Where did the Scots-Irish come from?
John Thompson
Updated on January 17, 2026
Scotch-Irish (or Scots-Irish) Americans are American descendants of Ulster Protestants who emigrated from Ulster in northern Ireland to America during the 18th and 19th centuries, whose ancestors had originally migrated to Ireland mainly from the Scottish Lowlands and Northern England in the 17th century.
Where did the Scots-Irish settlers come from?
Scots-Irish immigrants came from the historic province of Ulster (in the north of Ireland). Scottish settlers began to come in large numbers to Ulster in the early decades of the 1600s.Why did Scots-Irish move to Ireland?
The Ulster Scots migrated to Ireland in large numbers both as a result of the government-sanctioned Plantation of Ulster, a planned process of colonisation which took place under the auspices of James VI of Scotland and I of England on land confiscated from members of the Gaelic nobility of Ireland who fled Ulster, and ...Why did the Scotch-Irish come to America?
Pushed out of Ireland by religious conflicts, lack of political autonomy and dire economic conditions, these immigrants, who were often called "Scotch-Irish," were pulled to America by the promise of land ownership and greater religious freedom. Many Scotch-Irish immigrants were educated, skilled workers.When did the Scots-Irish come to Ireland?
Historical Insights Scots-Irish Immigration in the 1700sLured to the New World by a promise of cheap land and a fresh start, Irish immigrants began arriving in droves starting in 1718. Mostly Presbyterians originally from Scotland, they had faced discrimination in Ireland along with skyrocketing rents.
Who Made the Scottish People... The Scotch Irish (Ulster Scots)
Are the Scots-Irish really Irish?
Simply put: The Scots-Irish are ethnic Scottish people who, in the 16th and 17th centuries, answered the call of leases for land in the northern counties of Ireland, known as Ulster, before immigrating en masse to America in the 18th century.Are Scots-Irish actually Irish?
Scotch-Irish (or Scots-Irish) Americans are American descendants of Ulster Protestants who emigrated from Ulster in northern Ireland to America during the 18th and 19th centuries, whose ancestors had originally migrated to Ireland mainly from the Scottish Lowlands and Northern England in the 17th century.How do I know if I have Scottish blood?
The National Records of Scotland is responsible for the registers of births, marriages and deaths, and the taking of the Census. These historic records are publicly available and, since 1998, anyone can access the records through the genealogical website – Scotland's People.What is Black Irish?
The term "Black Irish" is sometimes used outside Ireland to refer to Irish people with black hair and dark eyes. One theory is that they are descendants of Spanish traders or of the few sailors of the Spanish Armada who were shipwrecked on Ireland's west coast, but there is little evidence for this.What are Scottish traits?
Historically Scots are brave, stubborn, and courageous. Still true. Practical and down-to-earth. One side of our personality is very grounded and matter-of-fact.Who were the first Irish?
The first people arrived in Ireland about 9,000 years ago (around 7000 BC). We now call them Stone Age people because they used stone tools for their farm work and for hunting. We know about these early settlers in Ireland because many of their tools and weapons survived and have been found by archaeologists.What religion were the Scotch-Irish?
All Scots-Irish were Catholics.The Scots-Irish were Presbyterians by Covenant and by Scottish law. The first Protestant settlement was made by law in 1560.
