Recent scholarly publications
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Did
John Lydgate Write the Original for the “Scotch Copy of a Poem on
Heraldry”?
by Bruce
Durie
Viewed by 1569
Abstract
Evidence is presented, from heraldic,
linguistic and political–historical evidence, that the original
author of the “Scotch Copy of a Poem on Heraldry” was not Adam
Loutfut ca. 1494 but the earlier English writer John Lydgate,
possibly drawing from French heraldic sources. A new transcription
from the Harleian MS 6149 is given with a comparison to the text
from a copy in Queen’s MS. 161, plus a modern-language
“translation” and critical commentary. Full
article
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Clans,
Families and Kinship Structures in Scotland—An Essay
by Bruce
Durie
Cited
by 3 | Viewed by 8599
Abstract
Anyone who has visited a Scottish Games or
Gathering in North America will be struck by the number of Clan
societies occupying tents around the Games ground and participating
in a “Parade of Tartans”. Yet, a substantial number of these do
not represent Highlands or Borders Clans, but are really descendants
of Lowland Families. The “Clan” appellation has been applied
wrongly to all of Scotland, as though this were the universal or at
least the dominant form of social/kinship organization. The cultural
appendages of that—kilts, tartans and Gaelic language—are
considered uniformly Scottish. In reality, the clan system was a
minority social structure in Scotland. The uncritical adoption of
the term “Clan” ignores and minimizes the larger and more
important Lowland Family structure. The nature of these two
structures—Clan and Family—are compared and contrasted, and a
case made for greater recognition of the Lowland Family as the
pre-eminent form of social structure in Scotland. This has
implications for, inter alia, genealogy, Scottish cultural
and language studies, ethnicity and Y-DNA testing. Full
article
What
Is Genealogy? Philosophy, Education, Motivations and Future Prospects
by Bruce
Durie
Cited
by 12 | Viewed by 10121
Abstract
This article is a first attempt to generate
discussion and academic analysis of the modus operandi of
genealogy and genealogists. Genealogy is on the verge of becoming a
recognised profession and an academic discipline, with one or more
qualification routes. This article summarises the author’s
philosophy, motivations and experiences in establishing
educational/training courses and qualifications in a University
context. Definitions of genealogy and related concepts are
discussed, in the light of an epistemological analysis. Such
philosophical considerations are rarely discussed among professional
genealogists. It is hoped this article will be a stimulus to more
enlightened debate of the epistemological and philosophical bases of
family history-type genealogy. There is also a dearth of research
into the motivations of amateur and professional genealogists, and
almost no scholarly scrutiny of genealogy as an academic discipline.
Nor can it be dismissed as “a branch of history”; genealogy and
history are related but separate disciplines with overlapping
skills-sets. Full
article
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From
Heraldry to Genealogy from Silverware
by Bruce
Durie
Viewed by 3486
Abstract
A Coat of Arms engraved on a piece of
silverware allowed the identification of the parties concerned, and
the elucidation of the details of their marriage and ancestries. The
Arms themselves have an interesting provenance. Full
article
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Scotland
Magazine
 Bruce
Durie contributes a feature each issue to the world's best-selling
magazine about Scots
Available
HERE....
.
Recent articles
Heritage
Clan castles: Whose clan
seat is that? 
Dr Bruce Durie 11 January 2024
Folk songs:
The Skye Boat song
In the first part of a new series exploring the origins of Scotland’s
folk songs, we look at The Skye Boat Song, a popular if rather
sentimentalised air.
Scotland Magazine 16 January 2020
Sir James the Rose
Our new series continues with a look at a tragic story between our
protagonist and a lady named Matilda, but was Sir James a real person
and, if so, when and where did he live?
Scotland Magazine 15 January 2020 History
The Haughs O’Cromdale
This Jacobite song claims victory against Cromwell, but is that really
what happened or is this a case of artistic licence?
Scotland Magazine 8 January 2020
Family histories: Recent
articles on the families of
- Burns and Campbell
- Crawford and Lindsay
- Innes and MacInnes
- Primrose-Rosebery
- Lockhart
- MacDuff
- Maitland
- Also...
- Coronation Charles II
- Are we Normans?
- What is a Clan?
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