Scotland to America

          My full name is Chase MacKinnon Armstrong. My first name comes from my uncle who was always called Chase but his full name is Charles, which comes from his great grandfather. My mom, who was the one that ultimately chose my name, liked to say that she thought Charles was too long so she just cut to the Chase. My mom is predominately Irish, yet not much is known specifically from their family roots. My middle name MacKinnon comes from a clan in Scotland that many, from my grandmother on my dad’s side lived before coming to America. And my last name comes from the Armstrong clan which lived in the border area between England and Scotland. The Armstrong clan in Scotland is one that has a history of creating trouble and feuds, but is also known as a powerful and dangerous riding clan. My dad has books, passed down by my grandfather, filled with stories of Armstrong’s creating havoc. They lived in war zone like territory between England and Scotland. Some were killed and hanged from such action by men who were even related to the King of England at the time! My grandfather has passed down stories that the Armstrong clan was not the most favored of clans, but were full of men filled with spirit and fight. The clan was not wealthy or even in the middle class for much of their life span, they were horse thieves, troublemakers, and fighters. Sounds Scottish to me! One of my Grandfather's favorite stories to share is the story he was told of how our ancestors ended up in New York. When my great great grandfather and his brothers were emigrating from Scotland they were originally planning on taking a ship to Australia. However, when they reached the docks all tickets were sold out, so they decided to buy the tickets to New York and eventually docked on the shores of New York City. The reason he was told of why they emigrated was for two reasons. One for a better life economically. And two because they were told there were no jails in Australia. If they moved they could start “free” without their name making people judge them badly. My dad didn’t really know of any good family legends or stories of assimilation and fitting in.

Armstrong Clan Crest

MacKinnon Clan Crest