Census poll: What is your cultural / historical connection to the kilt?

[LANCER1562]

My father used to say that he was all Scotch with a little bit of water. Between my parents I am definately a mutt. Mother's side: French, English, Italian, Austrian-Hungarian (not a typo), and maybe some Native American though no one is really sure. On my dad's side: English, French, Canadian (Dad was born in Canada), Scot.

[Zardoz]

Well, I have "tenuous, extended family connections" to Scotland, so that was my vote.
But I subscibe to the view of the kilt as a pan-Celtic garment, so the Scottish g-g-g-g-grandmother in the 1800s was not my 'justification' for getting a kilt. My direct family line came from Ireland to America in the 1760s, so I have tenuous connections to lots of European nationalities, and native American ones as well.

[Riverkilt]

Father's side DNA goes back to Scandanavia - Viking Scot - Clan Donald - Sons of Somerled. My 3great and 2 great grandfathers came to Cape Breton Island from Staffin Skye in 1854 - Islanders.

Mother's side, lowlanders - Clan Scott.

[ThistleDown]

Born in Canada of a Highland father and a Lancastrian mother. I have dual citizenship, was educated in Scotland and England and now live in both Scotland and Canada.

[Blake Roth]

Like Boldhighlander my background follows US history. From my fathers side I inherit the greater part of my German-ity, but admittly know little more of his side because his family is not so very close. My mothers side is much better remembered: German-swiss, Scots-Irish, Dutch, etc plus my pappy's grandmother was one of the first graduates "produced" by the Carlisle Indian Industrial School, although we haven't figured out her tribal origins as she was brought under the auspices of a missionary-nun and took on her name. As far as I know, I haven't any English to me, even though my full name is very anglophilic. I wear the Kilt for both the Scots-Irish connexion and for the historical fact that the US began as a Britannic colony.

[Downunder Kilt]

Fathers male line back to 1770 in New Deer verified by church records and subsequent census polls. GGGF arrived in Australia 1855 after being shipwrecked on the Victorian west coast. Two brothers later joined him around 1857. Went back to Scotland in 1859/60 and persuaded his father and mother (and younger siblings) to come to Australia in 1861.

Other linage is English and Welsh

[Lyle1]

My paternal grandfather came from Scotland to the USA with his parents in 1888, when he was 5 years old. On my mother's side, I have a Calhoun ggf whose linage I have not traced, and two lines of Ulster-Scots who came to the USA in the early 1700's. I have traced the Ulster-Scot lines back to Scotland, some of them to the 800's, if you trust peerages and history books.

The interesting thing to me is that before the year 1200, my Scottish ancestors carried the blood of men and women born in areas that are known today as: Italy, Germany, France, Luxemburg, England, Wales, Ireland, Scotland, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.

[CDNSushi]

The trend is already developing; no surprise I think that many or most will show a direct family link.

It might be interesting to run a second poll to see at what level we claim our heritage and to track the Scots diaspora. For instance, "My direct family link is:" parent - grandparent - G/grandparent - GG/grandparent, etc. born in or citizen of Scotland.

I'll bet there are some very interesting stories here. X-man's (above) is certainly one of them. [edit: as are the later ones which appeared while I was writing.]

Indeed, there is a pattern, and I did expect there to be one, I just wasn't sure whether it would be through direct connections or more distant ones.

Yes, the poll is a little ambiguous, as it does not address what "direct family" means nor does it define Scottishness in definitive terms. I knew that though. I just figured that I would leave those things up to each individual respondent. For instance, if you moved away from Scotland at an early age, you may or may not FEEL Scottish... Or if you Scottish aunt or grandmother raised you, that may be more direct a relationship than a parent. Or if only HALF of your family came from Scotland... Or a QUARTER... Where does that put you? Which polll options to choose? There are just too many variables to account for. But I would say the right one to choose is the one that feels the most 'right' to you. In any event I think it gives an interesting, broad overview of the general demographics here.

[Nighthawk]

My Granny MacLeod came here from the Isle of Skye to get away from the Germans.

[Bugbear]

After probing my family tree a bit, it became more and more apparent I have no Scottish ancestors, and it was a mistake of terms and names etc. That was after I had worn a kilt a bit and joined the forum. It just kind of all went, POOF!