Moore Surname: Irish or Scot

[macwilkin]

The Moore name can be a Scottish one. There are some tricks to give a better idea if it is or not.

Migration time, route, and destination.
-Scot's heavily settled the S.E. of the USA.

Also, many Scots settled in Pennsylvania and the Mohawk & Hudson River valleys of New York, although many Scots in the later were Loyalists during the Revolution and later moved to Canada. In addition, PA saw thousands of immigrants from Ulster (Northern Ireland); these are the "Scots-Irish" who travelled down the Great Wagon Road to the backcountry of Virginia, the Carolinas and Georgia.

Religion
-Was your father's family Presbyterian? Many who could not practice Presbyterian after migration (usually because there was no Presbyterian Church in the area) often attended/converted to Baptist Church(or some other protestant faith). Many Scot's were still practicing Catholics, most were just Presbyterian. {This is as I learned it from Com. Walter Taylor, Historian and volunteer at the Scottish Tartans Museum} I can vouch that this is what my family did in the early 20th century. They converted to Baptist because there was no Presbyterian church where they were living.... something to think about.

Scottish Presbyterians also converted to the Methodist, Congregationalists and "Campbellite" (Disciples of Christ) Churches. You also find quite a few Highlanders who were Episcopalians.

I keep reading about "You can't wear your mother's tartan" statements. Remember; Because the MacGregor name was outlawed, Rob Roy went by his mothers name Campbell for much of his life. Always remember, YOU CAN WEAR WHAT YOU WANT!

That's a very good point about Rob Roy; I'll have to use that one!

Cheers,

Todd