Ulster scots The term "Ulster-Scots" refers to both these WHAT IS AN ULSTER-SCOT? Ulster Scots is a term used primarily in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Cyrus McCormick (1809-84) Cyrus McCormick’s ancestors hailed from Ballygawley, County Tyrone, eventually settling in the Shenandoah Valley, an area of Ulster-Scots settlement. Explore their history, culture, surnames, whiskey and more on this website. Over the centuries, Ulster-Scots have spanned the globe in search of new lives and opportunities. At the Discover Ulster-Scots Centre, we are happy to spend time with you at whatever your level of interest and help you recognise that your ancestors more than Sometimes referred to as "Scots-Irish" or "Ulster Scots," the Scotch-Irish were second only to the Germans in the settlement of the Eastern Panhandle. When they arrived they were simply known as Irish – that is how they saw themselves - and later became labelled as "Scotch-Irish". About half were indentured servants and the majority were Presbyterian of Scottish ancestry. The first known reference to the term ‘Ulster-Scots’ was in the 17th century. Here we tell the stories of a number of Ulster-Scots individuals and families in America and the great diversity of their experiences. Learn about the origins, influences, achievements and challenges of the Ulster-Scots community and its language. RSS Feed » See when new content is added to this site. All these terms most commonly refer to those Lowland and Border Scots who settled in the More than 20 million Americans today have Scotch-Irish ancestry. Their legacy is rich with cultural, linguistic, and historical significance that continues to influence both Ulster (Northern Ireland) and the United States. Philadelphia was by far the most popular port for Scots-Irish migrants. Some were here for only a few years before returning to Scotland, while others spent most of their lives in Ireland. It also refers to their heritage and cultural traditions. This was due to the pre-established trade routes, the religious tolerance of the Pennsylvania colony, and the good, available farm land. First of all, emigrants had to travel, mostly by foot, to an emigration port. Discover Ulster-Scots is a website operated by the Ulster-Scots Agency which is part of the North/South Language Body funded by the Scotch-Irish Americans are American descendants of primarily Ulster Scots people, who emigrated from Ulster (Ireland 's northernmost province) to the United States between the 18th and 19th centuries, with their ancestors having originally migrated to Ulster, mainly from the Scottish Lowlands and Northern England in the 17th century. Entwined with Irish-Gaelic culture over hundreds of years, Ulster-Scots culture has given Northern Ireland a unique character, a unique vocabulary and a unique outlook on life. Most of the Scots-Irish became farmers in Pennsylvania, as they had been in Ulster. org. These people brought with them their music, language and culture. At the closest point there are only 12 miles between Ulster and Scotland across the Irish Sea, so for centuries there has Canadians with Ulster-Scots Roots Charles Allison, founder of Mount Allison University, was the grandson of an Ulster immigrant – as was the two-time Toronto Mayor Sam McBride. Their greatest impact can be seen in the United States of America, where they are known asu0003the Scotch-Irish (sometimes Scots-Irish). In the 1820s and 1830s, supporters of Andrew Jackson emphasized his Irish background, as did James Knox Polk, but since the 1840s it has been uncommon for a Protestant . You will discover at first The Ulster-Scots Community Network (USCN) was established in 1995 to promote awareness and understanding of the Ulster-Scots tradition in history, language and culture. Although the map features surnames of Scottish, English, Welsh, Pallantine and Gaelic Irish origin, it is the Scottish surnames that dominate in One-third of all US Presidents had their ancestral origins in the northern province of Ireland (Ulster) During his two visits to Ulster, President Bill Clinton spoke proudly of his ancestral links with the province and of the remarkable fact that a third of all US Presidents had their roots in Ulster. He lives in Gainesville If large-scale Scottish migration to Ulster began with the Hamilton and Montgomery settlements in County Down from 1606 onwards and continued with the implementation of the Plantation scheme in 1610, it would be a mistake to think that most Scots came to Ulster in the early seventeenth century. In 1692, it was noted that Somerset County on the peninsula was ‘a place pestered with Scotch & Irish’ and that the new arrivals had established the linen industry. My Scots Irish heritage runs to the very core of my DNA. The Maine Ulster-Scots Project had a very successful day at the 46th annual Maine Highland Games and Scottish festival this past weekend. MICHAEL MONTGOMERY, SOUTH CAROLINA Ireland lies on the periphery of Europe, but it has long been a cross-roads, as people from many directions - Britain, Scandinavia, Iberia, and elsewhere - have come to its shores to settle. Irish historian, Kevin Kenny, states that ‘In broad transatlantic perspective Our Publications The Ulster-Scots Community Network and the Ulster-Scots Agency have produced numerous publications on Ulster-Scots history and culture, all of which are available here for free. For details about the dictionary see the about page. Email Newsletter » Register here to receive updates on the areas of Ulster-Scots culture you are most interested in. Antrim. Physical copies of these publications are also available for free from the Discover Ulster-Scots Centre in Belfast. Depending on the weather conditions, the voyage itself lasted typically 6–10 weeks. The cost of a passage could be £3 – £9. To understand who these people really were, a brief history lesson is needed. Find resources and tips for tracing your Ulster-Scots ancestors and exploring your Irish and Scots-Irish heritage. The Ulster-Scots language has featured in printed prose and poetry for around 300 years. Their legacy includes patriots, pioneers and presidents, as well as Of the 44 men who have served as President of the United States (as of 2018), no fewer than 20 could claim Scotch-Irish roots. Feb 6, 2024 · In a new documentary, rugby star Andrew Trimble explores his Ulster-Scots roots and asks how different identities can coexist peacefully on this island, as they always have in his life. It has been influenced by Hiberno-English and Ulster Irish, and has various names and speaker populations. The Scots-Irish: The Thirteenth Tribe Thanks to Raymond Campbell Paterson "A man with God is always in the majority" John Knox "I love Highlanders, and I love Lowlanders, but when I come to that branch of our race that has been grafted on to the Ulster stem I take off my hat in veneration and awe" Lord Rosebery Let us begin by asking a simple question-who are the Scots-Irish? Simple questions The term Ulster-Scots refers to people from Scotland that settled in Ulster, and their descendants. Their ancestors were mostly Protestant Lowland Scottish migrants, the largest numbers coming from Galloway, Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire and Ayrshire, although some came from further What is Ulster-Scots? PROF. The Scotch-Irish were also known for their pioneering in the Valley of Virginia, the Carolinas, Kentucky, Tennessee, and lands This is the English to Ulster-Scots dictionary complied by Philip Robinson. In the process they have brought different languages with them. Get details of forthcoming events, news and videos. These people first began to occupy Ireland in large numbers with the Plantation of Ulster, ordered by James I of England on land taken from the Irish nobility, mostly in the Province of Ulster. Ulster-Scots emigrants took these traditions with them, and over time these Where does Ulster-Scots come from? The Scots language came to Ulster with the Scottish settlers of the Plantation in the early seventeenth century. Email Alerts » Receive Ulster-Scots email alerts directly into your inbox. Most were the descendants of Scots Presbyterians who had left the Lowlands of Scotland during the plantation period to find a new life in the north of Ireland. It describes the people of Ulster who settled in the Province from the 17th century and their descendants. Over a period of several centuries, there was almost constant Ulster Scots are an ethnic group in Ireland, descended from Lowland Scots and English from the border of those two countries, were "Border Reivers". Highland dancing is popular in Ulster-Scots communities, as are ceilidhs, and the Ulster-Scots music tradition includes fiddle, fife, drum as well as highland and lowland pipes. Significant migration from Scotland continued throughout the rest of the seventeenth century and The passage By any standard, the passage to America was daunting. Its presence was sustained and reinforced by later migrations and by the strong social and economic ties across the narrow North Channel. D. This diversity can be seen in all sorts of During the last decades of the 17th century and the early years of the 18th century a small but steady stream of Ulster families sailed from Ulster to America. All these terms most commonly refer to those Lowland and Border Scots who settled in the The Ulster-Scots Agency is an international government organisation set up under the terms of the Belfast Agreement of 1998. Through a continuing programme of wide-ranging projects we also highlight the significant contribution of the Ulster-Scots community to the development of life in Northern Ireland, the border counties of the Republic of Ireland Ulster is a special place, a place apart. Ulster-Scots (or ‘Ullans’ or even the ‘Braid Scotch’) is a variant of Scots, the language used by From Pennsylvania to Shenandoah by Richard MacMaster Richard MacMaster is co-editor of The Journal of Scotch-Irish Studies. B. Ulster Scots is a dialect of Scots spoken in parts of Ulster, especially in Northern Ireland and County Donegal. If your ancestors came from Ulster, you will want to know about them. has not been studied nearly as much as that of the Catholic Irish. " But in recent years The early migrations, 1649–1717 by Richard MacMaster Richard MacMaster is co-editor of The Journal of Scotch-Irish Studies. Ulster-Scots language has featured in printed prose and poetry for around 300 years. Settlement in Delmarva Many of the earliest migrants settled on the Delmarva peninsula (taking in parts of Delaware, Maryland and Virginia). This has come about through centuries of interaction between three distinct peoples, the Irish, the Scots and the English, who have been the principal elements of our community since the early 1600s. Further Reading: Kenneth Silverman, Lightning Man: The Accursed Life of Samuel F. We are responsible for protecting, developing and promoting the language, heritage and culture of the Ulster-Scots people. The map details the precise location where farmers with each Plantation Surname concentrated in early census data. Perhaps you are just generally interested in genealogy; you may want names and dates, but if your ancestors came from Ulster, you will feel much more of a pull home. Timothy Eaton, founder of the Eaton department store chain, was born near Ballymena, Co. In The Ulster-Scots Society Of America is primarily an educational and social organization committed to the promotion of the Ulster-Scots history and heritage, especially as it pertains to the nearly quarter of a million immigrants who left the north of Ireland (Ulster) during the 18th century and settled in America (often referred to as: The Great Migration). S. Ulster-Scots refers to the people, heritage and traditions of the Lowland Scots who migrated to Ulster from Scotland since the 1600s. And for the nearest equivalent of an Ulster-Scots to English dictionary please see The Hamely Tongue on the Ulster-Scots Academy site. Ulster-American Emigration 1607-1960 The story of emigration from Ireland over the last four centuries should be viewed as a single story. At one time it was common to treat migrants from those two places as a single people deriving from a common ethnic "stock. It has a cultural landscape that is unique in the British Isles, unlike either Britain or the rest of Ireland. The Great Migration from the north of Ireland (Ulster) to America began in 1717. [5][6][7] In the 2017 American Community Survey, 5. About The Ulster-Scots Community Network The Ulster-Scots Community Network aims to preserve, promote & develop all aspects of Ulster-Scots heritage & culture As a representative umbrella organisation with over 400 member groups, we are committed to representing the interests of those who engage in a variety of Ulster-Scots activities. Everyone knows of the ancient Pictish kingdom of Dalriada, which took in the western part of Scotland with its islands and the north-east corner of the island of what is now The Ulster-Scots language was established in Ulster in the early 1600s with the arrival of Lowland Scottish settlers and endures to this day. " [2] The relationship of Scots and Scots-Irish immigrants to North America —the latter principally Presbyterians from Ulster in the north of Ireland, predominantly of Scottish background and connections—is among the most complex of migration stories. Richard has a Ph. Ulster 5 days ago · The aim of the Ulster-Scots Agency is to promote the study, conservation, development and use of Ulster-Scots as a living language, to encourage the full range of its attendant culture; and to promote an understanding of the history of the Ulster Scots Ulster-Scots, Scotch-Irish and Scots-Irish are three names for a single people: the lowland Scots, mostly Presbyterians, who settled in Ulster from 1606 onwards, with some staying and others emigrating around the world. President Clinton, whose connection is through his Blythe and Ayer ancestors, is one of at This is about a group of immigrants from the north of Ireland in the 18th Century who came to be known as the Scotch-Irish, which is a completely American term and very misleading--since very few of the people in this migration had any Irish blood at all. In the 18th century the port of Larne was a well-used embarkation point for many Ulster Scots who left the north of Ireland to seek religious Scottish emigrants from Ulster, the first to leave in companies sufficiently large to form settlements entered the United States by two routes: (I) by the Delaware River through New Castle, Delaware, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and (2) at Charleston, South Carolina. @ulsterscots. [10][11][12] There is an Ulster Scots dialect of the Scots language. It is spoken every day by many people in parts of Ulster, and Ulster-Scots vocabulary has been adopted in spoken English in the region. This is our shared story. The Ulster-Scots The history of the Ulster Scots, also known as Scotch-Irish or Scots-Irish, is an epic tale of perseverance, migration, and cultural amalgamation, spanning centuries. 39 WHAT IS AN ULSTER-SCOT? Ulster Scots is a term used primarily in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Among the Scottish bishops was George Montgomery, (left) brother of Sir Hugh Montgomery, who was bishop of the dioceses of Clogher, Derry and Raphoe May 6, 2024 · A Guide to the Ulster-Scots / Scots-Irish People and their Language Ulster-Scots / Scots-Irish are the people descended from the mainly Lowland Scots who settled Ulster (the northernmost province of Ireland) in the 17th century and today make up the majority Protestant population of Northern Ireland. Ulster-Scots, whether born in Northern Ireland or the descendants of those who left the north For centuries, Ulster-Scots people have migrated to America where they became patriots, pioneers and even presidents. In this section you can learn more about these people, why they left Ulster and the impact they had on their adopted new homeland. in American history from Georgetown University; he taught U. Today, thousands of people return to this island every year in search of their Ulster-Scots roots. At different stages during these centuries either Protestants or Catholics made up the majority of the migrants but nonetheless the other group remained a significant minority. A History of Ulster-Scots A Talk for Ormeau Gallery, 11th November, 2005, by Anne Smyth Scotland got its name from this island. However, many emigrants went out as indentured servants and paid their passage through working for an agreed period after By 1775, about 200,000 men and women from the counties of Ulster had migrated to the colonies of north America. Some families left Ulster in search of religious freedom, but most left in response to economic hardships. A millennium ago or so speakers of Germanic (Old English, Old Norse), and This disambiguationpage lists articles associated with the title Ulster Scots. Jun 5, 2025 · The Ulster-Scots, also known in America as the Scots-Irish, are a distinct ethnic group with deep roots in the historical migrations between Scotland and Northern Ireland. The majority of these immigrants Sep 24, 2024 · The Ulster Scots (Ulster-Scots: Ulstèr-Scotch), commonly known as Scots-Irish outside of Ireland, are an ethnic group in Ireland, found mostly in the Ulster region and to a lesser extent in the rest of Ireland. Ulster Scots, also known as the Ulster-Scots people or Scots-Irish, are an ethnic group [6][7][8][9] descended largely from Lowland Scottish and Northern English settlers who moved to the northern province of Ulster in Ireland mainly during the 17th century. In this section you can explore aspects of Ulster-Scots history and culture. Historically, this channel has been a link rather than a barrier, and from the earliest times to the present it has witnessed and carried a constant stream of traffic of people In summer 1718, Ulster-Scots communities along the River Foyle and the River Bann waved goodbye to around five ships, carrying Presbyterian ministers and their congregations across the wild Atlantic. And they were the primary frontiersmen who trekked across the Alleghenies into much of the rest of West Virginia. uk This information is a small part of the Ulster Scots history that can be found on the website above Ulster-Scots LinksThe following list contains links to other websites for those interested in finding out more about Ulster-Scots history, heritage and culture, tracing their Ulster-Scots roots or to members of the Ulster-Scots community and general public. They left Ulster’s coasts and castles, churches and villages, to start a new life in New England – today’s New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts and Connecticut. The English Parliament began to impose trade restrictions on the manufacture and sale Origins of Ulster-Scots Ulster is separated from Scotland by the narrow North Channel, which at one point is only 12 miles (19 kilometres) wide. Learn about the history and culture of the Scots who settled in Ulster and America from the seventeenth to the nineteenth centuries. However, in the year 1718 the stream was changed to a mighty torrent. And there was a great labor shortage there, to boot. Our vision is that Ulster-Scots should flourish as a rich, vibrant and growing culture with a global legacy that is recognised at home and abroad Many Scottish ministers came to Ulster in the early 17th century and played an important role in religious life in the province. I was born and raised in Larne, County Antrim, into a family of Non-Subscribing Presbyterians whose ancestors had helped found the local church in 1625 after migrating from the west of Scotland. The aim of the Ulster-Scots Agency is to promote the study, conservation, development and use of Ulster-Scots as a living language, to encourage the full range of its attendant culture; and to promote an understanding of the history of the Ulster Scots What is Ulster-Scots? PROF. This includes all four first-generation Americans who have occupied the White House, three of them with Ulster parentage. It refers to the Scots who migrated to the northern province of Ireland (Ulster) beginning about 1605. In some instances Ulster families had immigrated to the New World before 1717, but those instances were few and isolated. Many Presidents of the United States have ancestral links to Ulster, including three whose parents were born in Ulster. [1] The Irish Protestant vote in the U. He is affiliated with the Center for Scotch-Irish Studies and the Department of History at the University of Florida. [5] [6] [7] It is normally considered a dialect or group of dialects of Scots, although groups such as His Ulster-Scots ancestors hailed from Mullabrack, County Armagh. Beginning around 1730, the population of the Ulster Scots or Ulster-Scots (Scots: Ulstèr-Scotch, ga|Albainis Uladh), [3] [4] also known as Ulster Scotch and Ullans, is the dialect (whose proponents assert is a dialect of Scots) spoken in parts of Ulster, being almost exclusively spoken in parts of Northern Ireland and County Donegal. Although sometimes in North America they are referred to as ‘Scotch-Irish’ or ‘Ulster-Irish‘. The Ulster-Scots Agency (Ulster-Scots: Tha Boord o Ulstèr-Scotch[1]) is a cross-border body for Ireland which seeks to "promote the study, conservation and development of Ulster-Scots as a living language, to encourage and develop the full range of its attendant culture, and to promote an understanding of the history of the Ulster-Scots [people]. Ballymena was also the home of the ancestors of Bobby Orr, one of ice hockey’s all time greats. history, specializing in Colonial America. Ireland was once considered to be one of the Western Isles of what we now know as Scotland. The Lowland Scots brought industry, language, music, sport, religion and a myriad of traditions to Ulster. Evidence for the arrival of families from Ulster can be found in the names that they May 22, 2023 · Ulster-Scots history and culture are of central importance to many people in Northern Ireland. The first ever Plantations Surnames of Ireland map has been completed just in time for the Back to Our Past Event in Belfast in 2019. Morse (2008). Over the centuries, many hundreds of thousands of Ulster-Scots (also known as the Scotch-Irish or Scots-Irish) have left these shores. We had the opportunity to help families identify their possible Clans and explain the history and importance of the early Scots-Irish along the coast of Maine We congratulate and thank the Saint Andrews Society of Maine & the Games organizers for a wonderful The Ulster-Scots language was established in Ulster in the early 1600s with the arrival of Lowland Scottish settlers and endures to this day. A millennium ago or so speakers of Germanic (Old English, Old Norse), and The Ulster-Scots Tradition There is a wide variety of music and dance traditions associated with Ulster-Scots culture and heritage. Historically, there have been considerable population exchanges Learn about the Ulster-Scots, the people who migrated from Scotland to Ulster and then to America. He lives in Gainesville Monreagh (Ulster Scots - Scots Irish) Heritage Centre is a visitor attraction that explores the history of the Ulster Scots in County Donegal, Ireland. hbcwjrh vsvgt vnnwechl dtxxw kbgfzo qryvaq jbm fhnpyqi cfeljss bhbqclx ztb avo pys bwfaax flhsb