Scott History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

In the annals of Scottish history, few names go farther back than Scott, whose ancestors go back to the people of the Boernician tribe. The first family to use the name Scott lived in Roxburgh (now part of the region of Borders), Scotland. The surname Scott is of local origin as it denotes one who came from Scotland as in the Scot. The double ‘t’ in Scott is now universal. Other records claim the name was for someone in England, who came to be from Scotland. Pre-dating surnames, the name may have been used for a Gaelic speaker within Scotland, who arrived with the Gaelic Dalriadans from Ireland in around 500 AD.

Early Origins of the Scott family

The surname Scott was first found in Roxburghshire, where a family seat was held on the lands of Ballendan at the head of the Ale water in that county. They descended from Uchtredus Scott who held the lands before 1107; he is on record as a witness to the foundation charter of Selkirk in 1120. Another early record is of Henricus le Scotte, who witnessed a charter by David Earl of Strathearn around 1195. By 1200, this great Clancontrolled the borderlands of the Middle Marches of West Teviotdale, Ewesdale, Liddesdale, Buccleuch and Balweariel. [1]

Early History of the Scott family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Scott research.

Scott Spelling Variations

Over the years, Scott has been written It appears under these variations because medieval scribes spelled names according to sound rather than by any over-arching set of rules. Scott, Scot, Skotts, Scot, Scotach, Scott, Schotts and many more.

Early Notables of the Scott family (pre 1700)

Notable amongst the family name during their early history was Walter Scott of Buccleuch (1565-1611), a Scottish nobleman and famous border reiver, known as the “Bold Buccleuch”; Mary Scott, 3rd Countess of Buccleuch and Countess of Tarras (1647-1661) Scottish peeress who married at the age of 11; Walter Scott, 1st Earl of Tarras (1644-1693), a Scottish nobleman. 

Scott World Ranking

In the United States, the name Scott is the 34^th most popular surname with an estimated 460,095 people with that name. [2] However, in Canada, the name Scott is ranked the 26^th most popular surname with an estimated 51,132 people with that name. [3] And in Quebec, Canada, the name Scott is the 618^th popular surname. [4] Newfoundland, Canada ranks Scott as 177^thwith 227 people. [5] France ranks Scott as 4,787^th with 1,500 – 2,000 people. [6] Australia ranks Scott as 32^nd with 47,646 people. [7] New Zealand ranks Scott as 7^th with 7,010 people. [8] The United Kingdom ranks Scott as 29^th with 107,393 people. [9] South Africa ranks Scott as 487^thwith 14,695 people. [10]

 Migration of the Scott family to Ireland

Some of the Scott family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.

 Scott migration to the United States +

When these Boernician-Scottish settlers arrived in North America they brought little with them and often had restart their lives from scratch. Through time, much of their heritage was lost, and it is only this century through Clan societies and highland games that many have recovered their national heritage. Research into various historical records has revealed some of first members of the Scott family to immigrate North America: 

Scott Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

• Mr. Nicholas Scott, (Skot), who arrived in Jamestown, Virginia aboard the ship “Discovery” in 1607 [11]
• Walter Scott, who landed in Virginia in 1618 aboard the ship “Hercules” [12]
• Apphia Scott, who arrived in Virginia in 1618 aboard the ship “Gift” [12]
• Goodwife Scott, who arrived in Virginia in 1623
• Mrs. Scott, who landed in Virginia in 1623 [12]

Scott Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

• Edward Scott, who arrived in Virginia in 1702 [12]
• Thomas Scott, who arrived in Virginia in 1702 [12]
• Anne Scott, who arrived in Virginia in 1703 [12]
• Richard Scott, who landed in Virginia in 1705 [12]
• Thomas Scott, who landed in Virginia in 1711 [12]

Scott Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

• Hector Scott, aged 34, who landed in New York in 1800 [12]
• Joicy Scott, who arrived in Charleston, South Carolina in 1800 [12]
• Hugh Scott, who landed in America in 1801 [12]
• Benjamin Scott, who arrived in America in 1803 [12]
• Elenor Scott, aged 29, who arrived in New Castle or Philadelphia in 1804 [12]

Scott Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

• Harry Scott, who arrived in Arkansas in 1900 [12]
• Jewett McLellan Scott, aged 35, who landed in Mobile, Ala in 1905 [12]
• Doddridge Malven Scott, who landed in Alabama in 1915 [12]
• Lemuel Alton Scott, who landed in Alabama in 1917 [12]
• Varian Cuthbert Scott, who landed in Alabama in 1918 [12]

 Scott migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were: 

Scott Settlers in Canada in the 17th Century

• Elizabeth Scott, who landed in Newfoundland in 1665 [13]

Scott Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

• James Scott, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1749
• Joseph Scott, who landed in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1749-1752
• Joseph Scott, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1749
• Richard Scott, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1749
• Rosana Scott, who landed in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1749-1752

Scott Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

• Thomas Scott, aged 37, a labourer, who arrived in Quebec aboard the ship “Atlas” in 1815
• Janet Scott, aged 26, who arrived in Quebec aboard the ship “Atlas” in 1815
• Agnes Scott, aged 5, who arrived in Quebec aboard the ship “Atlas” in 1815
• Jane Scott, aged 2, who arrived in Quebec aboard the ship “Atlas” in 1815
• Mary Anne Scott, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1820

Scott Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century

• M D Scott, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1907

 Scott migration to Australia+

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include: 

Scott Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

• Miss Sarah Scott, (b. 1783), aged 30, Irish convict who was convicted in Monaghan, Ireland for 7 years, transported aboard the “Catherine” on 8th December 1813, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [14]
• Mr. Andrew Scott, British Convict who was convicted in Derby, England for life, transported aboard the “Earl Spencer” in May 1813, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [15]
• Mr. Joseph Scott, English convict who was convicted in Surrey, England for 14 years, transported aboard the “Fanny” on 25th August 1815, arriving in New South Wales, Australia[16]
• Mr. Archibald Scott, Scottish convict who was convicted in Edinburgh, Scotland for 14 years, transported aboard the “Asiatic” on 5th June 1819, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [17]
• Mr. Edward Scott, English convict who was convicted in Surrey, England for 7 years, transported aboard the “Asiatic” on 5th June 1819, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [17]

 Scott migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include: 

Scott Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

• Janet Scott, who landed in Auckland, New Zealand in 1839
• William Scott, who landed in New Zealand in 1839
• Peter Scott, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840
• A Scott, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840 aboard the ship Bengal Merchant [18]
• D Scott, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840

 Scott migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960’s many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. [19]

Scott Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

• Elizabeth Scott, aged 20, who arrived in Isla de Providencia in 1635 aboard the ship “Expectation” [12]
• John Scott, aged 16, who arrived in Barbados in 1635 aboard the ship “Falcon” [12]
• Mr. John Scott, (b. 1593), aged 42, British settler travelling from Gravesend, England aboard the ship “Falcon” arriving in Barbados in 1636 [20]

Scott Settlers in West Indies in the 18th Century

• John Scott, who landed in Jamaica in 1715-1716 [12]

Contemporary Notables of the name Scott (post 1700) +

• John L. Scott Jr. (1953-2023), American politician who represented the Columbia-based 19th district of the South Carolina Senate from 2009 until his death
• Charity Scott (1951-2023), American legal scholar, Professor of Law Emerita at Georgia State University
• Javorius Tykies Scott (1998-2022), known professionally as JayDaYoungan, an American rapper and singer, best known for his singles “23 Island”, “Elimination” and “Opps”, which million of streams; he was shot and killed on July 27, 2022 at the age of 24
• Ray Scott (1933-2022), American outdoorsman, founder of the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society (B.A.S.S.) in 1967, creator of the first national bass tournament trail (the Bassmaster Tournament Trail), Bassmaster Magazine, The Bassmasters television show and the BASS Federation
• Lieutenant General Winfield Wayne Scott Jr. (1927-2022), American 10th Superintendent of the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado, recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross and Bronze Star
• Alan Brown Scott (1932-2021), American ophthalmologist specializing in eye muscles and their disorders, best known for his work in developing and manufacturing the drug that became known as Botox
• Julius S. Scott (d. 2021), American author of The Common Wind: Afro-American Currents in the Age of the Haitian Revolution (2018)
• Walter Scott Jr. (1931-2021), American billionaire businessman, civil engineer, philanthropist, and CEO of Kiewit Corporation; at the time of his death, his net worth was estimated at US$4.2 billion
• Willard Herman Scott Jr. (1934-2021), American weather presenter, radio and TV personality, actor, narrator, clown, comedian, and author, best known for his television work on the Today show as weather reporter, creator and original portrayer of Ronald McDonald
• Stephen Scott (1944-2021), American composer best known for his development of the bowed piano

Historic Events for the Scott family +

Related Stories +

The Scott Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Amo
Motto Translation: I love