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Scottish Americans facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Scottish Americans are people in the USA who have family roots in Scotland. Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Many Scots who came to the USA first lived in northern England or Lowland Scotland. From there, some moved to Ulster in Ireland. These people are often called Scots-Irish. Large numbers of Scots began moving to the USA in the 1700s.

The Ulster-Scots originally came from the Lowlands and the Scottish Borders. They then moved to Ulster, Ireland. Many generations later, a large number of them moved to North America during the 1700s.

Today, most Americans with Scottish family history live in New England and the American South. States like Florida, Ohio, Washington, Utah, New York, and Pennsylvania also have many Scottish Americans.

Uncle Sam and Scottish Roots

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Uncle Sam, a symbol of the USA.

Many people think that Uncle Sam was inspired by a real person. Uncle Sam is a famous symbol of the United States. He is like a national personification or character for the country. The person who might have inspired him was Samuel Wilson. He was a meat packer from Troy, New York. His grandfather, Robert Wilson, was a Scottish immigrant. He came from Greenock, Scotland to the Massachusetts Bay Colony.

Famous Scottish Americans

Many well-known people in the United States have Scottish ancestry. Here are some of them:


Images for kids

  • James VI and I

    James VI and I, a Scottish king, around 1604.

  • The Americas in the reign of James I

    A map of the Americas during the time of King James VI, 1619.

  • Samuel houston

    Sam Houston had Scots-Irish (Ulster Scots) family. The city of Houston, Texas, is named after him.

  • Harley Davidson founders

    The founders of Harley-Davidson motorcycles. Clockwise from top left: William S. Harley, William A. Davidson, Walter Davidson, Sr., and Arthur Davidson.

  • Alan Bean NASA portrait (S69-38859)

    Astronaut Alan Bean took his family's Scottish tartan fabric to the moon.

  • MHPB New York

    A Tartan Day parade in New York City. Tartan Day celebrates Scottish heritage.

  • Massed Bands, 2005 Pacific Northwest Highland Games

    Many bands playing together at the 2005 Pacific Northwest Highland Games.

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Scottish Americans Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.