In this chapter, we explore the growth in claims to be Scottish in terms of diasporic identity. What lies behind these claims, and are they to be taken seriously? What do they tell us about those making them, as well as how Scots, and Scotland, are perceived?

The chapter examines whether:

• there are a substantial number of people living furth of Scotland who claim Scottish ancestry and identity.
• such emigrants constitute a ‘diaspora’ in a sociological sense.
• diasporic identity has a meaningful relationship with the ‘real’ Scotland rather than one of the imagination.
• Scots living in England find themselves in an identity dilemma.