Lithuanian Scots
Encyclopedia
Lithuanian Scots or Scottish Lithuanians are an ethnic minority of Lithuanians living in Scotland
. There were many different reasons why they left their home on the shores of the Baltic: some were escaping conscription into the Russian army; some were freedom fighters, carrying illegal books in the proscribed Lithuanian language; some were Jews fleeing persecution; others were simply economic migrants, desperate to escape the crushing poverty at home and prepared to go anywhere in search of a better life.
Many came to Scotland as they could not afford the journey on to America, others were even duped into thinking they had arrived in America, only subsequently to discover they were, in fact, in Scotland.
When they arrived in Scotland, mostly at the port of Leith, the Lithuanians split into two groups, the Jewish immigrants settling in the Gorbals and the Catholic Lithuanians heading for the smelting works of North Ayrshire, the mines of West Lothian and, mainly, for the iron works and mines of Lanarkshire, the vast majority settling in the area round Bellshill and Mossend.
Of the 7,000 Lithuanians to emigrate to the United Kingdom
over half came to work in Scotland
, with Glasgow
having the largest Lithuania
n community in Britain
.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. There were many different reasons why they left their home on the shores of the Baltic: some were escaping conscription into the Russian army; some were freedom fighters, carrying illegal books in the proscribed Lithuanian language; some were Jews fleeing persecution; others were simply economic migrants, desperate to escape the crushing poverty at home and prepared to go anywhere in search of a better life.
Many came to Scotland as they could not afford the journey on to America, others were even duped into thinking they had arrived in America, only subsequently to discover they were, in fact, in Scotland.
When they arrived in Scotland, mostly at the port of Leith, the Lithuanians split into two groups, the Jewish immigrants settling in the Gorbals and the Catholic Lithuanians heading for the smelting works of North Ayrshire, the mines of West Lothian and, mainly, for the iron works and mines of Lanarkshire, the vast majority settling in the area round Bellshill and Mossend.
Of the 7,000 Lithuanians to emigrate to the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
over half came to work in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, with Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
having the largest Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
n community in Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
Notable Scottish People of Lithuanian descent
- Sir Matt Busby, manager of Manchester United.
- Billy McNeillBilly McNeillWilliam "Billy" McNeill MBE is a former Scottish footballer and manager. He is best known for captaining Celtic to the European Cup triumph in 1967 and he later went on to manage the club. He is now the official Club Ambassador at Celtic....
, Lisbon LionLisbon LionsThe Lisbon Lions is the nickname given to the Celtic team that won the European Cup at the Estádio Nacional in Lisbon, Portugal on 25 May 1967, defeating Internazionale 2–1. All the members of this team were born within 30 miles of Glasgow, Scotland. Celtic's style was the antithesis of the...
and Celtic FC great. - Johnny RamenskyJohnny RamenskyJohnny Ramensky, also known as John Ramsay, Gentleman Johnny, and Gentle Johnny was a Scottish career criminal who used his safe-cracking abilities as a commando during World War II...
, War hero and criminal.
See also
- Lithuanians in the United KingdomLithuanians in the United KingdomLithuanians in the United Kingdom including individuals born in Lithuania who have migrated to the UK as well as their British-born descendants form a subgroup of Baltic people in the United Kingdom...
- Baltic people in the United KingdomBaltic people in the United KingdomBaltic people in the United Kingdom are those born or raised/resident in the UK who are of Estonian , Latvian and Lithuanian origin.-History, population and settlement:...
- History of the Jews in ScotlandHistory of the Jews in ScotlandThe earliest date at which Jews arrived in Scotland is not known. It is possible that some arrived, or at least visited, as a result of the Roman Empire's conquest of southern Great Britain, but there is no direct evidence for this...