Panache Answers the "Big Kilt Questions"

[be da veva]

And as far as the Irish/Scottish question goes, is easy to know who is what... simply ask them there name and if it starts with "Mc" then he is obviously a Scot.. If his name starts with an "O" then he must be Irish.

Actually I've been told that Mc is irish and Mac is scottish. And to make matters worse, every Mc someone I met was irish every Mac somebodyelse was scot.... Hence the irish being calles Mics or Mikeys in a derogotary (sp?) way...

[Geoff Withnell]

Actually, uniformity in spelling is a relatively recent invention. I am told Shakespeare spelled his name over 2 dozen different ways at various times. Add in the rather sketchy level of literacy of the masses in most historical times, and minor differences in spelling become essentially useless for distinguishing between such closely related groups. Heck, my great grandfather, from letters I have seen, sometimes spelled our family name Whithnell, and sometimes Withnel.

Actually I've been told that Mc is irish and Mac is scottish. And to make matters worse, every Mc someone I met was irish every Mac somebodyelse was scot.... Hence the irish being calles Mics or Mikeys in a derogotary (sp?) way...

[Frank McGrath]

Actually I've been told that Mc is irish and Mac is scottish. And to make matters worse, every Mc someone I met was irish every Mac somebodyelse was scot.... Hence the irish being calles Mics or Mikeys in a derogotary (sp?) way...

So many names were changed by the registrars at Ellis Island. It is so very hard to trace Geneology back to the old sod when names get changed.

[artificer]

So many names were changed by the registrars at Ellis Island. It is so very hard to trace Geneology back to the old sod when names get changed.

Compound this with the fact that many immigrants couldn't read or write, and heavy accents or only passing familiarity with English and things get even hairier!

ith:

[Steve Ashton]

Hi folks,

This original intent of this thread was a really good essay by Panache.

The thread is now waaay off that topic and on to other things.

Out of respect for Panache and the work he put into his essay would it be too much to ask that the current topic be taken to it's own thread?

I will give you a few days to start another thread then I would like to lock this thread and make it a sticky so we do not lose the important work contained in the first few pages.

I think you will agree that if you were a new member, looking for good solid information, that the original topic of this thread would be a great resource. I think you can also agree that we should respect that and preserve it for our members.