altaltalt: My grandfather did a lot of research into this in his later years.
On his side of the family, it's mostly a bunch of Bristolian merchants that made their fortune, before it got taken over to Australia. Going further back it's all pirates, smugglers and wreckers with a noteable exception in a chap called Colonel Blood. Stan Laurel is my gran's cousin of a few steps remove.

My dad's side is all highland sheep crofters, though the clan history is pretty spectacular.
( Kroney, Tue 17 Sep 2013, 12:43, 1 reply, 11 years ago)

My Dad's side of the family owned a shipyard many years ago
Needless to say, we didn't inherit any cash
( sporters I’m sincerely gratitude to you, Tue 17 Sep 2013, 12:50, Reply)

It's a pain, because my Grandad could remember having servants as a child in the Thirties.
I spent it all on parachute trousers and Global Hypercolour tshirts, though.
( Kroney, Tue 17 Sep 2013, 12:51, Reply)