Billy / Billies = Hillbilly / Hillbillies = Scots-irish / Ulster Scots In Northern Island / 1700s

Livewire 103.9
August 2 at 9:29 AM ·
HILLBILLY: The word originated Scots-Irish / Ulster Scots
in Northern Ireland / Ulster who moved into the Appalachian Mountains
in the 1700s.

Billy/Billies was a term meaning "brother, friend or comrade. "Billy Boys" was the term used refering to Ulster Protestants who supported "William of Orange" (aka Billy) in invading England. They were also known to wear red sashes around their necks (coining the term Rednecks) and once the Scots-Irish migrated in droves to the US, they quickly moved into the mountains and hills of Appalachia. The "Billys", now were now comrades of the hills/mountains, and therefore became known as Hillbillies.


Livewire 103.9
August 2 at 9:29 AM