Nova Scotia (New Scotland) is a land steeped in the History of the Scots who settled in the late 18th Century through to the early 20th century. Will be discussing this history as well as the tools and resources that are available to family historians to help them trace those early settlers whose descendants would go on to make a mark on the world, whether they and their descendants stayed in the province or moved.
This engaging Legacy Family Tree webinar, Finding Your Scott Ancestors in New Scotland, presented by genealogist Brian Nash, offers a richly detailed exploration of the Scottish presence in Nova Scotia. With historical depth and practical research strategies, Nash traces the province’s transformation from early French settlement to a key hub for Scottish immigrants, especially during and after the Highland Clearances. Listeners are guided through patterns of migration, cultural traditions, and essential genealogical resources, making this session invaluable for anyone tracing Scottish lines in Atlantic Canada.
Key Takeaways:
Historical Context Shapes Research Paths – Understanding Nova Scotia’s shifting colonial history—from French Acadia to British New Scotland—can help pinpoint ancestral origins. Events such as the arrival of the Hector in 1773, Loyalist migration after the American Revolution, and settlement restrictions on Cape Breton are crucial for narrowing down where Scottish ancestors came from in Scotland and when.
Records and Archives Are Rich and Accessible – The Nova Scotia Archives offers extensive digitized collections, including birth, marriage, death, census, land, and Gaelic resources. Nash demonstrates how flexible search tools—such as the “contains” option for variable surnames like Mc/Mac—help overcome transcription quirks. Complementary resources include the McCulloch House Museum, Beaton Institute archives, and historical county histories.
Culture and Community Connections Endure – Scottish influence remains visible in Nova Scotia’s Gaelic language signage, music traditions, and festivals such as the Antigonish Highland Games and Celtic Colours. Understanding clan-based settlement patterns, especially in Cape Breton, not only provides cultural insight but also explains endogamy and naming traditions found in historical records.
From historical overviews to hands‑on research tips, this webinar equips genealogists with the tools to navigate complex migration routes, linguistic nuances, and record‑keeping practices. By combining geographic settlement patterns with knowledge of historical events, researchers can better link Nova Scotian records to specific Scottish homelands.
Call to Action:
To fully appreciate the depth of detail, maps, case studies, and live demonstrations provided, view the complete webinar in the Legacy Family Tree library. Membership unlocks this session alongside thousands of other classes and resources, including the seven‑page syllabus packed with links, record guides, and research strategies.
Genealogists are also encouraged to explore the additional resources listed in the syllabus—ranging from digital archives to historic local histories—which can open new research avenues and help bring Scottish Nova Scotia ancestry vividly to life.
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I found this webinar to be very enlightening. I never knew about New Scotland. Considering that I am doing some work on my mother’s Scottish side, some of whom I knew lived in Canada, this will be very helpful
Brian Nash gave a very thorough presentation about Scots in Nova Scotia. I appreciated the historical overview in which to place Nova Scotian Scots in a larger context, along with his providing a number of good online and print research resources.
I have been researching ancestors in Nova Scotia for some 30 years and have visited areas they have settled in and done research in the Nova Scotia Archives and via the Archives online records and still Brian managed to introduce me to a few new sources for further investigation. Thank you Brian !!
I’ve been researching my husband’s NS ancestors for years and Brian gave me more resources to check out. Very helpful.
Thank you. The presentation was well organized and had lots of information. The historical context and the sources were greatly appreciated.
I particularly enjoyed the history. You normally don’t get that part of Nova Scotia history.
Thank you for new sources to explore and information on Nova Scotia!!
It was good to have some new information about researching Nova Scotia family lines