Loch Lomond, Scotland

Ever hear that familiar tune…but not quite sure of the song lyrics or the origin of the song?  Well, take a listen here.  Hummmm… “the bonnie, bonnie banks of Loch Lomond.”

This traditional Scottish song was first published in 1841 in Vocal Melodies of Scotland (Roud No. 9598).  Although the original author of the song is unknown, one of the many interpretations of the lyrics alludes to the Jacobite Uprising in 1745.  Perhaps a prisoner awaiting death (the low road) is writing to a friend who lives (the high road). An old Celtic belief is that a person who dies outside his country will return in death (And Ah'll be in Scotlan' afore ye).

Regardless of the meaning, the song has been sung by numerous artists over the years, and the familiar tune has been used countless times. Even the University of Notre Dame Marching Band’s baritone horn section plays the song at the beginning of every home game.

Lyrics

By yon bonnie banks an' by yon bonnie braes

Whaur the sun shines bright on Loch Lomond

Whaur me an' my true love will ne'er meet again

On the bonnie, bonnie banks o' Loch Lomon'.

Chorus:

O ye'll tak' the high road, and Ah'll tak' the low road

And Ah'll be in Scotlan' afore ye

Fir me an' my true love will ne'er meet again

On the bonnie, bonnie banks o' Loch Lomon'.

'Twas there that we perted in yon shady glen

On the steep, steep sides o' Ben Lomon'

Whaur in (soft) purple hue, the hielan hills we view

An' the moon comin' oot in the gloamin’.

Chorus

The wee birdies sing an' the wild flouers spring

An' in sunshine the waters are sleeping

But the broken heart it kens, nae second spring again

Tho' the waeful may cease frae their weeping.

Chorus

Loch Lomond

“Loch Lomond” in the song refers to Loch (or Lake) Lomond, a majestic freshwater lake in Scotland that crosses the Highland Boundary Fault.  It is the largest inland stretch of water in Great Britain and is part of the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park system.

The 25-mile long lake is narrow and deep at its northern stretch and bound by steep-sided mountains including Ben Lomond. Its southern end widens up to reveal an island-studded panorama.

The lake has over thirty islands, depending on the water level.  Inchmurrin is the largest, and Inchconnachan is home to a colony of wallabies.  Several of the islands appear to be crannogs, artificial islands built in prehistoric periods.

The Trossachs refers to the wooded glens that surround the lochs found in the area.  Sir Walter Scott’s 1810 poem The Lady of the Lake popularized the area with tourists by including several place names in the poem.  Shortly after, he wrote his 1817 historical novel Rob Roy, whose exploits in the Trossachs led to the area being called “Rob Roy Country.”

Village of Luss, Scotland

 And speaking of the “bonnie banks” of the lake, look for the beautiful little village of Luss on the western shore of Loch Lomond.  A village has been in this location since medieval times and the pretty little sandstone and slate cottages complete with roses rambling up the sides of each one makes for a “bonnie” sight indeed.

Now if you’d like to see the big screen version of the song combined with stunning images of Loch Lomond, watch Legend of Loch Lomond which retells the story behind the song.  Originally set for IMAX, this short film (38 minutes) can be seen for free on Hulu (although it has several commercial breaks.)   It is also available on Netflix. 

Is Scottish Ancestry in Your Background?

Ever wondered if your ancestors came from Scotland…and if so, to what clan did they belong?  Family surnames passed from father to son to grandson were introduced in Scotland in the 1100s by the Normans, but the general use of a common surname passed down through the generations was not prevalent until the 16^th century, and even then they were not common in the Highlands and the isles until well into the 18^th century.

Some names were associated with a geographical place or occupation, some on some unique quality or physical feature, and others were patronymic—derived from a given name or family relationship.  Mac or Mc is a common Scottish surname prefix as it means “son of.” 

These were the types of names that might change from generation to generation depending on the father’s name.  Adopting a common family surname was not popular until the 15^th and 16^th centuries.

To find out if you have a Scottish heritage, talk to relatives and consult family genealogies to compile a list of family surnames.  Then search this Alphabetical List of Scottish Names Associated with Clans and Families and Behind the Name – Scottish Surnames. 

You can also search through this massive list of Scottish surnames at Family Education Name Lab or simply type in the name in the search box to get information on name meaning and origin.

Scottish clan comes from the Gaelic clann meaning “family” and was usually all the people who lived in particular geographic area under the protection of a clan chief, who was officially registered in the court of Lord Lyon King of Arms who controlled heraldry and the Coats of Arms registration in Scotland.  Therefore, everyone in a clan was not necessarily related nor did they all have the same surnames.

Clan Tartans

The tartan has long been associated with Scotland, especially the Highlanders.  The woven patterns of interlocking stripes originally were not associated with any particular clan until the 18^th century, and it was not until Wilson’s Key Pattern Book of 1819 that some were even given a name.

At the Scottish Register of Tartans, you can search by your clan name or Scottish surname.  Use the standard search box here, where you can get a broad search result by typing clan or surname in the tartan name box. 

There are several web-based “tartan finders,” but the majority are commercial and are simply trying to sell you a tartan.  So when you do a search…take the results with a grain of salt as most don’t agree on a specific design for a name. 

Coats of Arms

Likewise many Scottish clans and surnames are associated with heraldry, or coats of arms.  These too have been registered through the Court of the Lord Lyon since 1672.  Interestingly, Coats of Arms may only belong to a single person at a time and not an entire family and are passed down only to the heirs of that person.

Coats of Arms were originally used by the military to identify knights in battle, therefore no two persons could have the exact same design for identification purposes.

When you are ready to start searching Scotland’s records, then try Scotland’sPeople.  Set up a free registration to obtain a username and password, and start your free search.  (Only include information in the registration that is required.)

This official site will allow you to search and view Coats of Arms and Wills and Testaments results for free, but there is a fee to view the actual record and also a fee to view result listings of birth, marriage, death, and baptism records.

If you want further searching tips, consult the National Library of Scotland.

Postscript: My Scottish Family Research

The surname for one branch of my husband’s family is McCaig.  With the surname prefix “Mc,” I was pretty certain we had a Scottish name in our lineage.  Turns out the name is associated with the clans Farquharson and McLeod.  It is an anglicized form of the Gaelic MacThaidhg, meaning “son of Tadhg.”  It also means poet or philosopher. 

Then I ran across this web article on MacCaig with tons of information on family history, coats of arms, and tartans…until I got to the bottom and read “Purchase Customized Products.”  As I said…grain of salt!

Happy hunting…

P.S.S. I did locate the McCaig Tower in Oban, Scotland.  The unfinished prominent tower (looking much like the Roman Colosseum) was built on a hillside overlooking the city by a wealthy, philanthropic banker named John Stuart McCaig between 1897 and 1902.  (Note: still looking for a family tree branch to him!)

McCaig Tower in Oban, Scotland