Appalachia’s Storyteller: The Appalachian Hillbilly The Complete History of the word 'Hillbilly'

Appalachia’s Storyteller: The Complete History of the evolution of the word "Hillbilly" Journey back, hundreds of years to Scotland and learn the true meaning of Hillbilly and how the media twisted its true meaning.
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Photos Lee County Historical Society
Note: This story represents history and this video is an educational commentary and critique on the subject.

[hannahoran]

I recently did a DNA test that basically said many of my ancestors were Scottish immigrants to Appalachia and that my family just never left the mountains. Thank God, I love my culture, bare feet and all 💕

[janetpitts]

I'm a proud "hillbilly" maiden name is Campbell and my dad grew up in Kentucky, he was always so proud of our Scottish ancestry and coming to mountain! Thank you!!

[tracicomstock]

I am a Scottish Cherokee Hillbilly. And I am so thankful for your stories! God bless.

[-----Disciple-----------]

My great grand da was a Scotch/Irish that was fresh off the boat and married a Cherokee woman then had my grand da. I felt it in my bones for most of my life, and would almost cry when I heard fiddle or flute. I loved Bluegrass and told people, Nashville isn't country, it's in a city!
They didn't believe me. It warms my bones to hear more and more about how I was right. I felt my grand da the year of his passing, at the beginning of the year. Most of the men in my family fought each other so we hadn't seen each other in decades. I went looking for him.
He was born in 1902 and we sat out the whole year talking and catchin up. He said he was ready to get out of here. He showed me a photo of great grand da. Looked almost like Mark Twain. At the end of the year, grand daddy passed. We would hug and talk until then. But it was awesome and I am so glad to know I have it in me. I love stories like this and the country in me, though born on the swamps of Georgetown DC. never have left me. I am not a city boy, I love the country and the hills, the lakes and the trees. Always have, always will.

Thanks for being there and setting folks straight. City isn't educated, just sophisticated. Emphasis on 'sophistry'. They get everything done through scandal and bribery and work to pay taxes. We know how to live, we, the hills and the peoples.

[dogstarstudios]

Great episode!
I can trace my linage all thru the mountain regions & mountain folk of the Missouri Ozarks, the Cumberlands & Appalachias of Eastern Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina & SW Virginia, all the way back to the Highlands of Scotland. In fact my 7th great-grandfather, who came from the Keppoch region of Scotland was an officer in William III's army fighting both upon the European continent & at the siege of Londonderry in Ulster.
My mother & aunt get upset if one refers to our family as hillbillies, however it's a title that I embrace & take great pride in!

[mikeevans]

I love the channel. Having grown up in Knoxville, I was constantly exposed to the the influence of Appalachian culture and ways with the beauty, resourcefulness of it's people. There was also the influence of "big city" life that comes from a metropolitan community. The phrase I have always used to describe the family is to tell others that we are "Valleybilles", hillbillies raised in the Tennessee Valley. I treasure memories of seeing, and helping, older ladies in bonnets and high button shoes, in the community near the University of Tennessee who would churn butter on their front porch from raw milk brought to them by rural relatives. Discussions of coal mining, coon hunting, and moonshining, were shared around the dinner table along with events on the world stage. Many of the videos either tell of places I have lived, worked, or visited through the years. Many thanks.

[curiouscath]

I would be proud to be a Hillbilly Awesome story.. best wishes from Australia ✌️🍷🖤

[tracicomstock]

So awesome! I am an educated God fearing Appalachian Hill Billy woman!

[Mountainmanfingerpicker]

Well told and I can relate. I speak fluent hillbilly and I come by it honestly..

[audramatney]

Just found this channel friend it brings me back to the good times where I grew up in the sw part of VA I had to move to the east coast of VA to make a living but I have home on top of the mountain in the Great Appalachia I will go back when I retire keep them video's coming I feel at home when I watch them Great video friend

[JimKendrick-sk]

My Dad and Mom are from south east Kentucky the greatest people i know are from the south and i would not trade them for anything in the world thank you for this video .God Bless

[stonereaper]

I'm so glad I found this channel I'm from Appalachia and my favorite thing is our lore
Thank you for your time and effort

[LordoftheOzarks]

The Gods needed a strong, trustworthy, and passionate people to watch over the mountains, woods, and streams. Someone to appreciate the bounty of the land and make the finest whiskey. Someone to teach children how to fish and hunt and gather and grow food. The Gods needed a people to remind everyone else that life dont have to be so damn fast and complicated....So they made hillbillies. Bless us all. I love my folk.

[CagleConcepts]

What an amazing story! Thank you so much for your information about our heritage of the Hillbilly! ❤️

[yayakelley]

Growing up in the 70’s in Michigan I happened to use the term “Hillbilly Music”. I was probably about 9 at the time. My dad and his best friend John were having drinks and listening to Ernest Tubb albums. Btw, my dads best friend John Brule was the president of the Ernest Tubb fan club as well as a friend of his. Anyway, John asked me “do you know what the definition of a hillbilly is?’ I of course said “people in the south”. At that point he asked me to grab the massive dictionary in every home at the time. Using his pointer finger he scanned the words and fell on hillbilly. According to the Webster dictionary the definition of hillbilly was a Michigan farmer! I couldn’t believe it! From that moment on the term hillbilly was something I took pride in!

[CherokeeBird]

Ive done extensive research on my ancestry, and I was blown away to discover my Scottish roots. My ancestors lived in Stirling Castle in Scotland ❤

[vintagegal]

Thank you for this really informative piece of history. I had a high school teacher (many, many moons ago) that told us a different version. He told our class that since so many English settled in the Appalachian Mountains during the 17th and 18th centuries, they became known as the Mountain Williams, after William Shakespeare. Eventually, the name was shortened to Hillbillies. My family on both sides, but mainly my dad, were Scottish, Irish, English and Welsh and I have found that a lot came from Kentucky, Tennessee and Pennsylvania.

[elizabethbarringer]

Thank you I really enjoyed this one. JD you are not just the storyteller you are also a teacher I really learned something here and found it entertaining as well. Love to see a video about the music and its history and how it was stolen keep up the great work and the great music thank you.

[pughoneycutt]

I consider hillbilly to be the ultimate compliment. Hillbilly and dam proud of it!

[lordhumungus]

you are a proud people! greetings from Croatia!