picture courtesy of Andy Law�

Scottish Ancestry Tours

Welcome to Scotland!

Tell me a little about Scotland's ethnic history

The Scots are, essentially, a mix of four core groups of people: the Picts (original iron-age inhabitants), the Scots ( who migrated from Northern Ireland), the Britons (native people in the S.W.of Scotland) and the Angles who invaded from Europe in the 5th century AD. The first three named groups had an affinity in that they were of Celtic origin. From around the 9th century the country was subject to hostile attacks from Norwegian Vikings who subsequently settled and left their mark in place names, particularly in the West of Scotland.

Tell me about Scotland's Clans and Surnames

The Highlands Clan system started to develop around the 12th century and has provided us with a legacy of names recognised the world over which include Armstrong, Bruce, Cameron, Campbell, Clanranald, Colquhoun, Davidson, Douglas, Drummond, Farquharson, Forbes, Gordon, Grant, Gunn, Lamont, Lovat, MacBean, MacRae, MacFarlane, MacDonell, MacDonald, Mackay, MacGillivray, MacGregor, Mackinnon, MacDougall, Mackenzie, Mackintosh, Maclean, Macleod, Macmillan, MacNab, MacPherson, Menzies, Murray, Robertson, Scott, Stewart and Sutherland. However, there are some 16,000 Scottish surnames of which fewer than 3,000 originate from the Highlands. The majority of Scots have always lived in the Lowlands.

How Can I Trace My Scottish Family History?

There are many and varied information sources, including:

Census Returns
Old Parish Records
International Genealogical Index
Local Newspapers
Records of local societies.
Poor Law Records
Trade Directories ( Post Office Directories)
Trade Societies Records
Poll Tax Rolls 1695 and Hearth Tax Records 1691
Sasines from 1781-1947 ( transfer of property ownership).
Confirmations and Inventories ( wills).
Valuation Rolls
Official records of former burghs and councils.
Maps
Local Archives
Registration Offices ( births, deaths and marriages).
General Register Office for Scotland
Burial Grounds Records
Local Family History Societies
Scotland's People-official Scottish Government source of genealogical data.

How can Catswhiskerstours help?

Catswhiskerstours has considerable experience in arranging ancestry tours of Scotland where there is an emphasis on personal genealogy and family history.
Such tours are recognised as very personal, individual and possibly emotional as well with a focus on the notion of identity.

For example, ‘Scottish-Americans’ identities may differ depending on the strength of their affinity with Scotland. Some may actually be Scottish but live in America whilst others may just have very distant Scottish ancestors but have elected to identify themselves as partly Scottish. (Soja (1996) cited in Coles.T & Timothy.D (2004) Tourism, diasporas and space, New York:Routledge.)

Catswhiskerstours acknowledges the needs of such clients who wish to visit Scotland, undertake research and seek out authentic, genuine family records and/or actual authentic experiences of where their ancestors lived or worked.

Catswhiskerstours understands that researching family history may only be part of the reason for visiting Scotland and there may be a need for repeat visits to follow up leads and because of strong emotional connection. Clients may have need to:

Access more information
“See what they have seen”
Connect with other people
Connect with 'self'
Visit the Archives and Special Collections Department of the Mitchell Library in Glasgow and the National Archives in Edinburgh.

(Acknowledgement: The above narrative has been sourced from and inspired by a dissertation written by Ms Laura Simpson for the Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management, University of Strathclyde, 1st September 2006.)

We can help in specific ways as follows:-

Personal ancestry research with assistance, if necessary,of professional genealogist.
Private, small group ancestry themed tours.
Self-drive tours with itineraries based on family history.
Clan or family reunions
Glasgow and West of Scotland Ancestry tours.

We look forward to helping you connect with your Scottish identity.

Back to Tours

For more information and help contact Nigel-

T 44 (0) 141 638 5500

E ncole67@googlemail.com
Or info@catswhiskerstours.co.uk

We look forward to hearing from you!