Italian Scots

Italian Scot

Total population
No exact numbers but estimates range from 35,000 to 100,000
Regions with significant populations
Throughout Scotland specifically Glasgow ·
Languages
Scots · English · Italian (and related forms)
Religion
Predominantly Roman Catholic
Related ethnic groups
Italian, Welsh Italians, Scots, Welsh

Italian Scots or Scots-Italians are an ethnic minority of Italian descent living in Scotland. These terms may refer to people who are born in Scotland and of Italian descent. It can also refer to people of mixed Scottish and Italian descents. A recent Italian voter census estimated that there are 70,000 to 100,000 people in Scotland of Italian descent or Italian nationals, which is up to 1.9% of the Scottish population.

The majority come from the provinces of Lucca, Frosinone and Isernia.

History

The first people from Italy to reach Scotland were the Romans in and around 40 AD. The Romans left their mark on Scotland in the shape of Hadrians Wall, Antonine Wall and other monumental constructions. However, it was not until the end of the nineteenth century that an Italian-Scots identity really began to take shape.

Many Italian-Scots can trace their ancestry back to the 1890s where their forefathers escaped drought, famine and poverty in their homeland for a better life in Scotland; yet it was not until World War I that a sizeable population of Italian-Scots, of over 4,000, began to emerge, with Glasgow hosting the third largest community in the United Kingdom (ibid.). Since then, there has been a steady flow of migration between the two countries.

Italy and the fascist involvement in World War II brought many hardships on Italians settled in Scotland - many families were separated as adult males were interned. The family members that were left behind were forced to cope with mistrust and discrimination. Of those imprisoned many men found themselves held in Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man. A number of others were employed in Orkney, at Scapa Flow, to construct a barrier against Nazi U-boats. These men additionally constructed the Chapel of Lambholm from scrap metal and junk. Nowadays, this Chapel is one of Orkney's most popular tourist attractions.

Today, Italian Scots can be found working in all manner of professions. However, a large proportion of the community have plied their trade in the catering industry, working in the chip shops, ice-cream parlours, pizzerias and restaurants across Scotland.

Notable Italian Scots

• John Amabile, interior designer
• Ronni Ancona, impressionist and actress
• Elish Angiolini, Lord Advocate
• Nicola Benedetti, violinist
• Romana D'Annunzio, television presenter
• Junior Campbell, musician and composer
• Peter Capaldi, actor
• Emilio Coia, caricaturist
• Jack Coia, architect
• Paul Coia, television presenter
• Angela Constance, Scottish National Party MSP
• Mario Joseph Conti, Archbishop of Glasgow
• Tom Conti, actor
• Adrienne Corri, actress
• Simon Danielli, rugby union player
• Richard Demarco, art impresario
• Sophia Dussek
• Paul di Giacomo, footballer
• Linda Fabiani, Scottish National Party MSP, and former Minister for Culture.
• Charles Forte, hotelier
• Rocco Forte, hotelier
• Dario Franchitti, race car driver
• Armando Iannucci, writer and satirist
• Lou Macari, footballer and football manager
• Peter Marinello, footballer
• Oscar Marzaroli, photographer
• Dominic Matteo
• Anthony Minghella, film director
• Dominic Minghella
• Max Minghella
• Kirsty Mitchell
• Alberto Morrocco, artist
• Giovanni Moscardini, footballer
• Daniela Nardini, actress
• Paolo Nutini, singer-songwriter
• Sir Eduardo Paolozzi, sculptor
• Frank Pignatelli CBE, educationist
• Paul di Resta, racing driver
• David Rizzio
• Marcus di Rollo
• Carla Romano
• George Rossi
• Ricky Sbragia, footballer
• Tom Sermanni, football coach
• Sharleen Spiteri, singer
• Ken Stott, actor
• Philip Tartaglia, Bishop of Paisley
• Alexander Trocchi, writer
• Jack Vettriano, artist
• Barry Wallace, bassist in The Fratellis
• Lena Zavaroni, singer
• Michael De Robbio, host of Morningshines.
• Ross McLeod, CEO, Chairman, & Co-Founder of Great Canadian Casinos

In popular culture

• American Cousins - A film about an Italian Scots family and their Mafia associated American cousins.
• Strictly Sinatra
• Comfort and Joy - A film about a war between rival Italian ice cream companies in Glasgow. The film is a spoof of American gangster movies.

Note

Johnny Dundee, born Giuseppe Curreri in Sicily, was an Italian American boxer known as the "Scotch Wop". Dundee had no Scottish ancestry, but became known as the "Scotch Wop" because his boxing alias, Dundee, is the name of a Scottish city.

Ray Liotta, though he has an Italian surname, is actually of mostly Scottish ancestry. He was adopted by an Italian American couple.

Nancy Dow, the mother of actress Jennifer Aniston and a former model and actress herself, was distantly related to Mary, Queen of Scots through her father, who was of Scottish ancestry. Her mother was of Italian descent.

Marcello Gaieta Vannucci, Notable Maxilofacial surgeon. His ancestors are from Tuscany region specifically from Mamiano and San Marcello pistoiese a Tuscany province.

Junior Campbell (born William Campbell, 31 May 1947, Glasgow, Scotland), is a Scottish composer, songwriter and musician. His paternal grandfather, Alfredo Cancellari - was an Italian immigrant, born near Lucca, in Tuscany, and changed his surname to Campbell, in the early 1900s when he settled in Ayrshire in Scotland. Campbell was a founding member, lead guitarist, piano player, and singer with the Scottish band, Marmalade. Campbell is also known for co-composing the music and lyrics for the children's TV series, Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends and music for film and television drama.

See also

• Italian migration to Britain
• Immigration to the United Kingdom
• Italian diaspora
• List of Italian Britons
• Lithuanian Scots

References

Pieri, J. (2005) 'The Scots-Italians: Recollections of an Immigrant' The Mercat Press