Super Tuesday - 2 votes for the kilt!

[BoldHighlander]

The "-by" or "-bee" suffix on a British surname almost always comes originally from the Norse word for "farm." When the Vikings invaded and settled the eastern part of what is now England they often used this word for their settlements, many of which latter became villages, which became in turn the surname used for those who came from them.

That's interesting because with my Scottish ancestors surname (Scobee / Scoby / Scobie) I've been told in conversations with the Mackay clan Seanachaidh (Scotland) that:

"in the Dictionary of Surnames, they say that the name came from the ancient possession of land of this name in Perthshire, but the Scoby family of Yorks must derive from an Old Norse "-farm" name.
(In fact, Rescobie is a small village just East of Forfar.)"

Was this just the case for England proper, or did this happen with the Norse & surnames in Scotland as well?

[davedove]

Has MacCain tried to energize the Scots vote yet? What clan is MacCain?

Evidently the Kennedys, Kerry and the other Irish weren't able to do much for O'Bama in Massachusetts.

There is probably a tartan associated with "McCain", though I think the name is Irish, related to O'Kane or Kane. During the New Hampshire primary I saw folks holding up placards which read "Irish for McCain!" But, will an old Naval aviator don a kilt!

I've wracked my brains trying to figure out the ethnic origins of "Huckabee"....

Actually, McCain is probably one of the variations of MacIan, which does have a tartan (see my avatar). Other variations include McKane, McKean, etc.

You know, my grandmother was a McKean. Maybe he's a long lost relative.

[SteveB]

I am the Warden for my precinct at the Polls. Day starts at 5:00 A.M. and ends at 10:30 P.M. My function is to supervise the poll workers, and resolve any issues that occur during the election. Due to a fairly heavy turnout, I had the pleasure of working very steady all day. All of the workers have been with me for a number of years and are used to the kilt. I had only question about it from a voter. He wishing to know where to get one. A great day kilted at the polls. Outfit for primary election is in my avatar, with the addition of a dark green jacket.
---- Steve

[Mountain Scot]

I always love to wear my Freedom of Scotland Tartan kilt to vote. Seems appropriate in a democracy!!

Aaron
clans@iescots.com

[Surly Dave]

Thought I'd clear it up for people:

The short answer is his people are indeed from Ulster, from County Antrim, Ireland. They left from Coleraine town circa 1719 and appear on the border of the Pennsylvania and Maryland Colony in the early 1720s. His immigrant ancestor was named Alexander McKean and yes, the two lads who run the Ulster Heritage DNA Project are from the same McCain family.

The long answer can be found here.

I can't get a handle on O'Bama though.