Jock Tamson's Bairns
Encyclopedia
"We're a' Jock Tamson's Bairns" is Lowland Scots
and Northumbrian English for we're all John Thomson's children, It is a popular saying
in Scotland
and the far north of England, and is known in other parts of the world. Nowadays, the phrase is often used to mean "we're all the same under the skin".
It has been suggested as a euphemism
for God
, so the saying could mean "we are all God's children". The expression "We're a' the bairns o' Adam", conveys exactly the same meaning, see Freedom Come-All-Ye
a song written by Hamish Henderson
. Scottish Gaelic
also has the shorter saying "Clann MhicTamhais" (Thomson/MacTavish's children/clan
). This is a common egalitarian sentiment in Scottish national identity
, also evident in the popularity of the Robert Burns
song A Man's A Man for A' That
.
Although Jock Tamson's Bairns is used as a personification of the Scots nation
, it is also used to refer to the human race
in general.
It is also used when people think one of their number is showing off, or considers himself better than his peers: "Who does he think he is? We're all Jock Tamson's bairns."
One explanation of this phrase (as recorded in the History of Duddingston Kirk) is that the Reverend John Thomson
(Jock Tamson, Thamson), minister
of Duddingston Kirk
, Edinburgh
, from 1805 to 1840, called the members of his congregation "ma bairns" (Standard
my children) and this resulted in folk saying "we're a' Jock Tamson's bairns" which gave a sense of belonging to a select group.
"Jock Tamson" (John Thomson) would have also been a very common Scottish name, and would have been equivalent to such phrases as "John Doe
", "John Smith", "Joe Bloggs" etc.
There's a Scottish Folk band named "Jock Tamson's Bairns".
Scots language
Scots is the Germanic language variety spoken in Lowland Scotland and parts of Ulster . It is sometimes called Lowland Scots to distinguish it from Scottish Gaelic, the Celtic language variety spoken in most of the western Highlands and in the Hebrides.Since there are no universally accepted...
and Northumbrian English for we're all John Thomson's children, It is a popular saying
Saying
A saying is something that is said, notable in one respect or another, to be "a pithy expression of wisdom or truth."There are a number of specific types of saying:...
in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
and the far north of England, and is known in other parts of the world. Nowadays, the phrase is often used to mean "we're all the same under the skin".
It has been suggested as a euphemism
Euphemism
A euphemism is the substitution of a mild, inoffensive, relatively uncontroversial phrase for another more frank expression that might offend or otherwise suggest something unpleasant to the audience...
for God
God
God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
, so the saying could mean "we are all God's children". The expression "We're a' the bairns o' Adam", conveys exactly the same meaning, see Freedom Come-All-Ye
Freedom Come-All-Ye
"Freedom Come-All-Ye" is a song written by Hamish Henderson, the Scottish poet, songwriter, and intellectual. It is written in the Scots Language. "Freedom Come-All-Ye", one of Henderson's most important songs, gives a non-romantic, revisionist view of the role of the Scots in the world at the...
a song written by Hamish Henderson
Hamish Henderson
Hamish Scott Henderson, was a Scottish poet, songwriter, soldier, and intellectual....
. Scottish Gaelic
Scottish Gaelic language
Scottish Gaelic is a Celtic language native to Scotland. A member of the Goidelic branch of the Celtic languages, Scottish Gaelic, like Modern Irish and Manx, developed out of Middle Irish, and thus descends ultimately from Primitive Irish....
also has the shorter saying "Clann MhicTamhais" (Thomson/MacTavish's children/clan
Clan
A clan is a group of people united by actual or perceived kinship and descent. Even if lineage details are unknown, clan members may be organized around a founding member or apical ancestor. The kinship-based bonds may be symbolical, whereby the clan shares a "stipulated" common ancestor that is a...
). This is a common egalitarian sentiment in Scottish national identity
Scottish national identity
Scottish national identity is a term referring to the sense of national identity and common culture of Scottish people and is shared by a considerable majority of the people of Scotland....
, also evident in the popularity of the Robert Burns
Robert Burns
Robert Burns was a Scottish poet and a lyricist. He is widely regarded as the national poet of Scotland, and is celebrated worldwide...
song A Man's A Man for A' That
A Man's A Man for A' That
"Is There for Honest Poverty", commonly known as "A Man's a Man for A' That", is a 1795 Scots song by Robert Burns, famous for its expression of egalitarian ideas of society, which may be seen as anticipating the ideas of liberalism that arose in the 18th century, and those of socialism which arose...
.
Although Jock Tamson's Bairns is used as a personification of the Scots nation
Nation
A nation may refer to a community of people who share a common language, culture, ethnicity, descent, and/or history. In this definition, a nation has no physical borders. However, it can also refer to people who share a common territory and government irrespective of their ethnic make-up...
, it is also used to refer to the human race
Human Race
Human Race refers to the Human species.Human race may also refer to:*The Human Race, 79th episode of YuYu Hakusho* Human Race Theatre Company of Dayton Ohio* Human Race Machine, a computer graphics device...
in general.
It is also used when people think one of their number is showing off, or considers himself better than his peers: "Who does he think he is? We're all Jock Tamson's bairns."
One explanation of this phrase (as recorded in the History of Duddingston Kirk) is that the Reverend John Thomson
Reverend John Thomson
The Reverend John Thomson was the minister of Duddingston Kirk near Edinburgh, Scotland and a distinguished amateur landscape painter.-Early life:...
(Jock Tamson, Thamson), minister
Minister of religion
In Christian churches, a minister is someone who is authorized by a church or religious organization to perform functions such as teaching of beliefs; leading services such as weddings, baptisms or funerals; or otherwise providing spiritual guidance to the community...
of Duddingston Kirk
Duddingston Kirk
Duddingston Kirk is a Parish Church in the Church of Scotland, located adjacent to Holyrood Park in Duddingston Village, on the east side of the City of Edinburgh. Regular services are held at the Kirk, conducted by the minister, Rev Dr James A. P...
, Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, from 1805 to 1840, called the members of his congregation "ma bairns" (Standard
Standard English
Standard English refers to whatever form of the English language is accepted as a national norm in an Anglophone country...
my children) and this resulted in folk saying "we're a' Jock Tamson's bairns" which gave a sense of belonging to a select group.
"Jock Tamson" (John Thomson) would have also been a very common Scottish name, and would have been equivalent to such phrases as "John Doe
John Doe
The name "John Doe" is used as a placeholder name in a legal action, case or discussion for a male party, whose true identity is unknown or must be withheld for legal reasons. The name is also used to refer to a male corpse or hospital patient whose identity is unknown...
", "John Smith", "Joe Bloggs" etc.
There's a Scottish Folk band named "Jock Tamson's Bairns".
Sources
- Sinclair, Cecil; Jock Tamson's Bairns; General Register Office for ScotlandGeneral Register Office for ScotlandThe General Register Office for Scotland was a non-ministerial directorate of the Scottish Government that administered the registration of births, deaths, marriages, divorces and adoptions in Scotland. It was also responsible for the statutes relating to the formalities of marriage and conduct...
; GROS 2000 - http://www.dsl.ac.uk/Dictionary of the Scots LanguageDictionary of the Scots LanguageThe Dictionary of the Scots Language is an online Scots-English dictionary, now run by Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd, a charity and limited company...
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