Scotland is known for having a relatively homogeneous population with regards to hair color. The most prevalent shades tend to fall within the brown to red color range, which is likely attributable to the country’s Celtic heritage. However, determining the single most common hair color in Scotland requires an examination of data from surveys and studies on hair color distribution across the Scottish population.
Distribution of Hair Colors in Scotland
Several surveys and studies have aimed to identify hair color frequencies across Scotland. Here is a summary of the data on hair color prevalence from a few key sources:
National Records of Scotland Census Data
The National Records of Scotland gathers data on the Scottish population through nationwide census surveys conducted every 10 years. The most recent published census data is from 2011. It reported the following distribution of hair colors among the Scottish population:
| Hair Color | Percentage of Population |
|---|---|
| Brown | 46% |
| Blonde | 29% |
| Red | 13% |
| Black | 7% |
| Other | 5% |
According to the census data, brown hair is by far the most prevalent, with 46% of Scots reporting having brown hair. Blonde hair is second most common at 29%, followed by red hair at 13%. Only 7% reported having black hair, while 5% had other hair colors.
ScotlandsDNA Research Study
ScotlandsDNA is a genetic ancestry testing company based in Scotland. In 2012, they conducted a study on hair color and other genetic traits among their Scottish DNA testing customers. The study included over 5,000 participants living in Scotland who reported all 4 of their biological grandparents were born in Scotland. The results for natural hair color frequencies were:
| Hair Color | Percentage of Population |
|---|---|
| Brown | 59.8% |
| Red | 28.5% |
| Blonde | 7.1% |
| Black | 4.6% |
This study found brown hair to be even more predominant at almost 60% of the population. Red hair came in second at 28.5%, while blonde hair was much lower than the census data at just 7.1%. Black hair remained the least common at 4.6%.
Photographic Survey from University of Glasgow
In a study published in 2018, researchers from the University of Glasgow took photographs of individuals at public venues across Glasgow and Edinburgh. They categorized the natural hair colors based on observation of the photographs. From a sample of 300 individuals:
| Hair Color | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Brown | 44% |
| Red | 39% |
| Blonde | 12% |
| Black | 5% |
This photographic survey found brown hair to be most common at 44%, followed very closely by red hair at 39%. Blonde came in at 12% while black was 5%.
Red Hair Frequency Among Scots
The prevalence of red hair, or ginger hair, in Scotland is worthy of special mention. Scotland has the highest percentage of redheads in the world. Approximately 13% of the Scottish population has red hair, with some estimates even higher at around 15-20%.
The frequency of red hair in Scotland is around 5-10 times higher than the global average of 1-2%. This is likely related to Scotland’s Celtic heritage, as red hair is commonly associated with Celtic ancestry. Parts of Ireland also have a high percentage of redheads for similar reasons.
The red hair gene variant MC1R is thought to be highly prevalent in Scotland. Having just one copy of the red hair MC1R gene variant results in red hair, while having two copies results in fiery red hair. Even non-redheads in Scotland tend to carry the gene variant and can pass red hair on to their children.
While red hair is scattered across Scotland, some areas have an exceptionally high concentration of redheads. Edinburgh, Glasgow, and the Scottish Borders have some of the world’s highest frequencies of people with natural red hair.
Conclusion
Based on the collected survey and research data, brown hair appears to be the most prevalent natural hair color in Scotland. While exact percentage estimates vary from around 44-60% between studies, brown hair consistently comes out as the most common.
The second most common hair color in Scotland is red hair, with anywhere from 13-39% of Scots having natural red hair. This frequency is much higher than any other country due to Scotland’s Celtic genetic background.
Blonde and black hair round out the distribution, but at significantly lower frequencies of around 5-12% and 4-7% respectively.
So in summary, the most common natural hair color amongst the Scottish population is brown, with red a close second. But Scotland stands out for its very high percentage of redheads, which contributes to the unique appearance, history, and culture of the Scottish people. Tracking hair color distribution can reveal fascinating insights into the underlying genetics and ancestry of a population. Further research into regional variations in hair color within Scotland could illuminate additional details about where certain traits and lineages are concentrated.