Who is scottish

He evaded the English for years but was captured and executed in August When Elizabeth I died childless in , an opportunity arose for unification between the neighboring nations. Though James hoped to unite England, Ireland and Scotland in one kingdom, his vision proved unpopular, and over the coming century, civil war and rebellion ran rampant in all three kingdoms.

Charles was succeeded by his brother James II , who in turn lost the throne to Protestant William and Mary during the bloodless Glorious Revolution of With the passage of the Acts of Union , coinage, taxes and trade were standardized across Great Britain. Scotland retained its legal, religious and educational systems but joined the main British Parliament, albeit with a disproportionately low number of representatives. The union of these two oft-warring countries proved predictably unpopular.

According to the U. Though George I was able to quell the rebellion, the Jacobite cause remained a strong force in the Scottish Highlands, and in , a second revolt centered on Prince Charles Edward Stuart , better known as Bonnie Prince Charlie or the Young Pretender, broke out. Sometimes by a British national resident in England, perturbed by recent political events, who is making plans to relocate.

Sometimes by a Scottish born Brit, resident in England, who is seeking reassurance following a flurry of headlines suggesting a second referendum on Scottish independence is imminent. The answer to all of these groups of people has, until recently, been straightforward: there is no such thing as Scottish citizenship; Scotland is part of the UK. Nationality law is reserved to Westminster, and all residents of Scotland are British citizens. We can advise on British citizenship eligibility, but on the concept of Scottish citizenship, there is nothing to be said.

However with renewed calls for a second independence referendum, it is no longer unrealistic to be thinking about Scottish, as opposed to British, citizenship. Here, I fast forward a bit, to look at what Scottish citizenship law might look like in the event of Scottish independence. This will include British citizens who hold dual citizenship with another country. Scottish born British citizens currently living outside of Scotland will also be considered Scottish citizens.

In short, Scottish citizenship will be conferred automatically on all British citizens with a sufficient connection to Scotland. This will include those who are British through naturalisation rather than through birth. As a result of changes to Coronavirus restrictions by the Scottish Government, NRS has re-opened the Historical and ScotlandsPeople search rooms in Edinburgh with a reduced number of seats to all customer groups from 21st September.

The Legal search room remains closed until further notice. The Historical and ScotlandsPeople search rooms have strict COVID safety measures in place and face coverings must be worn exemptions available - see our " Safe Visit Agreement " for more information.

We will email you to confirm whether a seat is available. We are working to release an online seat booking system. We are open strictly by appointment only. The Scottish public do not entirely agree with this.

Our survey finds that most Scots feel that being Scottish is a birthright. Despite such firm views on Scottishness, they seem to be applied inconsistently when tested on public figures connected to Scotland.