10 Ways Americans Make Scottish People BLUSH 

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After extensive research, I have discovered that I'm related to my mom and dad.

If you are walking around in a kilt, shirtless, and drinking from a bottle of scotch, then you probably are an American.

Y'know, as an American, hearing foreigners say how they love our culture makes me feel good, because most of the time you hear about people who hate our country, so it's quite nice to hear people talk about how much they like it

I, English, met an old lady in Los Angeles, speaking with a Scottish accent. I asked her how long it was since she left Scotland? She said "you can tell I'm Scottish? I was five years old when I left!"

Save the Gaelic language. it's a beautiful language.

When an elderly lady from England asked a kilt- clad scotsman if there was anything worn underneath, he replied, "No ma'am. Everything under my kilt is in good working order."

It’s sad that Scotland doesn’t know more about your history. It’s such a rich history and something y’all should be proud of.

I have a little Scottish lady I work with who is in her 60’s. She’s only been in the US for a dozen years so her accent is still thick and I’m her trainer so I work closely with her. The other day she asked me a question and I answered “Oh, Aye.” Then blushed profusely and I apologize telling her I wasn’t mocking her it just slipped out. She was absolutely delighted. She said “Aye Love, We’ll have you speaking properly before I retire!”

Many people in America are very proud of their heritage, and history, so when they ask people from Scotland about clans, native languages, and such, they're most likely trying to find a connection to their heritage.

I'm Native American and we don't wear our traditionals either. Only special occasions, weddings, under our graduation gown or Ceremonial celebrations, like pow wows.

Proud of my Scottish heritage ! Not just because they came from Scotland but because they had the courage to cross the ocean to a place they had never seen before a begin a new life . Scottish + Bravery and courage = Awesome ! Deb descendant of Clan Pollock ❤️

I’m 3 years late but 🤷🏼‍♀️😅 I think you nailed it at 9:50. My theory as to why we (Americans) hold so strong to our Scottish roots is because of how a lot of our ancestors came to America; punishment, fleeing, etc. Our ancestors didn’t go through the changes that the rest of Scotland was forced to, so a lot of the culture we know comes from the 17-1800s. Also, even though we have our country, I think a lot of us feel a little lost. I like to call us the “mutts” of the world. 😅 None of us have 1 straight line to a particular place or culture. So we find ourselves searching for our “home country”, learning all we can about places just to feel that connection. Its almost a bit like being homesick. I hope this makes sense. It took me 20+ minutes to find the right words. 😅 I’ve never said any of this out loud. 😶❤️

You forgot to mention how Americans see the Scottish men as the epitome of manliness

My grandma hammered into me that I was SCOTTISH. haha. Her family were thrown out from the clearances. The Scottish people who came here wanted us to never forget where we came from. I believe it was great pride to be able to wear the clan tartans when the English wiped it from your history. I believe it was so important that we were able to regain our identity. So in some ways, my grandma's family was truly Scottish as in keeping the traditions. I know I was to always remember that part of my heritage. It's like NEVER FORGET. What I'm trying to say is that you can find some of the old Scottish ways say in Nova Scotia.

We always thought we were Irish but my Irish ancestors came to Ireland from Scotland. They were of Scottish and Norse descent, so I’m basically a Scottish Viking with a couple generations from Ireland in the mix!

Dude, you still say "y'all" and I'm all for it.

Heh, I visited Scotland a while back (Dundee), and the gentleman that drove me around asked me if I rode horses. (I'm from Arizona). I said no. he said "That's ok, I don't wear a kilt either". We both chuckled quite a bit. It was a nice icebreaker and a fun sharing of stereotypes.

As an American, my favorite joke about Scots: Tourist from America sees a Scot in a kilt. She asks, "Is anything worn under the kilt?" He replies, "No, everything under there is in fine working order."

Ok basically wearing a kilt all the time would be like wearing a tuxedo out in the street, just saying

Scottish Gaelic is now on Duolingo & there are also places like LearnGaelic and Glossika where you can learn the language like I am doing myself. I've heard of classes being held in Glasgow and Edinburgh as well and educators are currently fighting to teach Gaelic in schools like Irish gets taught in Ireland. Hopefully, we can save our language.

I know Scottish schools offer different language classes. Please make Gaelic one of them. Don't let the language die.

Many of the enthusiastic Americans come from families who kept close track of their lineage. It’s passed through generations, usually through family bibles. Many who lived through the clearances had great pride in their lines and passed that information down through the generations. My grandmother had her father’s family tree from the mid 1700s. I have that information handed to me now, I didn’t have to do any research. While Americans can often seem loud and obnoxious, the culture is so different, their love for the land and the Scottish people comes from the heart, from a good place.

I was once in a bus station in Louisville Kentucky USA and a Scottish lady asked me to watch her luggage while she went to the rest room. I recognized her accent because my grandfather and father are from Glasgow. when I asked her "what part of Scotland are you from?" she lit up like Thank you! if one more American called me British or English I was gunna loose my mind. Had a lovely conversation about traveling. hope she is well haha.

I think what I appreciate most from this video is knowing that even the Scottish in Scotland don't have their ancestry figured out. A lot of Americans are some hodge podge mix of ethnicities and have long lost their heritage and this is often why Americans are so keen to tell you exactly who they are and who they're related to. It's a rarity here.

Is it just me, or could anyone else listen to him talk 24/7 ???

You're speaking for all Scottish people, so I'll speak for all American southerners: Keep saying "y'all"! We like it! It's endearing and amusing to hear such a unique word to us being used across the pond without being parody.

About 8 years ago, I was woofing (working on organic farms for board and lodging) for 2 month in Scotland. For a few weeks I was staying with a family on Skye. The youngest of their kids learned Gaelic as a second language in elementary school. He was already pretty fluent and was always wondering, why I couldn't understand him.

I think our Scottish and Irish family members were happy to have survived the journey and thrived in a harsh new land, not to mention missed home. Maybe that's why they really stressed the cultural identity to us.

That's the problem with Americans we got all your rebellious Scottish people.

My Scottish genealogy research shows that I am related to mostly hard working miners and farmers. I am very proud of that heritage.

I’m Scot-Irish! Also people think crazy stuff about the states! Some people asked if we were still cowboys with horses and no cars!! Haha A lot of Americans of all backgrounds are very proud of our ancestry. Scots, Irish, Italian, French and so on and on

Oh, I feel better. I've always wanted to visit Scotland. My grandmother had strong Scottish heritage and I am actually nervous to not offend any Scottish people should I ever (and I dream to) visit Scotland. I would not be guilty of 9 of them. The only thing was #8. The thing is...we in the US who are so proud of our Scottish heritage CRAVE to know our Scottish roots. We feel disconnected from people we so WANT to be connected to. We have loads of Celtic and Scottish festivals here. It's a way to reach out in love when we ask about clans. We are trying to connect to people we have affection and admiration for. We want to feel part of you...like family. We don't want to feel like foreigners to you. To my experience, it's really an unusual thing in the US to cling so much to one part of our ancestry (other than Native American). Hence the festivals. I also hope that you all will not be annoyed that I don't quite understand you at first. Please be patient. I'm probably so in love with your accent that I look like an idiot.

My father is from Lanarkshire, I am from the US. That makes me American and I descend from coal miners, pub owners and teachers. According to my DNA test, I am 100% human. ;)

Make a Scot blush? Turning a Scot red is easy heck, *_they get a sunburn from a flash picture,_* fer cryin outloud

Scots in America fought hard to keep as much of the culture as we could. We failed in many ways, but our Scottish culture would be from centuries before. We developed differently because we were separated from our home. But we’re very proud of our heritage.

Re: the ancestry stuff, when you go by probability, most people who are of Scottish ancestry probably do have an ancestor who is a monarch because once you get just a few generations back, the number of ancestors you have is so large that statistically a few are gonna be monarchs, especially in a concentrated view like Scottish ancestry It’s a more condensed version of how pretty much every person with European ancestry is a descendent of Charlemagne

I was in a busy bar in Inverness and I made a Scotsman blush. The place was getting more and more crowded and eventually this guy was right up against my legs while I sat on a stool. I tapped him on the shoulder and said “Would you like to sit in my lap?” And he turned as red as your shirt. 🤣

Thank you for the heads up. But as a nation of immigrants, we want to be proud of where we came from, it helps us to clarify who and what we are as human beings.

My great great grandfather immigrated to the U.S. in the 1800s. I never knew about this in school, my grandfather was the one who kept talking to me about my scottish heritage. When the internet came along that is when I found out more. Now with DNA kits my sister mother have found out clan colors etc. I would not think the average person in Scottland to know theirs either.

The thing about ancestry is once you've gone back a few hundred years, you have more potential ancestors than there were people alive at that time, so yeah, I'm descended from , right, and so is everyone else

Maybe it's because with so many different backgrounds in America we want to hang on to our personal history

I live in Georgia, USA. Nothing high-born about my family (Cameron). My Scottish ancestors were successful horse thieves

Something I never considered before is the impact of oral history. So, my husband has Scottish ancestry and I have Irish ancestors. The one thing I can honestly say is that both his and my parents or grandparents told us stories that were passed on to them by their parents and so on. I think that is why some of us Americans have such an old or historical view of things. For instance - my grandpa loved the song, "When Irish Eyes are Smiling" and songs like that or the movie "The Quiet Man". My husband always heard how his ancestors were deported for fighting for the wrong side at the wrong time yet he talks about it with the pride of standing up for what you believe in.

From what you're saying, the Brits managed to stomp out the desire for family and ancestral pride

"someone from Scotland is a Scot, Scotch however is a drink" Sir Sean Connery, King of Scotland

Gaelic is a language that needs to be kept alive. It's an important part of Scotland's heritage. I wish I knew it so I could speak it. I don't like it when people call the people Scotch and call a kilt a skirt. I love my Scottish heritage even though I don't live in Scotland but sure hope to in the future. Another awesome vlog Shaun. Thank you so much! 💜

“I dont have any Scooby Doo idea”, hahahaaa! You’re Awesome! Love your videos!!! 😁

When it comes to America's romanticized view of scotland , i truly think alot of it comes down to envy . we are still a very young nation and most of our culture is a mixture of every culture that was brought here from elsewhere . if you look at our founding population , a great majority bare scottish surnames . So when it comes to our love of things like kilts or ancient historical landmarks , we obsess over it because its what we lack . When immigrants come in from afar , they practice their indigenous culture for a generation or two before that is lost to local assimilation . this is often seen as an unfortunate side effect of multiculturalism and in response we may tend to compensate in over zealous ways in attempt to embrace what our parents left behind .

I lectured my girlfriend about this before we vacationed there. Americans are really very nice people, but we can be pretty overwhelming in our American-ness. :-) Beautiful country bud.

Speaking as an American....These points made *ME* cringe.

My godfather informed me as a kid to NEVER reference Scotch to anything but liquor. 😁 Much love to ya all.🇺🇸🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

i am Scottish, french Canadian and Puerto Rican. my grandmother is immigrated from Edinburgh on my dad's side; she still has family there and I have cousins however I have never met anyone there. I wish to see the country before she passes on as she is my only link on a major 1/3 of my lineage. she raised me with stories but at 98 years old I fear losing connections when she passes on. I'd love to meet the rest of my surviving family in Scotland. hopefully one day I can visit such a beautiful place

I mistook a Yorkshire accent for a Scottish one today LOL. Guy took the time to talk to my kids about his home town. Really sweet guy.

“Y’all” is actually a Scottish conjunction of “ye all”. The Scots who emigrated to America in the 1600’s and settled in the remote areas in the southern US kept it in use til today. Most people think it’s a lazy Southern‘s elision of “you all”.

Very informative tips for when I am finally able to visit Scotland. I live in the U.S. and am of Scottish heritage, and I am so excited to visit Scotland one day! Thanks for all your informative videos!

Thank you. These things ARE important to know.

Hey Shaun! You are correct about some of us knowing our ancestry and heritage. Being a McClure, our families roots can be traced from central Pennsylvania back to Ulster. That is where we lost the 'a'. Before that the surname was 'MacClure'. The family came to Ulster from Skye. The family was originally a sept of the Clan MacLeod. I have some items of clothing that include the MacLeod clan crest and MacLeod tartan. My wife and I visited Scotland in August of 2016 and one of the highlights of the trip was a visit to Dunvegan Castle on Skye. Not to weird you out or anything, but it sets the stage for the next part of the story. We flew out of 95 degree New York and landed in a misty, 60 degree Edinburgh. It was wonderfully cool and damp for August during our visit and my wife packed her wool MacLeod tartan shawl. She wore it when we toured the castle. All of the guides on the tour visibly bristled when they saw her wearing the tartan. Several of the guides approached and quietly asked if she was 'allowed' to wear that tartan. My wife explained our connection to the MacLeod clan and we were warmly welcomed. When we went to the next room to a different tour guide, this pattern was repeated again and again. My wife was a good sport about all of it, but is was a bit odd. It would appear that some people take the tartans very seriously. Here in America, some are very aware and proud of their heritage and others are blissfully ignorant. I have noticed that many people here frequently consider the Irish and the Scots different names for the same people. Like the tour guides, I bristle a bit at this, but I understand that they mean no offense. The two groups share a great deal of history and culture, but separated long ago. I love the way Billy Connolly puts it. "The Scots were an Irish tribe! A lot of people don't know that. Yeah! A kind of mentally ill Irish tribe. The chief said, "C'mon lads! I know an even RAINIER place!" Love your vlogs!!!

It's nice to see this, my family always lied about who we were, it started back in the mid 1900s for my family, claiming to be native american under the belief that the government would give you free land, I found out that my family came from Scotland and I'm 3rd generation born in the US, Scottish from both sides on my family, I got really interested in learning more and being proud of being Scottish, and found most people I met from Scotland were about a 50/50 split, half seem to hate you if you claim being Scottish, and others are so happy to welcome you and hear that someone is proud of even being part Scottish

I’m a direct descendent of my grandparents, who came over from Scotland (both sides) during the Great Depression (good timing) and just before WWII. No Kings or Queens, as far as I know.

Thank you for the ammunition to really annoy my Scottish friends.

Shaun, you have my permission to say “y'all.” You're welcome, Janice from Texas. Really, certain accents and slangs are so easy to pick up, without one intending to. I spent two days in New Orleans, and picked up quite a bit that took several weeks to wear off. Another way of looking at this issue is this: if you come visit me, I would much rather hear you speak your own accent, because I like it. I hear the local accent all the time, you are the unique one and that's fun. But, then again, I would probably get a kick out of hearing you try to copy our local accent and stuff. That would be fun, too. And about British Celtic accents - most people I personally know can't tell the difference between Irish, Scottish, or Welsh accents. PS - all men look great in a beard and a kilt. IMHO.

i'm a direct descendant of groundskeeper willie

My mother, Mary Mitchell, was the daughter of James Mitchell and Anne MacDonald and grew up in Canada. My grand parents were born in Canada as well. It's my great grand parents who were the ones to immigrate from the area of Ross in Scotland to Canada. From what I understand, from my mother, my grandmother was a niece of Flora MacDonald, as so I was told. That's the closest I get to Scottish Royalty. I'm pretty much just a Scottish American, but, I am proud of it.

My Great Grandfather was a Scotsman, Montgomery his surname, who traveled through N. Ireland, and through Canada as a trapper-frontiersman migrated gradually south and married my Great Grandmother a Blackfoot Indian squaw, in the Northwest Territories. Nobody famous but he was a writer and kept a diary. I visited the east coast Isles, and the ruins of the Montgomery's Castle, Findhorn, Stonehaven Trad Musical Festival (men in kilts) whom were super nice to me for my 50th Birthday, I took myself to Scotland for a month in July, when all the northern rolling hills are purple with different shades of Heather. I went north on a train and explored the north with the Great shaggy ponies and cows. The Isle of Iona, and upon the River Tay in a B&B owned by Dougie MacLean where I heard the most beautiful violin music, Ever. Dougie MacLean is quite famous where I live, for writing the score to The Last of the Mohicans. I live on the west coast of California, a stones throw away is the Mountain town of Scotts Valley and we have a Loch Lomond, our reservoir. We used to have 3-Day Celtic Fairs here, I got to see this group called The Wicked Tinkers! They are wild, and the beautiful Scottish aires, I like those. Ok I subscribed!

My maternal uncle swears up and down that we are descendants of Robert the Bruce, though even I find that claim dubious. (My mothers maiden name is MacPherson, which is actually one of the most common surnames for people of Scottish descent outside of Scotland.) He loves to tell me the history of our clan and loves the movie Braveheart. (Though I also have actually studied the actual history and understand that it's a wildly inaccurate movie, with the exception that William Wallace existed, Robert the Bruce becoming the King of Scotland, and King Edward Longshanks being a brutal jerk who sought to take advantage of Scottish disunity for his own gains.) I can understand how the obsession of Americans of Scottish wish old Scottish culture can make you cringe, but for many of Scottish descent it's way for them to connect to their roots, to find a core of their identity in a culture that is constantly changing. American Scots were some of the loudest and fiercest advocates of revolution during the Revolutionary War, and some of the fiercest fighters against the crown, because they were descended from all of those who had been driven from their ancestral homes. If Americans of Scottish descent weird you out, we aren't trying to offend, they just believe that kilts, bagpipes, and the Highland Clans are the coolest thing ever, and they just want to reconnect with their heritage. Hell, there was a time when the only place to find a wide variety of traditional Scottish folk songs was in the mountains of Appalachia, where the songs were passed down from generations and would go on to form the basis of American folk and country music.

People really quote braveheart trying to impress you? That's very cringy. That's like you coming here and quoting The Patriot or something.

Scooby-Do ideas- love it!

my mom recently found out from her mother about our heritage and were planning a trip to scotland soon! i’ve done a lot more research and there’s so much interesting history i had no idea about. i always try and listen to natives before i travel to their countries so thank you for this video!!

I am directly descended from the subjects of many Scottish kings.

“Thinking you’ll impress us by using Braveheart quotes “ 😂😂

We will be visiting in August and cannot wait! My wife's heritage comes from Scotland that her family is very proud of. I think one reason Americans tend to be interested in their ancestry is just the fact that almost everyone's family is an immigrant that was not that long ago in the grand scheme of things. Feeling displaced is something my wife has always said she has felt. Living and growing up in a place that your family line dates way back to is just a different feeling than living and growing up in a place that was never truly yours to begin with. Its all very interesting.

I wish I knew more about my history. I can’t seem to go back very far. My family was basically poor farmers. But some names are Scottish, and the DNA came back with Scotland listed. I’ve been to your country only once, but it was so very amazing. I would love to come back. :) this was fun to watch; thank you! (I think I’m clear of all those blunders!)

No Royalty, but my ancestor was hung, drawn, and quartered for serving as a Captain in the Pentland Rising. His name is inscribed on the Monument in Glasgow.

I'm not of Scottish ancestry, but one of my best friends is. If you want to know what he looks like just look at a painting of Charles I. Now interestingly his family has their genealogy records going back to the 16th century. In the 1630s one of his many times great-grandmother's was a lady in waiting to the queen of Charles I, who left the court to return to Scotland when she became "with child" out of wedlock. She was also supposed to have been very popular with the king, apparently very, very popular.

I am, in fact, directly related to Nessie. Ancestry.com told me so.

Great stuff to know. Thanks, I’ll probably never get to Scotland, I’m an American who has still to see much of America but your information is much appreciated.🇺🇸💋

I'm Texan and I couldn't fake another accent if I tried. My west Texas twang is too thick.

I’m 6 generations related to the Burger King.

So I’m ethnically Scottish my surname hasn’t changed in centuries and can be traced back to the border region of Scotland

Love watching you Shaun , Ulster Scot here.....

I think Nova Scotia Canada, actually teaches a type of Gaelic, in school

I imagine that quoting Braveheart to Scots would be like quoting Pulp Fiction to Americans.

I finally found the sources to properly learn Scottish gaelic. So hopefully I'll join in the community that's working to keep gaelic alive

My great -grandfather wrote lots of letters and made carbon copies of them. In one letter, he said, "As they say at the family castle of Torfoot (Scotland), 'the rooster who scratches best, is the one who scratches in his own dung heap.'" After the internet was invented, I looked up the Castle of Torfoot. His family name was certainly associated with Torfoot, however, Torfoot was not quite a castle. It gave me a chuckle.

Funny that some folks get weirded out by someone asking if them if they know so-and-so. I view it as being friendly and trying to find a connection. When I meet someone from another state, we compare where in that state they’re from, and we ask about other possible commonalities. It’s really just a way of making small talk. And I have met people who know someone I know. It’s fun. And you can be sure, the next Scottish person I meet, I’ll ask them if they know you😂😁😉

I worked with a Scottish nurse, and was put straight right away when I said scotch! never again! lol

Love your videos, mate. Hope to make it to Scotland this Fall!

This is over a year old but glad to hear this. My great grandparents were from Ireland and our Scottish half had gone into England just outside of Wales before coming to Texas. Yes , Texas. I won't call the fine folks of Scotland, English and don't call me an American. I'm a Texan. Most of the great-grandparents died here, and their children, my grandparents couldn't or didn't tell us a whole lot. However, I grew up with all the big long stories, ghost and otherwise. No matter how we migrate it would appear you can't take some of the Scottish ways out of us.

Great video!!! Makes so much sense, that I never realized before, that the British did truly stamp out a lot of what American think is “Scottish” the Highlander’s came here to get away from it and there for , brought their customs with them. I personally would love to see the video you mentioned about the differences between Irish and Scottish, I would never in my life attempt an accent, but it would be fun to see AND hear.

I love my Scottish heritage, albeit it's small and unimpressive compared to other people's claims. I did have an opportunity to visit the area where the family originally came from and did see, my own surname on several mailbox slates! THAT was cool and confirmed a lot of my great-grandfather's stories! 💙 The men on my father's side lived to grand ages, so for me the time between Culloden and modern time felt 'shortened' - it gave me some fabulous family stories, that I have passed on to my kids & grandkids 😊

With Scots being a proud people it makes sense that those who were moved to another country fought to keep their heritage alive. You being in the homeland gives you the upper hand of living as a Scot. We have to study our heritage from afar. Relations are important even in the Bible. It is a beautiful place filled with people we feel a kinship with and we would never mean to offend so thanks for this video. God bless

"Socks & Dirty Jocks!" Hilarious! Never heard that before. Very informative vid.

I'm a direct descendant of Connor MacCleod of the Clan MacCleod. Actually, not really. Immortals can't have children. I'm a descendant of his second cousin-once removed, Juan MacCleod, because as you know, Shaun, there can be only Juan.

Funny you say that while wearing a shirt that matches the pattern on a package of "Scotch Tape" LOL (tongue and cheek) My Great Great Great...Grandfather William Garland came to America on a prison ship from Scotland, he's no Robert the Bruce but we do have documentation. True story and one that I'm proud of. God bless.

Im a 1st generation American (USA). My father is from Mexico, and my mother is from El Salvador, I’m 75% Native American (Nahua and other unknown tribes) and 12% Portugueses, the rest is too long to share, but it does include 1% Scottish :)

Since you asked...... I've a 10th great grandfather that emigrated from England, married a lass in Norfolk, Va in 1631 and they settled in Maryland. His name was Matthew Howard. His paternal grandfather's mother was Lady Margaret Douglas. Her father was Archibald, 6th Earl of Douglas. 5 generations of Douglas fathers back (all of Aberdeen) was George Douglas. He married Mary Stewart in 1397. Her father was Robert III. His was Robert II whose mother was Marjorie Bruce, daughter of THE Bruce. And yeah, I've got some kind o feeling about that.

I'm a descendant of Queen Elizabeth's head cook. *makes fancy Mac and cheese*

The relation to famous historical figures always kills me 😂 I’m Irish-American with my grandmother actually born in Ireland. She, to this day, insists that we are direct descendants of high king Brian Boru, who was around in like the late 900s. Her surname is O’Brien, but so is, like, half the country 😂😂 as a kid I thought it was the coolest thing ever and when I was little I would go around telling everyone I was an Irish princess (insert major cringe here 🤣). Now as an adult I don’t believe we are direct descendants. Would it be cool? Sure! But there’s no way to prove it and it’s highly improbable. She still loves to tell everyone 🙄 lol

I find your videos very interesting as I enjoy hearing about other cultures and their history especially how things have evolved over time to the present day. As many people have probably already figured out I am an American of Scottish descent. In your video you asked for people to share about their lineage and how they came to be where they are today. Just like you've described in a few of your videos, my Scottish ancestry came to America after the Jacobite Rebellion and settled in North Carolina. In my family as well as my church, family history is VERY important because we believe in preparing our future by honoring our past and where we came from to get where we are today. Due to these beliefs I have done extensive research on genealogy and family history. I have compiled birth records, death certificates, marriage licenses, various church records, etc. over the years and can maybe help shed some light on this issue not just for you but for many seeking answers to these questions. Just to establish my personal known lineage I am a descendant of the Gordons, Lindsays, Hamiltons, Stewarts, and Bruce. As you stated in your video for some people that sounds pretty amazing and far fetched and leads many to question the validity of many people's findings. I understand where people would find this hard to believe however what many people don't realize is that there is a far greater chance for people to be related to a distant royal in the past than to be related to those born in lesser circumstances. A study conducted in 2010 by geneticists in Germany found that approximately 3 million people in America could trace their ancestry to James II of Scotland and approximately another 3 million separate people to Henry VIII. The reason is because people of those more wealthy lineages had better access to higher quality foods, healthcare, and living conditions, add on top of that that most wealthy people also had more children (we aren't that far removed from couples having as many as 10-11 children as the norm) and the line gets bigger and bigger the way down making it possible for more and more people to be related to a monarch than say a no named sheep herder in Glencoe. The interesting thing about all of this is the vast majority of those that are descendants of these famous monarchs are usually from the 3rd, 4th, or even further down the line child rather than of the first born. Most children outside of the first born of any royal family usually enjoy a bit more freedom to marry, depending on the circumstances. Just look at the current UK Royal Family, people are far less concerned about Harry and his wife than they are about William and Kate. How many can even name one of the Queens sisters or how many siblings that she has for that matter? In my case my direct connection to James II is through one of his later daughters and then down the line from there and the same can be said for all clans that I descend from, does it sound "cool" to say that I descend from a royal line or a prominent family, sure, but it doesn't mean that I am any better than the next person (although I do have fun with referring to myself as Lord Brandon, tongue in cheek of course) it just means that I found it and that is the extent of it as these records are much easier to find because they are heavily tracked, there are so many people out there that can make this claim that it really doesn't have that much importance in the ancestry world. I have many more lines that are much harder to track, I have some lines that seem to disappear in the 1600 - 1700's because that family line descends from a layman. On my 2nd Great-Grandmother's maternal, through my father's line, I can only get to 1720 and then it's almost like we came out of nowhere because there is so little information. It it considered much more amazing to find a relative that was a barber in Glasgow than a connection to royalty as a find like that requires some really heavy digging and homework and that particular family line most likely had to fight really hard to survive to this day. In order to give another perspective from another culture, National Geographic's Human Genome project discovered that 1 in 8 Mongolian men are direct genetic descendants of Genghis Khan.