a paternal tartan but I do on my mothers side. for some that is not enough to qualify but it is good enough for me. I am a Celt in blood if not by birthplace, No one can take that away from me. So worry ye not about where you come from or what your name is, embrace the Celt within your soul, wear whatever tartan you like, we all salute the Kilt no matter what our background.

[Geoff Withnell]

Here in the States, most of the Clans have clan associations. Contact the clans you have heritage in. You will be surprised at how warm your welcome is, I'm sure. And if the Clan Association says it's ok, who could tell you no?

[Peter Crowe]

I have fun with it, but I'm "more," Scottish than anythings else in terms of Heratige, so I'm much much closer to my Scottish heratige than anything else. It was the wearing of Clan tartans I was wondering about. I know some people get rather pickey about that.

Thanks!
Nick.

The convention is that you take your clan identity from your father, however, if your father does not have a clan/sept it is quite okay to follow that of your mother. If I were you, I would adopt that to which you are nearest in degree.

In Scotland, no one would ever ask about it, although they might here in the States or in Canada. Tell them the truth. "My father was of Italian background, but I am Scottish on x side and take my tartan/clan from that side of my family."

Welcome to XMTS from a Scots (born and bred) expatriate in Massachusetts, and you are (as far as I am concerned) welcome to enjoy and explore your Scots heritage, and the joy of kilt-wearing. You will find great advice here but remember there are no rules, merely customs and conventions where THCD (Traditional Highland Civilian Dress) is concerned.

[Grizzly]

but remember there are no rules, merely customs and conventions where THCD (Traditional Highland Civilian Dress) is concerned.

*** well said Peter

[ANP3]

Very true, I feel most connected to the Clan on my dad's side, the MacDonalds, and I'm hoping to join the Clan scociety. I mean, I even identify myself as "Scottish-American."

Thanks,
Nick.

[Mike in Dayton]

Don't get too tripped up on trying to justify wearing kilts by proving any ancestry. As time goes on we get more and more diluted anyway. You can learn and enjoy the Celtic culture and kilts without having a 100% Scottish last name. In my case my dad's side of the family is Eastern Europe. My interests were never aligned with that culture or history. I tended to look toward my mom's side of the family which I was told was English. One question I had that no one could answer is if they are English then why is the name spelled KIDD which is the Scottish spelling rather than KYDE? This year I got my answer. In 1375 the name was spelled KYDE. By the early 1600's it was changed to KIDD which resulted when one or more of the KYDE people left England for Scotland. Those that were born in Scotland were given the last name spelled KIDD. By the late 1600 one or more of the KIDD generation left Dundee, Scotland, for the colonies. They arrived in what is now Virginia and later migrated to Kentucky.

So when I am asked if I wear the kilt because of ancestry my normal answer is "There is a touch of Scottish on my mom's side but I wear the kilt because I like the Celtic culture and the kilts". As a side note around here I get asked if I am IRISH more than Scottish.

Enjoy your kilts.

Mike

[ANP3]

Thanks for that! My grandmother(s) were always proud that I explored my Celtic heratige. Coming from someone born in Scotland that means a lot!

Best,
Nick.