Scotland and the USA | Scotland.org

Ancestry and Heritage

Did you know, that of the 46 men who have served as US President, an astonishing 35 have been of either Scottish or Ulster-Scots descent? This includes George Washington, Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton. According to genealogists, even Barack Obama's ancestry can be traced back to William the Lion who ruled Scotland from 1165 to 1214. 

Throughout history Scotland has welcomed some impressive American figures. Abolitionist Frederick Douglass visited Edinburgh in 1845, and chose his surname from the hero of the famous Scottish poem, ‘The Lady of the Lake’. Across the water, Scots were also making their mark on American history. Alexander Hamilton’s father, James Hamilton, was a Scotsman from Ayrshire. Alexander Hamilton went on to establish the First Bank of the United States and helped write the American Constitution. Frances Wright, a Scotswoman from Dundee, became an American citizen in 1825 and was among the first recognised female public speakers in the USA.  

Today there are hundreds of Scottish associations and clubs in America and more than 5 million Americans claim Scottish ancestry.

If you have Scottish ancestry (or want to find out if you do) visit our ancestry page to discover how you can trace your roots in Scotland.

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