Scoti

Scoti is the Latin ethnonym used by ancient and medieval writers to refer to Gaelic-speaking peoples, especially the Gaels of Ireland and those who settled in western Scotland. The term appears in Latin sources as a collective designation for Gaelic speakers and is the linguistic root of the modern terms Scots and Scotland (Scotia).

Historically, groups described as Scoti migrated from Ireland to Dal Riata in western Scotland during the early medieval period, establishing Gaelic-ruled polities that would influence the formation of the medieval Scottish kingdom. In these accounts, Scoti are depicted as a distinct Gaelic-speaking people whose movement helped shape the cultural and political landscape of the British Isles.

Etymology and legacy: The origin of the ethnonym Scoti is uncertain, but it is generally treated as a Latin exonym that came to denote Gaelic-speaking communities. The geographic name Scotia was used in Latin to refer to the Scottish lands, and later the forms Scots and Scotland entered vernacular languages, shaping modern national and cultural identifiers.

Modern usage: Today Scoti is primarily encountered in historical, linguistic, and philological contexts. It is discussed as an ancient designation for Gaelic groups and as the source of the names that appear in English and other languages to describe Scotland and its people. It is not used as a contemporary ethnic label.