Ancient Scots tip up on line

The censuses prove, at long last, that the Scots are good for more than making Mars bars unhealthier and headbutts more efficient: Donald Trump, Andrew Carnegie, Alexander Graham Bell, Bertie Charles Forbes and David Dunbar Buick are the five featured successes, all of whom have had Scottish ancestry.

Historian at Ancestry.com Megan Smolenyak says that all five of these men have had one common trait between them: "the rags to riches story." Rags, presumably, accounting for Scottish ancestry and riches for making it in the Land Ov Thee Free.

Using a free Ancestry.com account, I was able to find out my own mother's name and the year in which I was born, validating that which I already suspected.

The Historically Nosey will be pleased to hear that the census includes all sorts of information, from places of birth and residences, to names and occupations. You can, of course, head over to Ancestry.com and find out all about your ancestor's histories as fishmongers, servants and other not-so-noble-or-impressive things. µ