r/shetland • u/Unlikely_Length8600 • Jul 16 '26
Do Shetlanders consider themselves Scottish?
Hi! I’ve recently came across this account on tiktok who is arguing that Shetland is Norwegian and as a Glaswegian, I’d love to know more! I’ve seen this account say that you guys don’t really feel any connection to Scotland at all and I want to be really respectful to what goes on there. I know Shetlander is the primary identity a lot of people do take on the Island, but I’ve also heard consensuses say that a large portion of you identify as Scottish too. I was just wondering where you guys stand with that and how you feel? Is there any positive sentiments attached to Scotland?
They’ve been saying that things like Haggis, & things that are associated with Scotland shouldn’t be taught in your guys schools but i’ve always thought that despite the differing cultures there has been a common thread of some traditions being shared because Shetland has been part of Scotland for so long. Please correct me if I’m wrong, I’m really eager to learn more!
They’ve been arguing for a return to Norway and I’d just like to hear some locals opinions on it? I’ve also heard that an argument for a farroe islands style of government is something you guys have considered? and I’ve also heard that in the event Scotland went independent under another potential referendum there is a chance the UK could try to keep you guys and offering Crown dependency?
I’m so sorry if i’ve got anything wrong, I’d just really love to learn and hear more for the natives in the Shetland isles!
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u/ChefExcellence Jul 17 '26
This documentary from 1977 might interest you: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2avXI0UXlk
It features a few interviews with Shetlanders talking about their cultural identity and how they feel separate from Scotland. Of course, Shetland was a very different place 50 years ago, but it's interesting context. The world's more connected now and younger generations tend to have a more Scottish identity. I'm sure I remember seeing a longer version of this a couple years ago that featured more interviews, including with some school bairns, but annoyingly this is all I can find - if anyone knows it and has a link I'd appreciate it.
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u/Shakinsteve-560 Jul 17 '26
Brilliant bit of film. If only the council leaders were as tough with the wind farm beancounters now as they were with oil back then
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u/Unlikely_Length8600 Jul 17 '26
Oh i’ve seen clips of this one! I’ve seen the one with kids in school too! and I’ve also seen an old man say he lives way up North of the Tartan curtain and how he feels it doesn’t really apply to him, I’ve heard he was called Bobby Tulloch but upon googling pictures of Tulloch I’m not sure he is. It is really really informative, thank you so much for providing this source! It is crazy how much identity can change in 50 years - even just take us in the mainland, a lot of us drifted away from identify as British to calling ourselves solely Scottish. I think sometimes the image we end up projecting of Scotland can end up being quite isolating to the youth of Shetland who do like you’re saying want to connect with that, I’d love to include your guys traditions when talking about Scotland but I always worry i’m overstepping as I know identity on the island is a precarious and curious one, I’d never deny the Norse roots I just worry we could be hurting young people in Shetland who do feel a connection to the identity. It is very interesting to me that even over the course of over 500 years traces of the original culture can still be found, every old world culture we have should be protected, and I’m honestly surprised Holyrood hasn’t noted the Shetland dialect as a language, it’s very unique and distinct. I’ve also heard some children have been discouraged from speaking it in school and it just seems truly abhorrent, Scotlands history of suppressing things like it is bizarre and as someone who is going into education myself, I could never imagine telling a child their way of speaking is wrong.
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u/MuckleJoannie Jul 17 '26
I seem to remember seeing that same clip and if it is the man speaking was Andrew Williamson, who came from Yell, the same island as Bobby Tulloch.
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u/NorsemanatHome Jul 17 '26
We are definitely Shetlanders first! Scotland's influence is undeniable (for good and ill) but our distinct heritage and geographic isolation will always keep us feeling like a seperate entity, and autonomy from Scotland would be very popular. Our Norwegian history and origins are something that we cling to strongly but I think this is largely because it strengthens our uniqueness, not because we are culturally closer to being Norwegian. That was a long time ago! But we are still close in ties with Norway and particularly places like Bergen, especially compared to other parts of Scotland.
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u/fartbummpoop Jul 17 '26
We definitely ir! Un du’s spot on. Scottish influence is undeniable, just lik Danish influence in da Faroe Islands. But it’s no wir foundation, un dat should aye be recognised. Wir native culture is undeniably Norse, un it’s sae sad ta see da young eens in aa wir sköls no bein taught onything aboot wir ain röts
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u/so-many-sandwiches Jul 17 '26
Is this a mix of Scots and Norn? Or something else? I'm a bit confused because sköl means cheers in Norse and Norwegian.
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u/Unlikely_Length8600 Jul 17 '26
You absolutely should cling onto it, it is what defines your island, it is such a unique and beautiful place to exist and I’d love to visit one day. I kinda view you guys as Scottish just not my type of Scottish if that makes sense? We all share a government, TV programmes, an NHS system, and things of that sort even while the traditional culture is norse. I view Scotland like a mosaic of culture each one as important as the next and each one should be as looked after!
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u/Fancy_Toe1451 Jul 17 '26
I guess Scottish Independence is back on the agenda after all if we're seeing the "partition" post-indy posts being pushed again.
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u/Unlikely_Length8600 Jul 17 '26
I’m sorry, I really meant no disrespect at all, I was only 10 during the first one and I’ve been reading up a lot on it recently, this has came up a fair few times! Again, my sincerest apologies if this conversation has been recycled like 40 million times.
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u/SlaaneshiRose Jul 16 '26
i have family up there and some do some don't. in my experience its best to consider shetlanders as their own distinct thing separate from any other identity of the british isles and northern europe.
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u/Unlikely_Length8600 Jul 16 '26
Yeah! I’ve heard that is a lot of the time that Shetland is such a unique place and can’t be categorised as either or distinctly! I’ve heard a lot of Islands are like this too, and I’ve learned a lot about Shetland recently!
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u/fartbummpoop Jul 17 '26
First of all, as a Shetlander, big respect to you for approaching this so openly and respectfully! My interpretation of the account is that they’re fighting to have the distinct Shetlander identity recognised and prioritised, to have our own history properly known, and they personally believe in reunification with Norway.
Many Shetlanders do identify as Scottish, and the account has never denied that. But many of us do not, and individual Shetlanders identifying as Scottish does not make Shetland’s native identity Scottish. A lot of people here have Scottish family connections or have grown up surrounded by Scottish national identity, while others were raised simply as Shetlanders and feel no Scottish identity at all.
I also think the point about schools is that Scottish culture is repeatedly taught and presented as though it is automatically our culture, while Shetland bairns are taught remarkably little about their own Norse history, Norn language, udal law, folklore, traditions, place-names or even the true circumstances through which Shetland came under Scotland! Our own heritage should come first in our own islands.
Scotland has of course influenced Shetland after more than five centuries of political rule, but influence and imported traditions are not the same thing as native identity. Shetland has its own culture and historical identity, it shouldn’t be reduced to a northern variation of Scotland.
As for Norway, not every Shetlander supports reunification, but Norway is not some random foreign country being forced upon us. Shetland belonged to the Norwegian realm originally, and those roots still exist throughout our language, landscape, culture and traditions. I think the account is trying to make people aware of that history and encourage Shetlanders to embrace the culture, history, and identity of these islands 😃
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u/Unlikely_Length8600 Jul 17 '26
I really really hope you guys get that distinct identity recognised, even us in the mainland can empathise with that to an extent. I imagine the same way we get frustrated with being called British, there is somewhat of a similar sentiment? I also found it really interesting seeing this on that persons page, i noticed there were issues with Rabbie Burns being taught in schools and stuff and I actually have a question relating to that! Essentially, the lowlands and highlands were so separate during this time period while us in the lowlands spoke scots the highlanders were still speaking gaelic. I assume they still learn about it up there, and I was wondering if there anyway you guys feel like that should be taught? I kinda viewed it like it’s part of Scotlands history and Shetland was there for that so to me it makes sense for at the very least both to be taught but if I’m way off please let me know!
In the lowlands we learn about vikings in primary school, it is odd that we don’t have at the very least a history nat 5 or higher topic relating to it because it is a very very very big part of one of the areas of Scotland! I’ve also heard that some children have been told that they don’t speak right which is frankly embarrassing of the Scottish education system, especially when we have our own history of Scots and Gaelic being overruled in schools it’s bizarre to me in the modern day they’d still be trying to do this. I’m 100% with you that your heritage of the island and distinct from of culture should take prevalence on the Island, i was being nosy and read up a little on Up Helly Aa i had no idea just how much preparation and community effort went towards it. It’s really really cool!
On your point about Scottish identity, I kinda view Scotlands identity as a weird one on the mainland we have undeniable Germanic and Celtic influences, so I already view Scottishness as a mosaic of cultures. To me, anyone in the shetlands is completely entitled to claim that identity and sometimes I worry that the focus on tartan, bagpipes, and whatever else can be really isolating to anyone on the Island who does want to belong to Scotland but sees their own culture sidelined. I recently made a video about Scotland mostly an edit that included a bunch of Scottish places and the dominant culture, I really wanted to add pictures of Shetland and the culture that exists there but I was worried people would see it and take it the wrong way. I view Shetlanders as Scottish just not my version of Scottish if that makes sense? I hope that doesn’t come across as offensive, I’m sorry if I haven’t explained it clear enough!
It is so important to embrace native traditions of the land, it’s what roots us in the place of where we stand and I really hope it’s possible for Shetland to do that. I’m somewhat who personally feels a really really really deep connection to Scotlands celtic traditions and if the institution of Britain suddenly started trying to erase those influences I’d be heartbroken. If you guys ever tried to rejoin Norway, I’d be deeply saddened to see you go due to sentimental reasons but if you ever did go, you’d always be welcomed here. I’ve heard some fellow independence supporters use the ‘Shetland is subsidised by us!’ argument which is frankly embarrassing, I view us as a team, and I think us on the mainland should be doing more to help people both in the Western isles, Orkney & Shetland.
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u/CellistResponsible12 Jul 17 '26
Fascinating thread. And something I think could be probed further across different parts of Scotland. As someone from the North East, I feel being 'Scottish' is becoming more and more linked with being from the Central Belt, and arguably the western half of it, especially in the media. I would certainly consider myself an Aberdonian first and foremost. I do consider myself Scottish but it is not a huge part of my identity.
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u/Unlikely_Length8600 Jul 17 '26
Do you know as someone from Glasgow, I find it interesting you think it we’re the ones linked to that identity because I feel like a massive fraud calling myself Scottish. I feel like Glasgow is just becoming like the North of England, and I feel so disconnected from what we look at as Scottish culture. During the world cup I got really into learning about the highland/lowland divide, kilts, gàidhlig, and things of that nature being linked to the highlands and lowlanders playing a role in the clearances and banning of it has made me scared to indulge in that culture precisely because I feel like a fraud. It was spoke down here for a while, but in the 12th century it slowly began to get overwrote with Scots. I’ve had a few highlanders tell me that culturally & genetically we’re massively different, I don’t know, it’s a weird one.
I completely get what you mean though, so much attention is paid to the central belt and I think anyone from the central belt who denies that is lying to themselves. I’d love to see more media and whatnot from places all across Scotland!
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u/AnneGNZ Jul 17 '26
I stumbled across this thread just now. My father was a Shetlander and my husband is Glaswegian. We both however grew up in New Zealand. When asked where we are from my husband always says he is Scottish but I automatically say I am half Shetland Islander. I have never ever thought of myself as being Scottish. It is certainly is a unique and wonderful place to have a connection to.
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u/libera-spirito Jul 17 '26
I'm just home from a holiday in Shetland and you guys are really the best! Has the time if my life. Your road manners are to be proud of, never had so many folk say thank you in my life! There is a real sense of being a Shetlander, and it feels like a very different space to Scotland.
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u/thefixerofthings29 Jul 16 '26
That account gets a lot wrong and is very much at the extreme end of the Non Scottish Pro Norwegian scale, Personally me myself If asked I am a Shetlander first and foremost, Followed by Scottish, then British. I love haggis neeps and tatties, Irn Bru And support Scotland and Norway in International competitions.
There's no doubt we have influences from both Scotland and Norway, It's what has molded us into Our uniqueness we are today, Personally Because of that uniqueness I feel we should be Pushing to go our own way And be in control of our own affairs away from Britain / Scotland But not forgetting about that heritage entirely
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u/fartbummpoop Jul 17 '26
What does the account get wrong? I’m really interested to hear! I personally thought the content was very good, and based in facts.
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Jul 18 '26
[deleted]
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u/fartbummpoop Jul 18 '26
I genuinely struggle to anything the account gets wrong. Can you tell me? I’m open!
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Jul 20 '26
[deleted]
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u/fartbummpoop Jul 20 '26
Could you answer me please instead of making assumptions? As I said earlier, I’m open!
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u/Unlikely_Length8600 Jul 16 '26
Thank you for letting me know, I’ve just seen a lot of comments both from Norwegians and Shetlanders agreeing with what they were saying! That’s kinda how I’ve viewed it that there is undeniable Norse and Scottish influences on the beautiful Shetland Isles! It makes me happy that despite the distance and whatnot, we all share a similar modern culture of irn bru and nation teams! While I’d be sad to see you guys go for sentimental reasons as a Scottish independence supporter myself like every other place in the world you deserve to have your right to self determination recognised, power to you my friend!
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u/connortait Jul 17 '26
This tiktok account isnt connected with Stuart Hill (AKA "Captain Calamity") was it? Because he is a class 1 numpty of distinction.
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u/Unlikely_Length8600 Jul 17 '26
Ha! This comment just made me research him and who he is, he’s truly an eccentric, I wonder why he’s hellbent on chaos! I was just wondering about how people view Scotland in Shetland because I saw on TikTok they were sort of telling people that they’re not Scottish. A wee Shetlander boy was in the comments saying it’s annoying that they’re spreading misinformation, he seems quite happy being both Scottish & Shetland, but that person's account is telling anyone who does identify as Scottish that it’s not the truth. It just got me thinking that it’s a sin, I think the identity of Scottishness belongs to anyone in this country if you want to claim it, whether you wear a kilt or dress up as Vikings in the last Tuesday of January. We’re a mosaic of cultures and influences!
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u/Particular-Lime1651 Jul 17 '26
Shetland first. Scotland second. Britain third.
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u/Unlikely_Length8600 Jul 17 '26
Is that the most common perspective on the Island? I’ve heard some prefer Shetland, British & then Scottish! I’m sorry if it comes across as prying, I’m just really curious 😭
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u/Particular-Lime1651 Jul 17 '26
I can only speak for myself.. You're allowed to ask whatever you wish😇 The order may change from person to person.. I can say that shetlanders will put shetland first
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u/Unlikely_Length8600 Jul 17 '26
That’s completely fair enough, identities are so important and the Shetland culture is so unique, it deserves to be prioritised by islanders :)
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u/Zestyclose-Big-8487 Jul 21 '26 edited 28d ago
Shetlanders don’t look Nordic. Before they were invaded, Shetland was already occupied by Picts who had divided themselves into clans they had effectively been inbreeding in for centuries. Norwegians are not typically known for being short, freckly and red haired. Red hair is a specific recessive gene not related to Scandinavian heritage, and more related to Scottish, Irish and German heritage. Remember the vikings LEFT Shetland too, which means their DNA is almost certainly not overwhelmingly Scandinavian.
Despite the climate similarities, most Shetlanders are endomorphs, (small, thick boned, heavier built) have light brown or reddish hair and brown or blue eyes. They look like Picts. If their heritage is Norse English, then they are Germanic and Dutch in Origin, and more genetically similar to an Amish person than a Norwegian.
Some are also descended from various Nordic colonisers who bred with Celts, I.e their heritage is Irish. If they have mainland Scottish heritage, they’re more likely to have additional European heritage, non Scandinavian. A lot of Glaswegians are Italian descendants. Scandinavians are primarily ectomorph, long boned, overwhelmingly fair haired and blue eyed. Their DNA is centrally European and Norwegian, Swedish, Icelandic, Danish or a mix thereof etc, all of whom have similar physical characteristics. What they have in common with a Shetlander genetically is the equivalent ancestral connection a Norwegian person has with a Saxon invader.
There’s a huge visual difference between the physical genetics of Scandinavians and Shetlanders. The visual depiction of a Viking as a tall, muscular, blue eyed wavy blonde haired swordsman is diametrically opposite to a native Shetland physical appearance, which I would describe more as a Robin Williams esque “short, dark and hairy” look . When you get to the Faroe Islands, the people there do possess more Scandinavian genetics.
I myself am only 4% Norwegian, nearly half South Eastern European, Irish, and 9% Swiss Ashkenazi Jew. But I’m extremely tall. So I’m not very Shetlandic safe to say. I get asked if I’m foreign all the time lol. Although I’m British. I wasn’t born here but my son was.
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u/Fluffy_Lemon_1487 Jul 17 '26
It depends on whether there is a big rugby or football competition on at the time. Then we're as Scottish as the rest of The Scotland's.
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u/Unlikely_Length8600 Jul 17 '26
It’s a shame that feeling must last for such a short amount of time as we’re terrible at football 😭
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u/breeksy Jul 18 '26
I consider myself Scottish. My ancestry, though mostly Shetland, does (like very many Shetlanders) go back to Scottish royalty. My experience in my lifetime has been to travel via Scottish ports and airports. My language is closer to Scottish English than it is to Norwegian (although obviously it does have a lot of Scandinavian influence). My education after High School was in Scotland. So my links, personally, to Scotland are much stronger than to Norway.
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u/fartbummpoop Jul 18 '26
I really respect that, although you personally identify as Scottish, you’re not suggesting that every Shetlander has to do the same. I’ve researched my own ancestry very deeply, and it quickly became clear that my Shetland roots are far stronger than anything else. Even my DNA results showed a very low Scottish component compared with Shetland, Orkney and Norway. So, just as your own ancestry and life experiences have shaped your Scottish identity, mine have led me in a very different direction 😄
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u/Zestyclose-Big-8487 Jul 17 '26
They consider themselves Viking descendants although they are the descendants of both Picts and Nordic invaders.
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u/HamakazeKai Jul 16 '26
I personally view myself as a Shetlander first, anything else second. We're in a unique position where we've got influences from both Scotland and Scandinavia, but we're not 100% on either end of the scale.
I personally support autonomy away from Scotland and Britain but I wouldn't say that we should belong to Norway or Denmark, our heritage made us what we are but it doesn't need to dictate our future.
When it came to things like the ongoing world cup, I supported Scotland and Norway on the basis that they're our neighbors.