Scotch-Irish is a traditional term for Ulster Scots who later emigrated to what is now the United States ; `` Scots-Irish '' is a more recent form of the American term , the term has usually been Scotch-Irish in America , as evident in Merriam-Webster dictionaries , where the term Scotch-Irish is recorded from 1744 , while Scots-Irish is not recorded until 1972 . and is not to be confused with Irish-Scots , i.e. , recent Irish immigrants to Scotland . Scotch-Irish is a traditional term for Ulster Scots who later emigrated to what is now the United States ; `` Scots-Irish '' is a more recent form of the American term , and is not to be confused with Irish-Scots , i.e. , recent Irish immigrants to Scotland .