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Scottish Culture/Questions
| Subject | Date Asked | Expert |
| Jesus | 1/8/2012 | Kaye McAlpine |
| Q: Eilean Isa is a small island in Dunveagan Bay in Scotland...Jesus's Isle or the Island of ... A: As I mention in my biog., I don't speak Gaelic, so I have no knowledge about the etymology of Gaelic ... | ||
| accents | 12/18/2011 | Kaye McAlpine |
| Q: i have been told invernesians speak the best qeens english is this true A: I don't know if it's the best queen's English - that is in terms of gammatical accuracy - but it is ... | ||
| Tartans | 12/6/2011 | Kaye McAlpine |
| Q: I am wondering if you can help me locate the best source for tartan information. Paticularly, I am ... A: I think the best place to look would be The Scottish Register of Tartans ... | ||
| Gaelic translation | 11/10/2011 | Kaye McAlpine |
| Q: Me and my father want to get tattoos to Represent our love for each other after overcoming a lot of ... A: I'm afraid that I can't help you. I do not speak Gaelic and I wouldn't like to offer suggestions for ... | ||
| Scottish Clans | 9/13/2011 | Kaye McAlpine |
| Q: I have traced my ancestors and found several that came from Scotland. I would like to find a clan I ... A: First of all, as I have said many times before, I'm no genealogist, so I can't help directly with ... | ||
| 15th Century Lowland Lord | 7/27/2011 | Kaye McAlpine |
| Q: I would like to know such things that would be typical in the 15th century for a Lord/Baron living ... A: This sounds very like an educations / academic project or a writing project, so I'm afraid that I'm ... | ||
| King George Land Grants to South Carolina Colony | 5/21/2011 | Kaye McAlpine |
| Q: Is the a record of the land grants issue sometime between 1740 and 1760 that was filed in South ... A: You might want to look somewhere like ... | ||
| Clan McAlpine | 5/21/2011 | Kaye McAlpine |
| Q: Do you think Lord Lyon will recognize the McAlpine's as a new active clan? A: Given the clan was broken around 700 years ago, it's a long convoluted process - but I understand ... | ||
| Kilners in Scotland? | 5/17/2011 | Kaye McAlpine |
| Q: I was wondering if you could shed some light on my last name, my dad says we may be scottish but hes ... A: While there are Kilners in Scotland, it's not a recognised Scottish surname - it is, however, and ... | ||
| McLeods of Jamaica | 4/22/2011 | Kaye McAlpine |
| Q: I am interested in finding out how I got a Scottish surname when my family is from Jamaica. My ... A: First of all, as I have had to point out to several people, as you'll see stated on my biog, I am ... | ||
| Meherg/Maharg | 4/21/2011 | Kaye McAlpine |
| Q: I have traced my family back to a John Maharg, b. c 1730, d. May 12, 1782 in 96 district, South ... A: There is indeed a tradition of the Graham-Maharg (NOT McHarg, which is from a different root) link. ... | ||
| Sarah Catherine McDonald | 4/7/2011 | Kaye McAlpine |
| Q: I am a descendent of Sarah Catherine McDonald Simmons, b. 1775. I am attempting to find information ... A: As you'll see from my biog page, I am not a genealogist, and therefore cannot help with the ... | ||
| My father | 3/13/2011 | Kaye McAlpine |
| Q: My father's 80th birthday is coming up in July. I'm curious to know if there's a particularly ... A: First of all, what a lovely idea! I've had a root about in various books etc and there's nothing ... | ||
| History | 3/2/2011 | Kaye McAlpine |
| Q: What difficulties did the Scottish over come with immigration in 1880's A: I'm presuming you mean the emigration which occurred - there was precious little immigration in the ... | ||
| Ulster Scot | 1/31/2011 | Kaye McAlpine |
| Q: I am hoping you can help. I am reaching out to get some direction. My first known ancestor Charles ... A: As you'll see in my bio, I'm no genealogist. Neither am I an expert in emigration or immigration ... ... | ||
| Relationship between Culdees and Copts? | 1/17/2011 | Kaye McAlpine |
| Q: My dear Kaye, I'm writing a historical novel on a party of 13th century Scots accompanying St. ... A: Phew - that's some question. I've actually just finished reading Blondel's Song, a non-fiction ... | ||
| books | 12/31/2010 | Kaye McAlpine |
| Q: Please give me some titles of books dealing with domestic life and social customs of the highland ... A: I'm loathe to give you too many titles - this sounds like a reading project to me - apologies if ... | ||
| Giles as sept of what clan ? | 12/18/2010 | Kaye McAlpine |
| Q: What Clan is the name "Giles" a sept of ? A: 'Giles' is not a sept of any clan. It is a surname which came into England and Scotland via the ... | ||
| Early Scottish Dwellings | 12/2/2010 | Kaye McAlpine |
| Q: Can you tell me if the Scots ever lived in a wooden structure built into a hillside? The picture ... A: I'm no archaeologist or architect, but I do recall a local historian telling me about dwellings in ... | ||
| Grahams - Mahargs | 11/15/2010 | Kaye McAlpine |
| Q: We are tracing Grahams. My great great grandfather Daniel Graham was born in Craigs Townland, ... A: First of all, when you are contacting people, it's probably best to use Scots not Scotch - some ... | ||
| Grahams - Mahargs | 11/15/2010 | Kaye McAlpine |
| Q: We are tracing Grahams. My great great grandfather Daniel Graham was born in Craigs Townland, ... A: it's not rambling at all - or if it is, you're talking to an inveterate rambler - on the page at ... | ||
| brooches... | 9/14/2010 | Kaye McAlpine |
| Q: i was doing some reading, and i read that women back in scottish history would wear their clan crest ... A: There are always several crests associated with a clan: the chief's crest, the cadet crest, the ... | ||
| clan association | 9/1/2010 | Kaye McAlpine |
| Q: Please could you tell me what clan the bishop name can associate itself with? Thank you A: As far as I'm aware the name Bishop is not associated with any clan. It is thought to be originally ... | ||
| Scottish Shepherd | 8/29/2010 | Kaye McAlpine |
| Q: I was wondering about an ancestor who was born in Scotland in 1799. He came to Canada leaving behind ... A: It is entirely possible that your ancestor was a shepherd. There was a large wool industry. The ... | ||
| Graham exile to Ireland | 8/27/2010 | Kaye McAlpine |
| Q: My father always said our family was exiled from Scotland to Ireland. I have traced the family to ... A: If the name you have is correct - i.e., this Joseph Graham is your ancestor - then you may have to ... | ||
| Tartans | 7/30/2010 | Kaye McAlpine |
| Q: I was wondering about my great-great-great-great-grandfather's tartan. He was from the Laing sept of ... A: I'm afraid that the wearing of the tartan is probably a made-up story. If this is about your ... | ||
| Vintage Kilt Pin | 7/7/2010 | Kaye McAlpine |
| Q: Was hoping you could share some light on a pin I bought at an estate sale recently. I was told it ... A: First of all, this is a very pretty thing indeed. Over a 100 years old is really neither here nor ... | ||
| kilt pin | 6/22/2010 | Kaye McAlpine |
| Q: I have purchased a kilt pin on ebay. the seller was in Thurso. The pin was tarnished but has cleaned ... A: Kilt pins are decorative and as such aren't associated with any one clan, sept etc etc. However, if ... | ||
| Photo and fashion | 6/12/2010 | Kaye McAlpine |
| Q: Apology for the lapse in getting back to you regarding the Ingersoll photo. Thanks again, Kaye. ... A: Yes, I had noticed the buckles or rosettes too - though I have to admit it hadn't occurred to me ... | ||
| 19th-century photo | 6/7/2010 | Kaye McAlpine |
| Q: This is a follow-up to the photograph I sent you yesterday in regard to the question of whether or ... A: Rachel I noticed the shoes / boots thing too. As far as I understand it, boots were more practical, ... | ||
| 19th-century Scottish fashion | 6/6/2010 | Kaye McAlpine |
| Q: I send you a story you may find interesting which has its origins with a friend of mine finding a ... A: Now, I know both boys and girls wore dresses for the early part of their lives in the 19th century, ... | ||
| to "google" | 3/18/2010 | Kaye McAlpine |
| Q: Many years ago (1969) whilst be taken on a tour of Aberdeenshire by a local, he mentioned that on a ... A: This sounds like a family variant or local variant of the verb 'to guddle'. Guddling is exactly as ... | ||
| current clan enmities | 2/10/2010 | Kaye McAlpine |
| Q: I am researching a novel where a character is given a new identity. I want his name to change from ... A: You know, when it comes to novel research, I'm always loathe to offer information or advice. I think ... | ||
| Thankyou | 2/8/2010 | Kaye McAlpine |
| Q: i have been trying to research my fathers side of the family, and have just managed to get a photo ... A: By the Victorian era, many women took their husband's names, but some were still known by their own ... | ||
| Clan Crest | 2/8/2010 | Kaye McAlpine |
| Q: i have been trying to research my fathers side of the family, and have just managed to get a photo ... A: I've had a look around, and I'm wondering if this crest might be related to your great grandfather's ... | ||
| Gaelic language & songs | 1/16/2010 | Kaye McAlpine |
| Q: I teach a very basic Gaelic song and language workshop at our annual Scottish festival. Can you ... A: I don't speak Gaelic, and so it's with some regret I have to say that I cannot help you. I've never ... | ||
| Flora Macdonald | 1/16/2010 | Kaye McAlpine |
| Q: I will be doing a Living History performance at our annual Scottish Festival of Flora Macdonald and ... A: I think) Flora McDonald was no run of the mill average Highland woman, so that should be straight ... | ||
| Scottish toast | 1/15/2010 | Kaye McAlpine |
| Q: I am trying to find out the spelling and meaning of phrase given during a toast of "San slavah"? A: I think you mean slàinte mhath- which sounds a bit like 'slanje vah'. As with toasts around the ... | ||
| What Clan do we belong to? | 1/6/2010 | Kaye McAlpine |
| Q: My brother , father and I have tried over the years to find out what clan we belong to and have run ... A: The reason that you're running into dead ends is because as far as I'm aware, the name Kelty isn't ... | ||
| 19th Century Occupation | 12/27/2009 | Thomas H McIntyre |
| Q: If an ancestor's occupation was listed as "Clothier" in Scottish birth and marriage registry entries ... A: I am sorry this is late but I have been sick through the holidays. Just feeling better and catching ... | ||
Kaye McAlpine
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
Lifecycle (birth, marriage, death) customs in Scotland, Early Modern Scottish social customs, modern Scottish social customs, Border March laws and procedures, criminal processes and judicial execution practices, social history in Early Modern Scotland, ephemera printing in Scotland. While I have some knowledge of the clan system and function of the clan society (Highland and Lowland), I am not a an expert in clan genealogy. Having traced back my own family over a couple of centuries, and traced others due to academic research, I do know how the system works, however. This doesn't mean that I'm a genealogist. Please note that I do not speak Gaelic.
Experience
Research Fellow (University of Edinburgh).
Contributer to various books and journals on ballads, including Scottish Life and Society: A Compendium of Scottish Ethnology, The Ballad and History and The Harris Repertoire.
Freelance tutor in outreach courses from Edinburgh University on Scottish Culture and Tradition, including lifecycle customs, broadsheet ballads in Scotland, the traditional ballad and history.
Freelance writer, guest presenter on Ch4 History Hunters programme, contributor to BBC Radio Scotland's 'Songlines' series on 'The Dowie Dens of Yarrow'.
Currently co-director of a media production company
Publications
Books:
Forthcoming: The Gallows and The Stake
Published: Compendium of Scottish Ethnology, vol. 10, chapter on The Traditional and the Border Ballad; The Harris Repertoire (2000, Scottish Text Society, co-editor), The Ballad in History (chapter on Border ballads). Journals include Folklore, The Review of Scottish Culture,Sottish Studies, and The Scottish Literary Journal
Education/Credentials
Ph D, M. Phil, BA (hons)
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