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Welcome to Scotsnet - discuss all aspects of life in Scotland, including relocating, schools and local areas.

Original poster

Am I Scottish?

80 replies

Grooticle · 01/02/2021 19:04

I have one Scottish great grandparent, was born in Scotland and lived there till I was 9.

My other ancestors were English, and I’ve lived in England since I was 9.

So I don’t think I’m Scottish (although I might say I’m “originally from Scotland” if it came up).

Turns out a close friend (who is very definitely Welsh) thinks of me as being Scottish, which I was surprised by, and now I’m curious what other people would think!

OP posts:
StarryEyeSurprise · 01/02/2021 20:07

Well if it was vice versa, I'd say you were an English Scot but how do you say it the other way round ? What's the English equivalent of Scot..hmm

HirplesWithHaggis · 01/02/2021 20:10

You were born in Scotland and spent a fair chunk of your childhood here. I'd say you're Scottish, but if you prefer English it's no insult to me! Grin

WagnerTheWehrWolf · 01/02/2021 20:10

I'd go by whatever you felt your own identity was. I don't think place of birth is all that relevant but rather where you're brought up. So your early childhood years were Scottish but your tween and teen years were English? You're an amalgamation.

DanielODonkey · 01/02/2021 20:14

If you are born in Scotland I'd say it's a definite yes.

Puffalicious · 01/02/2021 20:16

Amalgamation definitely. Being Scottish is way cooler, so...

Snowdrop30 · 01/02/2021 20:29

I think it depends how you approach defining identity. If it's upbringing/birth, then you might say you are Scottish, if it's where you currently live/pay taxes/contribute to the community then you might not.

If you think both things matter, then you could be a mix of things. Personally, I take that line. For example, if someone was originally from Lesotho, Argentina or New Zealand, but had chosen to make their life in Aberdeen or Dundee, then I would think that person would be both a Scot and that other identity too (adopted Scot covers most eventualities!)

LadyMonicaBaddingham · 01/02/2021 20:29

Can't you be British? I was born in England, brought up in Scotland and have made my home with DH and had my children in Wales - that's how I describe myself

anon444877 · 01/02/2021 21:03

I don't think you can tell another person their identity, which is horribly post modern of me I know. You are what you say you are on the mix of birth/place you currently live/places you have lived/places your anticedents lived.

Original poster
Grooticle · 02/02/2021 07:45

These are interesting thank you.

Yes I suppose it comes down to how I feel ultimately. I think I’d feel like I was exaggerating/cheating somehow if I described myself as Scottish - sort of like cultural appropriation? As a pp said, being Scottish might be seen as cooler/more interesting.

FWIW when I was a tween/teen I definitely felt that I was Scottish, and planned to go back there as an adult - but looking back I suspect that was mostly because I was unhappy and looking back to an easier time! But I chose a uni in England and have never done more than shortish holidays in Scotland since, so I suppose I feel English overall.

OP posts:
Babdoc · 02/02/2021 10:30

The population of the UK is such a lovely intermarried mixture of all the home nations - we have been fellow citizens of one country for three centuries- that it is divisive and largely meaningless to call ourselves anything other than British.
I was born and raised in England, my DH was half Scottish and half Dutch, our DC were born and raised in Scotland, where I have lived for 45 years. Which is why the whole unpleasant independence debate sickens me, as it creates such artificial and unnecessary divisions between families.
I’d say you are British, OP.

anon444877 · 02/02/2021 12:49

I thought I was British too babdoc and was sad when I moved here 10 years ago and people started identifying me as English. I didn't even move here from England.

Babdoc · 02/02/2021 14:17

It has become much more polarised since the rise of poisonous nationalism with the SNP, anon444877. They take every opportunity to sow division, blaming the UK government for everything and spewing out propaganda to try and claim Scots are somehow different and morally superior to the English.
The sheer ingratitude for the furlough scheme and bailout during the pandemic, and the lies and evasion over the reason for Scotland’s lamentably slow vaccine rollout compared to every other home nation, speak volumes.

Ready2020 · 05/02/2021 23:04

I was born and brought up in Scotland but my dad was English and my mum is Irish. So I see myself as British but people would say I'm Scottish. My sisters both married men from the NE England (my dad was from Newcastle so....) so I still have connections there.

Dinosauratemydaffodils · 05/02/2021 23:22

The population of the UK is such a lovely intermarried mixture of all the home nations - we have been fellow citizens of one country for three centuries- that it is divisive and largely meaningless to call ourselves anything other than British.

I used to think that but where I currently live, most people (for the past 100 years at least) have just married other local families so now I'm not sure it applies countrywide.

I have English, Irish, Welsh and Russian Grandparents married to someone who has Northern Irish, Scottish and Prussian (apparently that bit was important) grandparents. We live in Scotland and he was born here. Neither of us are 100 percent sure what we are.

PinkyParrot · 06/02/2021 06:59

Born in Scotlalnd - Scottish

kurtrussellsbeard · 06/02/2021 10:21

I'd say it was completely up to you! Smile just go with however you feel. I have a family member who was born in Scotland but moved to England before she was one. She calls herself Scottish and fair enough! Her siblings identify as English although they lived in Scotland longer.

kurtrussellsbeard · 06/02/2021 10:22

@Babdoc you make it almost impossible not to bite!

Ingratitude for the furlough scheme? Wtf?

Daydrambeliever · 06/02/2021 10:30

How did Babdoc and others manage to turn a fairly innocuous question about nationality into a political diatribe? Amazing! I'm not a supporter of the SNP but your comments and attitude about Scotland being "ungrateful" are hilariously ridiculous.

OP you are who you want to be when it comes to Scottish identity. If you were born here you can be Scottish. If you were born elsewhere but you live here now you can be Scottish. If you spent anytime at all here you can be Scottish. Most folk up here are pretty happy to welcome nice sorts into the clan.

TooTrueToBeGood · 06/02/2021 10:37

It's entirely up to you. One thing I think is fair to say about us Scots, and something I'm proud of, is that we are not selfishly protective of our national identity. Unlike some other nations, we appreciate that it is a great compliment if someone wants to identify as one of us.

kurtrussellsbeard · 06/02/2021 10:38

@TooTrueToBeGood absolutely!

#refuweegee

mintich · 06/02/2021 10:40

Easy.....who are you supporting in the rugby later? There's your answer! Grin

Fairystory · 06/02/2021 10:45

I was born in Scotland and had a Scottish father so definitely feel Scottish. I have however lived most of my life in London so am a Scottish Londoner.

bluebirds65 · 06/02/2021 10:52

@kurtrussellsbeard refuweegee? Cringe 😬

Londonnight · 06/02/2021 10:53

My son was born in Scotland [ Kirkcaldy ] to two English parents. We moved to England when he was 9, but he very much identifies himself as being Scottish.
He will only ever support Scotland in the football or Rugby :)

kurtrussellsbeard · 06/02/2021 10:54

It's a wee charity that aims to make refugees feel Scottish - unless I've missed something? Hmm