Immigration to Scotland in the 19th and early 20th centuries significantly impacted Scottish culture. Immigrants introduced new foods like Italian dishes, influenced fashion through jobs in barbering and tailoring, and changed the landscape of sports with Irish-founded football clubs. Immigrant names from Ireland and Italy became more common, and religious minorities built churches and schools to serve their communities, exposing more Scots to different traditions. Overall, immigration made Scottish culture more diverse by exposing the local population to new cuisines, pastimes, names, and faiths from abroad.

1. Migration &
Empire,
1830-1939
Impact of immigrants in
Scotland - culture

2. In today’s class I am learning to:
• Describe ways that Scotland’s culture
changed as a result of immigration into
Scotland
Impact of immigrants in Scotland - culture

3. The influx of large numbers of immigrants from
outwith Scotland had a substantial impact on the
country, including on the country’s culture.
Impact of immigrants in Scotland - culture

4. Immigration had various
cultural effects.
This includes on issues
such as food, fashion,
sport and even people’s
names.
Other examples of
influence relate to
education, buildings and
also religion.
Impact of immigrants in Scotland - culture

5. Italian immigration had a
transformative change on
food eaten in the country.
The first Italian immigrants
often sold chips or ice
cream from a street cart
(they were known as the
‘hokey pokey men’). Later
this led to shops and cafes
being opened.
Impact of immigrants in Scotland - culture

6. Many Scots welcomed
these new food options.
This was either because
they wanted a more
interesting diet, or they
welcomed an alternative
to going to the pub.
Other Scots however
disliked the Italians for
opening on Sundays.
Impact of immigrants in Scotland - culture

7. Jewish and Italian
immigration into Scotland
also had an impact on
fashion.
Many Italians worked as
barbers and hairdressers,
whilst some Jews worked
in the tailoring industry,
providing suits at
affordable prices.
Impact of immigrants in Scotland - culture

8. Sport was certainly
influenced by Irish
immigration.
Irish immigrants in
Glasgow, Dundee and
Edinburgh set up football
teams (Celtic, Dundee
United and Hibernian)
that became a major part
of the game.
Impact of immigrants in Scotland - culture

9. These football clubs were
set up for various reasons.
The money they raised
was used to fund
charitable activities such
as soup kitchens. They
also provided a social
activity in which Irish
immigrants could
participate.
Impact of immigrants in Scotland - culture

10. Even names changed due
to immigration.
Irish and Italian
immigrants brought
names as Capaldi and
O’Connell to the country.
However some Lithuanian
immigrants changed their
surnames to better
integrate with Scots.
Impact of immigrants in Scotland - culture

11. Education in Scotland (and
Britain) changed due to
immigration too.
Many Irish Catholic
immigrants found their
children were not being
properly educated. Some
Catholic teachers were
also prevented from
working.
Impact of immigrants in Scotland - culture

12. As a result of this, the
Catholic Church began to
open their own schools,
spreading across the
country.
The 1918 Education Act
meant the British
government took over the
running and funding of
these schools.
Impact of immigrants in Scotland - culture

13. This sometimes led to the
construction of new
buildings to house these
schools.
In addition various
immigrants also built their
own places of worship,
including Catholic
Churches and Jewish
synagogues.
Impact of immigrants in Scotland - culture

14. The presence of Irish
immigration into Scotland
also led to the
establishment of new
social clubs.
Orange Lodges were
opened by Protestant
Irish, whilst some Catholic
immigrants opened
Hibernian Clubs.
Impact of immigrants in Scotland - culture