Why are the Welsh Celts dark, while the Scots Celts are mainly fair in their colouring?

Question

The Welsh are considered to be the only Northern Europeans considered to be predominantly dark-haired, dark-eyed, and olive skinned. Yet, the Celtic peoples of Scotland are predominantly fair. Interestingly enough, the Irish seem to take a middle ground with most posessing dark hair but blue eyes. Because of their dark colouring are the Welsh in actuality descendents of Romans and not Celts?

Answer 1

To clear the mud from the 2nd answer.... the WORD "Welsh" is indeed Germanic, it was the early English word for "foreigner". Typical piece of English arrogance, to call the Britons foreigners in their own country.

Brief history summary to clarify the previous answer and also respond to your question..... in the 5th century AD when the Roman legions left, Roman Britain remained a political unit, but under pressure from invaders, both Celtic and Germanic. The peoples of Ireland and of Britain beyond the Forth-Clyde valley Roman border were both Celtic. By 700 AD, political control of most of what is now England had fallen to the Germanic invaders ie the English, and the words "Cymraeg" in their own language and "Wealas" (Welsh) in English were in use to refer to the Britons and to their remaining kingdoms in western and northern Britain. The dark-haired olive-skinned Welsh of Wales today are the descendants of the Welsh of AD700.

But genetically the predominant inheritance of the English and the Scots of today is also that of the Britons. What makes the visible difference is the influx of Nordic immigrants. Geneticists reckon the number of Germanic settlers into England during the Anglo-Saxon conquest period is around 100,000 -- so maybe 5% of the population of what is now England at that time. The numerically larger influence was the Vikings, who came as raiders in the 9th century and then as colonists and rulers down through the 11th. The Viking impact was strongest in Scotland and in eastern England.

In addition, bear in mind the climate in Scotland promotes low-melanin skin. Wales is just as wet, but somewhat warmer on average.

There is no sign of a significant Roman influence on the British gene pool. But do bear in mind that the Irish culture says that the current people of Ireland are descendants of the "sons of Mil" who came from Spain. Genetic science does not contradict this legend.

Answer 2

Most people of European descent today can count on some Celtic ancestry. A typical impression of a Celt today is the short, dark haired Irishman. But by all ancient accounts the Celts were tall and fair of skin and hair. "True" Celts today do not really exist, the closest examples are the Highlanders of Perthshire and Northwest Scotland the families of the old ruling race in Ireland and Wales. Over the centuries the racial characteristics of the pre-Celt inhabitants of Europe has surfaced, the Celts typically settled in areas as a ruling class and held themselves apart from those there before them. The Celts, forming a strong warrior class, typically were at the forefront of battles and perished more numerously than the "subject" people. They never set themselves up to leave a lasting legacy in the racial traits of modern people. The main contribution of the Celts has been largely a cultural one, influencing the development of most of Europe and leaving the Celtic heritage of Scotland, Ireland and Wales.