The Great Journey
Migration
How the Glen and Glenn families spread from the valleys of Scotland to every corner of the world.
"From the glens of Peebles-shire and Renfrewshire, the name traveled on every tide of Scottish history."
The story of Glen and Glenn migration is the story of Scotland itself — shaped by political upheaval, economic hardship, and the enduring Scottish spirit of adventure.
Waves of Departure
Migration Timeline
1715–1750
Post-Jacobite Exile
Following the failed Jacobite Rising of 1715, many Glen family members faced government reprisals. Some fled to France and the European continent; others sought passage to the American colonies, becoming the first Glenns of the New World.
Key Destinations
France
Virginia
Pennsylvania
Maryland
1750–1820
Colonial Settlement
The 18th century saw a steady stream of Glen and Glenn emigrants to North America, drawn by the promise of land and opportunity. Many settled in the Carolinas and Virginia, where their descendants still carry the name today.
Key Destinations
North Carolina
South Carolina
Virginia
New York
1820–1870
The Great Emigration
The Highland Clearances and the Irish and Scottish famines of the 19th century drove a mass emigration. Tens of thousands of Scottish families, including many Glens, departed for Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
Key Destinations
Canada
Australia
New Zealand
South Africa
1870–1920
Industrial Age Migration
Economic migration during the industrial revolution brought Glenn families to the major cities of America, Canada, and Australia. Many served in the First World War under their new nations’ flags, cementing a new identity.
Key Destinations
United States
Canada
Argentina
New Zealand
The Diaspora Today
A Global Family
United States
The largest Glenn diaspora — particularly in the South, mid-Atlantic, and Pacific Northwest.
Canada
Strong Scottish communities in Ontario, Nova Scotia, and British Columbia carry the Glenn name.
Australia
Early emigrant Glenns became farmers, miners, and settlers in New South Wales and Victoria.
New Zealand
Scottish settlers formed tight-knit communities in the South Island, many bearing the Glen name.
South Africa
Scottish engineers and missionaries brought the Glenn name to the Cape Colony and Natal.
Argentina
A lesser-known but significant Scottish community settled in Patagonia, including Glen families.
Share Your Story
Where Did Your Family Settle?
Do you have emigration records, passenger lists, or family stories about the journey from Scotland? Help us trace the full story of the Glenn diaspora.