If you’re Canadian with Scottish ancestry your descendants likely arrived on the Hector
Hector was a ship that was part of the first significant migration of Scottish settlers to Nova Scotia in 1773.
I recently visited and walked the narrow streets of Pictou, Nova Scotia and discovered the replica of the original ship which is dry docked in the harbour and is currently under restoration.
Photos of my return visit to the Hector in winter 2026.
Hector is a full-rigged Fluyt that was built in the Netherlands before 1750 and landed in Pictou in 1773 with 189 settlers mostly from a village in Scotland named, Loch Broom.
Some of the surnames of those on the ship were, McKay, Sutherland, Fraser, Buchanan, Smith, MacDonald, MacLeod and MacIntosh to name a few.
Good chance when you visit a cemetery throughout Canada and you see some of the names I mentioned on a gravestone, their ancestors likely arrived on the Hector.
Some of the surnames of those arriving on the Hector.
