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Original poster

Are my children Scottish or English

55 replies

Petranut1 · 15/09/2023 22:15

Have recently moved down south from Scotland with DH and our three DC aged 9, 4 and 10 months. I think the kids will grow up considering themselves to be Scottish, as that is where their parents come from, and where they were born. DH reckons they will end up considering themselves to be English, as this is where they will be growing up.

Not that it matters, really 😁

OP posts:
Hellocatshome · 15/09/2023 22:17

They are Scottish but no one can predict how they view themselves in the future. You will have a big influence in this though especially with the younger ones.

Passingplace · 15/09/2023 22:18

Could be either really couldn’t it?

PuttingDownRoots · 15/09/2023 22:20

It might matter if they want to play sport fir their country...

But otherwise, they might be socially English but have strong Scottish feelings.

TomatoSoupIsLikeVampiresBlood · 15/09/2023 22:20

Scottish.
I am married o someone who has lived in England far longer than they lived in Scotland but they are definitely Scottish.

Dreemhouse · 15/09/2023 22:22

DH has lived in England for 25 years, but he is most definitely Scottish! I grew up abroad but I am English (although would probably say British if asked).

They’ll decide for themselves but I’d say Scottish

SweetBirdsong · 15/09/2023 22:23

Still Scottish through and through, and it's fine to say that.

However, is it OK for someone from England to say they are still English - and proud of it, even after living in Scotland since they were little children?

Feels like this would not be received so well. Wink

ConsuelaHammock · 15/09/2023 22:24

Scottish

EineReiseDurchDieZeit · 15/09/2023 22:24

Oh Gosh this will go crazy like the Welsh thread.

I would say Scottish

Woopzies · 15/09/2023 22:26

Scottish

MrsTerryPratchett · 15/09/2023 22:27

They can define themselves. I always did:

Woman
European
British

In that order. The Scottish/English thing was very divisive in my family. Really horrible actually.

Original poster
Petranut1 · 15/09/2023 22:27

Interested to see if their accents change over time. My eldest has a strong Scottish accent and at 9, not sure if that will change?!

OP posts:
PuttingDownRoots · 15/09/2023 22:30

We moved to Yorkshire when DDs were 8 and 9, about 2.5 years ago. Younger DD has a definite Yorkshire accent now, elder DD has retained her military accent.

Gillstuck · 15/09/2023 22:32

The youngest two will definitely pick up an English accent from their school friends. So long as they get lots of trips back to Scotland they'll get a feel for their roots too. Does it matter that much?

TrishTrix · 15/09/2023 22:33

Suspect they will continue to be Scottish.

i think I’ve now lived in London longer than I lived in Scotland. But I’ll always be Scottish.

(I also have an English & Orish grandmother. Still Scottish!!)

Original poster
Petranut1 · 15/09/2023 22:33

PuttingDownRoots · 15/09/2023 22:30

We moved to Yorkshire when DDs were 8 and 9, about 2.5 years ago. Younger DD has a definite Yorkshire accent now, elder DD has retained her military accent.

Interesting as they are only 1 year apart! How long until your youngest started to pick up an accent?

OP posts:
Mamai90 · 15/09/2023 22:33

My best friend grew up in Canada, I met her 6 months after she moved here (aged 11) and she had an Irish accent, I didn't believe her for a while because she'd no hint of a Canadian accent. Her brother who is 2 years older still has a Canadian twang and they've been here for 30 years. I think it just depends on the person.

Notpooryet · 15/09/2023 22:33

Passingplace · 15/09/2023 22:18

Could be either really couldn’t it?

This. My very Independence nationalist cousin had a small moment of embarrassment introducing my very English mother as her aunt to friends (her own mother has a Scots accent after many decades there)...

Headingforholidays · 15/09/2023 22:33

Petranut1 · 15/09/2023 22:27

Interested to see if their accents change over time. My eldest has a strong Scottish accent and at 9, not sure if that will change?!

I would expect they will lose it. My friend move to England from Ireland aged 9 and had no trace of an Irish accent by the time I met her at 17.

paradoxically2 · 15/09/2023 22:33

They may each have their own view and they may be different from each other. If a couple from India moved with their baby to England would you expect their baby to grow up saying they are Indian or British? Some people feel an affinity with their parent's nationality. Others feel an affinity with the place they grew up in and call home.

MrsTerryPratchett · 15/09/2023 22:33

They'll all probably get an English accent. From the depths of my memory I think it's teenagers who keep them, normally.

Cantrushart · 15/09/2023 22:37

Depends on what you sell them. They'll take their lead from you.

TheHateIsNotGood · 15/09/2023 22:38

Being of mixed Scottish/English heritage myself and lived in both countries as well as other countries, from the Scottish viewpoint you're not really Scottish unless you were born there - I wasn't and therefore many Scots say I'm English. Tbh, I don't care much, as I do know that out of all 5 of my Faither's dc, I'm the only one that has carried through our family name through my Son.

OPs dc are open to choice being born in Scotland. But in the end it really doesn't matter as many pure-bred Scots left their shores many generations ago.

YummyCookie · 15/09/2023 22:40

We moved from Scotland to England when I was 1yr old. I still consider myself Scottish.

PuttingDownRoots · 15/09/2023 22:41

Petranut1 · 15/09/2023 22:33

Interesting as they are only 1 year apart! How long until your youngest started to pick up an accent?

Show quote history

We noticed the accent sneaking in about a year ago.

(My DM was originally from Scotland. When in Scotland Scottish people say she sounds English, whereas in England English people say she has a Scottish accent).

Overnightoats1 · 15/09/2023 22:42

I think I read that you keep the accent of wherever you are when you are 19.. kids brains are very malleable and they pick up accents from their environments (school, tv etc) very quickly.. I have Scottish friends who have 2 kids who were born in London.. at 7 and 11 they consider themselves English but have very strong ties and head up to see family often...