This thread has potential. It dropped without contact. 1576 is a bit too far back but it's worth mentioning that many Scots went to live in Poznan. Poles also helped us in WWII.
This thread has potential. It dropped without contact. 1576 is a bit too far back but it's worth mentioning that many Scots went to live in Poznan. Poles also helped us in WWII.
Yeah, quite a number of Napierała's and Napieralski's living in this neck of the woods. I recently started to wonder whether Machulski or Maklakiewicz aren't surnames that came upon from Scottish surnames.
Guys, don`t forget masses of Scottish mercenaries who visited Poland on various occasions, mostly with invading armies. Where do our Polish red-haired types come from?
The Border Reivers had specific family names, so it would be very easy to trace.
I had this in mind. But it's not so easy. One story is that the Graham family were shipped to Holland (I think) and years later The Dutch Maharg family slowly moved back into Scotland.
I might look into this because I've never actually read about Reivers moving to Poland.
I've just entered: border reivers in poland ... into the search box and found that they did move to Poland. Amazing eh! I now might have family in Poland that I never knew about.
borderhorse.org ...In the section Geography, History, Culture... mentions Reivers in Poland.
It just shows that some of us might be closer than we think.
The Border Reivers were quite an unruly bunch. English, Scottish or neither as and when it suited them. About as varied in background as you can get in the British Isles - Pict, Scot, Welsh, Roman, Saxon, Viking... Is Armstrong a Reiver name? I heard that they had strong arms from all the cross-border rustling they got up to. Would they really have liked Poland?
It's interesting to see some of these Polonicised Scottish names. I assume there may very well have been more in the past. I haven't knowingly met anyone with a Polish-Scottish name though.
With respect to the Reivers, my original thoughts were guided by wishful thinking. Now I think that it is very probable that some families did come to Poland, but not all settled here. Most lists of Reivers give about thirty names. If any names, of those who stayed, were Polonicised then that group would be very small. Maybe as few as three or four. I don't know if that would make them easier or more difficult to find.
Apparently I'm one too. My surname is in the lists of reivers, and my people came from the borders (and most still live there).
This online surname map could be useful - some interesting things in it. Occasionally the site gets busy and the surname search goes down for a few minutes.
don`t forget masses of Scottish mercenaries who visited Poland on various occasions, mostly with invading armies
At least theres one intelligent comment in this thread...
What did Scotland owe Poland? Nothing... What did Poland owe Scotland? Nothing... A few merchants trying to make an extra buck in one of the most democratic countries in Europe at the time... In fact, many Scots sided with the Swedes during the Deluge, as a sign of their gratefulness.
Sorry to break it to some of you, but theres no special attachement between the two countries.
No special attachment, but some interesting history. Polish mercenaries are known to have gone to the British isles with Canute's invasion, almost 1000 years ago, and the marriage between Bonnie Prince Charlie and Princess Clementina Sobieski is interesting enough.
Seanus, I would like to administer a test to you. A test in Polish culture but connected with Scotland.
Who is a famous "Polish" Scot (some sources say he was an Englishman whose family had settled in Scotland) whom my generation admired for his bravery and honour?
