Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To feel like a bit of a fraud? Not Scottish!

37 replies

Rottiee · 14/09/2024 20:40

I was raised in Scotland to a proudly Scottish family. I speak Scots Gaelic. Always thought I was 100% Scottish.

Then I found out that 2/4 grandparents are adopted (yes what are the chances). I did a DNA kit to find out their origins.

Turns out I’m 55% English, 40% Scottish, 5% Welsh. I can’t believe it. I’m a fraud - I’m English!

OP posts:
BendingSpoons · 14/09/2024 21:20

In my case:
4 Scottish grandparents
Both parents born in England
Lived my whole life in England

I'm potentially 100% Scottish by ancestry but would never claim I'm Scottish when I've visited once!

Anyonefortennistoday · 14/09/2024 21:08

Itabsolutelyispossible · 14/09/2024 20:48

Anyone can be Scottish! Welcome!

That's a really nice thing to say.

I was born in England but I've lived 46 years in Scotland - I moved here when I married a Glaswegian.

I identify as Scottish, even though my accent still gives my origins away.

So OP you are definitely Scottish! You were born here for heavens sake!

TheCultureHusks · 14/09/2024 20:54

What I mean is, you may have x percentages of the gene groups that are associated with Scotland/Wales/whatever blah blah, but if you examined everyone in Scotland for the gene mix and cross referenced it with folk ‘born and bred’ there v incomers or those with grannies from Cornwall or whatever, there wouldn’t be as clear a pattern as you might think. For exactly this reason!

There’s a Welsh speaking lady somewhere, bimbling around in the Welsh village she’s lived in all her life who only has 4% Welsh genes, and you’re more Welsh than her 😀

howshouldibehave · 14/09/2024 20:52

I think if you were born and grew up in Scotland to Scottish parents, you can count yourself as being Scottish!

It’s the people on some Facebook groups (Outlander groups, I’m looking at you!) who had ancestors who came over to America from Scotland in the 1740s who say they’re Scottish that I find a bit bizarre!

TheCultureHusks · 14/09/2024 20:49

🤣 nobody is 55% this and 40% that. It’s not real. Genetically everyone is a mix, certainly within the British Isles! It’s a way of describing it certainly, but it has no real meaning that translates to ‘making’ you anything at all.

Whothefuckdoesthat · 14/09/2024 20:48

Born in Scotland, raised in Scotland, you sound pretty Scottish to me.

Itabsolutelyispossible · 14/09/2024 20:48

Anyone can be Scottish! Welcome!

QuiteAnEpicFailure · 14/09/2024 20:47

I only have 1 gp actually Scottish but I was born and raised here and I very much identify as Scottish, genetically I’m probably more Welsh!

jamtarty · 14/09/2024 20:46

You’re being pretty offensive to your grandparents who were adopted into Scottish families. There’s more to family than blood.

Chasingthewilddeer · 14/09/2024 20:45

Being Scottish is more than genetics. If you were raised in Scotland, you are Scottish.

TerfsWereRight · 14/09/2024 20:44

Lol! You’re definitely Scottish! Life experience and identity is way may important than genetics. Must be quite weird for you though!

Sethera · 14/09/2024 20:43

I really doubt anyone is genetically 100% Scottish, English, etc. Your cultural identity is more about your experience and choices than your genes. You're born and bred in Scotland and it sounds as though you are deeply immersed in Scottish culture, so you are Scottish.

Swipe left for the next trending thread