The Kilted Ancestors Prompt for February 2024 was Scottish Surname Exploration. Scottish surnames weave their way through centuries of Scottish History & with it each name carries tales of conquest & kinship! Surnames in Scotland were adopted in the 12th Century, mainly by the upper classes in society.  Through time it gradually became necessary for people to have more than one given name, therefore the adoption of Surnames provided a way to identify individuals.   Note however that in some areas of the Northern Isles & Highlands this was not adopted until the 18th&n ..read more

What’s it about As with the other books in his “Scottish People” series, Dr. David Dobson’s The People of Glasgow, 1725-1775 identifies thousands of individuals who were living in a Scottish burgh at the time of significant Scottish immigration to North America. In Glasgow’s case the political union of Scotland & England in 1707 resulted in a major expansion of the town’s overseas trade and the stimulation of industry in and around it. By 1740 Glasgow merchants dominated the Virginia tobacco trade; their merchant companies had settled personnel along the American eastern seaboard ..read more

The Kilted Ancestors prompt for December 2023 in line with the Annual Genealogy Challenges & Triumphs topic was in relation to Brick Walls. Researching your Family Tree can set you on an interesting journey, it connects us with our past & provides us a legacy that can be passed down to future generations.  However, most of us at one point or another will hit that inevitable brick wall in our research.   Yes, this can be frustrating but with some patience & perseverance it is possible to knock down those brick walls! Let’s take a look at some effective ways to overcom ..read more

The Kilted Ancestors prompt for October 2023 in line with the Annual Genealogy Challenges & Triumphs topic was in relation to Newspapers. As Genealogists we have become so used to online databases & subscriptions websites & despite the fact that newspapers for many of us now seem like something from a bygone era (I can’t remember the last time I purchased one!) they can actually provide us with a goldmine of information! One point to remember is that not all Newspapers have been digitised so you many need to visit your local studies centre or archive to access the collection you wi ..read more

The Kilted Ancestors prompt for November 2023 in line with the Annual Genealogy Challenges & Triumphs topic was in relation to World War 2. Researching our families military history is sure to reveal stories of resilience, heroism & sacrifice. One period that left an indelible mark on families worldwide was World War 2! The 1940s was defined by Global Conflict when countless Individuals stepped forward to defend their country. It would be hard to tell the stories of any relatives who served without learning more about the war itself, historical context helps us not only learn about the ..read more

The Kilted Ancestors prompt for August 2023 in line with the Annual Genealogy Challenges & Triumphs topic was in relation to Artefacts. These precious items which are passed down through the years hold the power to connect us with our roots & bridge the gap between the generations of our families. Remember that they are not just objects, they carry stories & memories that link us to our relatives. Whether this be a family photo album, jewellery, piece of furniture, ornament or letter, they all have stories to tell. They each remind is of where we come from & offer insights into ..read more

Earlier this month I attended a days workshop on behalf of Lanarkshire Family History Society. This was held by Lanarkshire Heritage Forum when Helen Creasy of the Scottish Conservation Studio providing a workshop on the Care of Paper & Photographs. Helen specialises in the care & conservation of Photographs, Prints, Drawings, Watercolours, Maps/Plans & Archive Materials so this presentation was right up my street. Attendees were asked to bring with them any items from their own collection that we felt may be in need to some TLC. I took along my Great Grandmothers Birth Certificate ..read more

The Kilted Ancestors prompt for July 2023 in line with the Annual Genealogy Challenges & Triumphs topic was in relation to Ephemera. In today's digital age, it's easy to forget the treasures that lie hidden in the forgotten corners of our homes. Tucked away in dusty boxes & hidden between the pages of old books, lie fragments of our family history waiting to be discovered. These fragments are often ephemeral items, the little pieces of the past that tell the stories of generations before us. In this article, we will explore the inspirational journey of uncovering & cherishing these ..read more

The Kilted Ancestors prompt for June 2023 in line with the Annual Genealogy Challenges & Triumphs topic was in relation to Journals & Diaries. Sadly, in my own research I have not had the fortune to have been passed any family Journals or Diaries. I was passed a really small pocket diary that was owned by an uncle unfortunately it did not contain much more than dates of birthdays etc. You may wonder what the difference is between a journal and a diary & this is a debated topic, so I will try to expand on it. A diary is for recording feelings on a particular day, for example, what y ..read more

The Kilted Ancestors prompt for May 2023 in line with the Annual Genealogy Challenges & Triumphs topic was in relation to Photographs. There is so much excitement around obtaining photographs of our Ancestors! We can research members of our family for many years before someone passes us that photograph & says this is your Great Great Grandfather! Suddenly they become more real to us, we know what they look like, can compare if there are similarities with other family members…they are no longer faceless Ancestors! Aside from finding Photographs of people we might also locate photograph ..read more