How Scottish are YOU?
COMPUTER experts have devised a database which can rate how Scottish a name is, even giving it a ‘Scottishness’ score.
The database, which will be used as a marketing tool, checks first names and surnames against 44million across the UK, and calculates how common they are north of the Border compared to in England and Wales.
Names are ranked using a ‘Scottishness’ average of 100, with more uniquely Scottish names scoring higher, and those popular south of the Border below 100.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, new Nationalist first minister Alex Salmond comes top of Scottish political leaders, with a score of 266.
While Mr Salmond scores well, former first minister and current Labour leader Jack McConnell manages a rating of just 42, with prime minister Gordon Brown scoring just 95.
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Nicol Stephen manages a respectable 244, and Scottish Conservative leader Annabel Goldie 151.
While David Cameron scores a surprising 153, chancellor of the exchequer Alistair Darling hits an impressive 163 and Douglas Alexander, secretary of state for international development, scores 143.
Former home secretary John Reid scores 142 on the database.
Marketing firm CACI, who compiled the database, hope to use the results to help companies target customers in England and Wales who may have an affinity with Scotland.
Alex Salmond is, not surprisngly, very Scottish!
Ian Thurman, Head of Location Planning at CACI, said: “Names give a fascinating insight into our history and identity and it’s fun to explore them.
“We haven’t scored quite rare names like McCoist, and the program throws up some surprises, for example Borders names.
“Dodds is a popular Scottish name in the Borders, but lots of Dodds live just over the Border in England, so it has quite a low score.
“Understanding names can be used for serious business purposes too.
“It will be a useful way reach people with Scottish links in England and Wales, for example Scottish charities who want to target people of Scottish origin.”
The most Scottish names have been revealed as Murdo MacRitchie, scoring 283, and Angusina MacEachen, at 283.
Scots superstar Ewan McGregor is the celebrity with the highest Scottish score at 270, while Scotland manager Alex McLeish tops the chart of sports personalities at 257.
Born and raised in London, Scots rocker Rod Stewart’ claims he is Scottish through parentage, but his English roots are betrayed by his low score of just 86.
And Sharleen Spiteri’s Italian roots are revealed, scoring just 24 on the Scottishness rating.
Golfer Colin Montgomery cards 152, while tennis star Andy Murray nets a 99.
With their Irish ancestry, the names of Billy Connelly and Sean Connery both only manage a low score of 34.
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TOP SCOTS POLITICAL LEADERS(In the Scottish parliament or Scots in the UK parliament)
Alex Salmond 266
Nicol Stephen 244
David Cameron 153
Annabel Goldie 151
Douglas Alexander 143
John Reid 142
Gordon Brown 95
Jack McConnell 42
Des Browne 8
TOP MOST SCOTTISH NAMES
Angusina MacEachen 284
Murdo MacRitchie 283
Murdina MacCorquodale 283
Williamina Killoh 283
Angusina MacIver 283
Mhairi Kimmet 283
Williamina Marnie 283
Williamina McCallie 283
Alexina Killoh 283
Eilidh McCorquodale 281
PUBLIC FIGURES
Ewen McGregor 270
Alex McLeish 257
Gordon Strachan 237
Sir Alex Ferguson 229
Annie Lennox 181
Alistair Darling 163
Colin Montgomerie 152
James McAvoy 137
Robert Carlyle 131
Shirley Manson 121
Andy Murray 99
Andy Cameron 90
Frank Hadden 86
Rod Stewart 86
Menzies ‘Ming’ Campbell 86
Gregor Townsend 79
Nick Nairn 74
Liz McColgan 67
Billy Connolly 34
Ryan Watson 66
Sean Connery 34
Walter Smith 38