Knowledge (XXG)

Jock Tamson's bairns

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The origin of the phrase is uncertain. The earliest reference quoted in the Dictionary of the Scots Language is from 1847 where it describes the phrase as "an expression of mutual good fellowship very frequently heard in Scotland." One suggestion is that it was simply common usage in the Fife town
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The phrase is used in common speech in Scotland and it also occurs in general culture. Some examples are: the play of that name by Liz Lochhead; a folk music group of that name; the title of a book describing the official records of the Scottish nation; parliamentary speeches by
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and Morag Alexander, the Scottish Commissioner of the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) with the latter noting that Scots are less tolerant of immigrants that they appear to think that they are.
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Jock: (1) A generic term for a man, a male person. (34) Jock Tamson's bairns: the human race, common humanity; also, with less universal force, a group of people united by a common sentiment, interest or
324: 135:, from 1805 to 1840, called the members of his congregation (and his many children) "ma bairns". The latter saying may well be the reason for the location of the plaque illustrated above. 115:. This is interpreted in a metaphorical sense as a statement of egalitarian sentiments equivalent to "we're all the same under the skin" or "we are all God's children". 94:
Tamson: a Scottish form of the surname Thomson. In phrases Tamson stands for the ordinary representative man in the street: Jock Tamson's bairns, common humanity.
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of Buckhaven which had 70 Thomson families out of a total of 160 families in 1833. Another is that the
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Jock Tamson's Bairns: A History of the Records of the General Register Office for Scotland
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Index

Jock Tamsons Bairns
Copper plaque with patina depicting two foxes under a tree. Around the outside is the inscription: "Under the seat beside the water makes a home for a' Jock Tamson's bairns"
Duddingston Kirk
Edinburgh
Scotland
Arthur's Seat
Duddingston Loch
Scots
Northumbrian English
Everyman
Dictionary of the Scots Language
Winnie Ewing
Patrick Harvie
Reverend John Thomson
minister
Duddingston Kirk
Edinburgh
Scottish Gaelic
Clan




Dictionary of the Scots Language
Jock
supplement to the dictionary
"Tamson"
Dictionary of the Scots Language
Scottish Theatre: Diversity, Language, Continuity
Rodopi

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