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The Scottish tradition of giving family or traditional names to individuals has been identified as being at risk of dying out. The custom, which has been passed down throughout the generations of Gaelic-speaking communities along the west coast, involves attributing a name based on a person’s location of origin, their parents, or their appearance. Nicknames for people in these areas are included in phonebooks that have been printed in some parts of the Hebrides, though it is feared that this tradition is being abandoned in favour of English language nicknames.
Iain Taylor, who taught at Scotland’s Gaelic national centre Sabhal Mòr Ostaig for two decades, blames the decline on modern advancements and changes in usage due to a decrease in Gaelic spoken by younger generations. He reveals that, due to the relatively small number of surnames stemming from people adopting the name of the local clan chief, people would give others a family name. Matronymic and patronymic names also arose, and nicknames based on characteristics and appearance became increasingly common.
The use of nicknames based on family and personal history is said to be a means of distinguishing between people with similar names. Areas renowned for utilising this tradition include Scalpay and Harris, where people have come up with quirky names, such as Ceitidh Ruadh (Red-haired Katie) and Iain Mòr (Big or Tall John).
Annie MacSween of Ness Historical Society expressed concern over the gradual elimination of the west coast tradition, noting a reduction in phonebook entries over the years. Allan Campbell, a former pupil of Portree High School, gave an example of the kind of wordplay that helped to engender nicknames, which had the effect of almost becoming secret codes between pupils. Genealogist Calum MacNeil highlighted potentially divisive aspects of using nicknames such as those that caused family tensions when people decided they disliked or approved of them
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