History of Migration

People have always moved around the world to live. Our earliest ancestors originated in Africa. They followed the coastline across Europe, moving to find food, shelter and safety. The links on the left tell some of their stories.

For thousands of years, people have come to live in the country we now call Scotland. The very word 'Scot' comes from people who migrated to Scotland from Northern Ireland around 500 AD. They had earlier united with the Picts to drive back the Romans and later the same alliance halted the advance of the Angles.

Some people came as invaders, others as peaceful settlers. Some came to avoid persecution or in the hope of finding a better life. They came for the same reasons that have made countless modern Scots emigrate to other countries.

You may also find the Moving Here website of interest. It has an extensive collection of items about migration to the UK over the past 200 years, including references to Scotland: www.movinghere.org.uk (link opens in a new window).

Scotland's tradition of welcoming strangers continues today. A dedicated Scottish Government website, Scotland is the Place, offers help and encouragement to anyone thinking of moving to live and work in Scotland. It includes a registration facility which will provide updates and newsletters: www.scotlandistheplace.com (link opens in a new window).