Life used to be simple; but now I've Scottished myself.

Edrof · 13 Feb 2013 at 11:27

My Dad delving into the family tree has revealed that I have a Scottish grandmother. Her surname was McAlpine.

Now this complicates matters greatly. I'm no longer a thoroughbred Englishman, I'm 25% Scottish. Do I accept Biohazard's imminent friend request? Should I begin wrapping the clan McAlpine tartan around my caber before tossing? Can I legally now affect a Highlander's brogue in order to impress girls?

And when it comes to sport, is it Rangers or Celtic that I cheer on when one of them slam dunks a goal into the try line to score that last quarter four-point home run?

So, aside from now considering Braveheart to be historically accurate, what benefits do I get from my new national identity?

HecFam · 13 Feb 2013 at 11:31

Whisky...

Everyone in my family is English, but both my father's and mother's name comes from scottish heritage.

I've always had a little inkling, i can pull off a fairly desent accent. Been to scotland and had a walkabout a few whisky distilleries. I didn't feel too much like a tourist, thats a benefit perhaps?

Shayper · 13 Feb 2013 at 11:32

Nuke it from orbit?

I hear this is a commonly used solution...

Dup · 13 Feb 2013 at 11:33

Your 25% Scottish is nothing. Born in England, French name and ancestors, Irish Grandmother on the other side.

Top of the baguette to ya!

Draeger · 13 Feb 2013 at 11:33

In this case your only option is to work hard at rectifying the remaining 75% that isn't Scottish in order that the path to perfection becomes complete.

Redgie · 13 Feb 2013 at 11:33

I have a surname beginning with Mc but I do not consider myself at all Scottish, not that i would have a problem with it. How is it that it took a "delving" into family history to find out details on a grandmother? Normally they're pretty easy relatives to find out about

Feek · 13 Feb 2013 at 11:36

Born in England?

Then you're English.

Unless you're an American who has a great-great-great-great-great-grandparent who once met an Irishman. Then you can claim you're Irish.

Edrof · 13 Feb 2013 at 11:36

Redgie said:
I have a surname beginning with Mc but I do not consider myself at all Scottish, not that i would have a problem with it. How is it that it took a "delving" into family history to find out details on a grandmother? Normally they're pretty easy relatives to find out about

Mum was adopted and details of her birth mother were sketchy.

Redgie · 13 Feb 2013 at 11:38

Edrof said:
Mum was adopted and details of her birth mother were sketchy.

Ahh okay, gotcha

I'd be interested to look at my family history one day, as I'm sure I could find something interesting if I went far back enough, but have yet to find the motivation to start...

jsmoke · 13 Feb 2013 at 11:39

Your 25% an alcoholic.

elmarko · 13 Feb 2013 at 11:40

If I recall correctly.

1/4 Irish
1/8 Russian
1/8 German

In communist Russia we top of the Vodka to you mein fuhrer.

Also,

Apologies if link broken, at work & can't see it anyway :/.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybQCNb4AuW4

antran · 13 Feb 2013 at 11:40

Similar thing happened to me few years back, found out I'm not 100% Chinese. My mom's grandmother is Vietnamese. I don't look Chinese or Vietnamese.

jsmoke · 13 Feb 2013 at 11:41

Depends on how far you want to go back, in theory we all came from the first men and woman on this earth.

Shayper · 13 Feb 2013 at 11:51

As far as I know, I'm English up to 3 generations back. The surnames I know are Cox, Salt and Brown.

DGBVIPER · 13 Feb 2013 at 11:52

Edrof said:
what benefits do I get from my new national identity?

Well, for a start you can enjoy a number of unlikely foods deep-fried to within an inch to their life but in the end actually taste pretty darn good but then hhhnnnggg

Windle · 13 Feb 2013 at 11:53

Pah I can top that, born in England to Scottish parents with an Irish grandmother. I'm only missing Welsh heritage for the quadruple full brit.

jsmoke · 13 Feb 2013 at 11:53

Shayper said:
As far as I know, I'm English up to 3 generations back. The surnames I know are Cox, Salt and Brown.

harsh

Shayper · 13 Feb 2013 at 11:55

jsmoke said:
harsh

Just a tad. School was pretty bad.

grimm · 13 Feb 2013 at 11:56

You might as well just kill yourself now mate, I hear Scottish people only have a life expectancy of about 35 anyway

wildman · 13 Feb 2013 at 11:58

get back on your side of the wall. Hadrian built it to keep gingers like you away from our women.........