Question for the Scots and others here.

Chainsaw · Aug 3, 2007

Scots and Scottish Americans have figured very strongly in Texas history, and I've started a fiction novel that will promenantly feature descendants of the Stuarts of Renfrew. I'm considering haveing a conflict between they and a local family of Campbells. Should I avoid this historical animosity and use another family name? Opinions?

jim

blacbird · Aug 3, 2007

Is this animosity based on real Texas history, and real Texas families? If so, you could be treading on some toes. But if not, I can't see any reason not to use these common names.

And, because someone else is bound to do it if I don't, NEVER refer to a novel as a "fiction novel". All novels are fiction.

caw

scarletpeaches · Aug 3, 2007

Just as long as you don't mention Campbells and MacDonalds.

And good call on that damned 'fiction novel' thing, blacbird. I missed it on the first read. Or perhaps I blacked it out.

MacCaw.

Duncan J Macdonald · Aug 3, 2007

scarletpeaches said:
Just as long as you don't mention Campbells and MacDonalds.

And good call on that damned 'fiction novel' thing, blacbird. I missed it on the first read. Or perhaps I blacked it out.

MacCaw.

Campbells and Stewarts can be just as bad -- the other tartan that I'm allowed to wear (besides Macdonald of Clan Ranald) is Royal Stewart. But then, any decent Highland clan can be wriiten as having "issues" with any dirty Lowlander clan stemming from far in the past (far being relative to the miniscule amout of time that Texas has been around).

scarletpeaches · Aug 3, 2007

You all have heard of the massacre at Glen Coe, I assume?

Soccer Mom · Aug 3, 2007

Use the historical conflict as a jumping off point for your fiction, but change all the names. Just let it be your inspiration.

McWoof.

(with a nod to blackbird

)

ETA: And I'm a Texan of Scottish descent and no my name wasn't Campbell or Stewart or McDonald. :wag:

Haggis · Aug 3, 2007

Me ancestors rode with the Armstrongs and the Nixons. Which one of ye referred to us as "dirty lowlanders?"

:e2teeth:

JLCwrites · Aug 3, 2007

My hubby's family came from Texas and are from the Campbell line. I am sure he would love to read the book, regardless of name usage. Sounds interesting to me too.

Haggis · Aug 3, 2007

scarletpeaches said:
You all have heard of the massacre at Glen Coe, I assume?

Does that taste anything like Glenlivet?

MidnightMuse · Aug 3, 2007

Haggis said:
Me ancestors rode with the Armstrongs and the Nixons. Which one of ye referred to us as "dirty lowlanders?"

T'was Duncan J, I believe. My own kin were Border Reivers :guns:

arrowqueen · Aug 3, 2007

Well, the Campbells helped the High Steward get Renfrew back from the Earl of Atholl in 1332.

Mind you, that was a wee while ago. They might have fallen out since.

blacbird · Aug 3, 2007

Haggis said:
Me ancestors rode with the Armstrongs and the Nixons. Which one of ye referred to us as "dirty lowlanders?"

I think they might have been referring to your distant Nixon cousin, Richard.

caw

Chainsaw · Aug 4, 2007

My apologies for the "novel" fox pass. Guess it shows my ignorance. I are not a gud speler ether.

The WIP is not about any historical persons or incidents, and the clan problem will only cover a small part of the work. I'm at 84,000 words and havent even gotten the hero returned to Texas yet. I'm getting close though.

Adult supervision is always appreciated.

jim

wayndom · Aug 5, 2007

Is "chainsaw" a cute way of saying your last name is McCullough?

CoriSCapnSkip · Aug 6, 2007

A few Campbells lurking in the woodwork of my family tree.

dpaterso · Aug 6, 2007

Duncan J Macdonald said:
But then, any decent Highland clan can be wriiten as having "issues" with any dirty Lowlander clan stemming from far in the past

Och that's fighting talk! Highlander women have woolly backs so the men have something to hold into.

-Derek

Bufty · Aug 6, 2007

That's because they practise on sheep, isn't it?

dpaterso said:
Och that's fighting talk! Highlander women have woolly backs so the men have something to hold into.

-Derek

scarletpeaches · Aug 6, 2007

Shag 'em on a cliff edge; they push back harder.

Duncan J Macdonald · Aug 6, 2007

Bufty said:
That's because they practise on sheep, isn't it?

At least the Highlanders get past the practising part...

Mike Martyn · Aug 7, 2007

Haggis said:
Me ancestors rode with the Armstrongs and the Nixons. Which one of ye referred to us as "dirty lowlanders?"

Sassenach!

Scothoser · Aug 7, 2007

Back to the original question *ahem* ^_^

I'd say that the names wouldn't matter too much. Clan rivalries rarely matter much in the modern day, and all the clans at some time managed to make some other clan upset, regardless of who they were.

I'd say go with it! If nothing else, look at the reaction you got within the thread. Lots of people with a lot to say, one way or another. It should add more color and interest to your novel. ^_^

Chainsaw · Aug 9, 2007

Wayndom

I'm of Scottish/Norman ancestry, but my surname isn't McCullough. Chainsaw is a nickname I picked up a few years ago.

Thanks all for the feedback.

jim

Question for the Scots and others here.

Chainsaw

blacbird

scarletpeaches

Duncan J Macdonald

Plotting! Not Plodding!

scarletpeaches

Soccer Mom

Crypto-fascist

Haggis

Evil, undead Chihuahua

JLCwrites

Haggis

Evil, undead Chihuahua

MidnightMuse

Midnight Reading

arrowqueen

RIP, our sarky besom

blacbird

Chainsaw

wayndom

CoriSCapnSkip

New kid, be gentle!

dpaterso

Also in our Discord and IRC chat channels

Bufty

Where have the last ten years gone?

scarletpeaches

Duncan J Macdonald

Plotting! Not Plodding!

Mike Martyn

Scothoser

Chainsaw