From Text written in the 5th and 6th centuries BCE (before the common era), the Celts seemed to enter the collective history with the Greeks and Romans. Greeks called them Keltoi (barbarian) the romans called them Gauls ( historical region of western europe encompassing present day France, Luxemburg, Belgium, most of Switzerland, parts of Northern Italy, Netherlands and Germany). They were a diverse group of peoples with somewhat similar cultures speaking a similar language. One theory believes they dated back to around 1200 BCE to a culture known as the Hallstatts. The Hallstatts were a farming society, believed to be exceptionally proficient iron workers.
The Hallstatts are believed to be relatives of the Urnfield culture (1300BCE-750BCE) which developed along the banks of the Danube river some 3000 years ago. Unrfields are believed to be descendants of the Unetice (2300 – 1600 BCE) and Tumulus cultures (1600-1200 BCE). These prehistoric cultures were warrior societies. They are known for burning their dead and burying them in urns in open fields. Archaeological sites have been found all over central Europe containing these urns.
In the British Isles there was a considerable presence of celts referred to as Insular Celts. Insular Celtic language was spoken in England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, and Brittany. It is still spoken today. Written Celtic first emerged in the 6th century BCE, after the Roman invasion. Prior to the Romans, writing was discouraged and even forbidden.
The Gaels (Scotti -latin name) were a separate subdivision of the Celtic culture that shared Briton with various Briton tribes in the centuries following the Roman withdrawal from Briton. After the Roman invasion of southern Gaul, the Gaels fled to the island of Ireland. Some of our ancestors were probably with them.
This information was compiled from numerous current sources. There are certainly other theories of these peoples origins. The story is becoming even more complicated with the expansion of DNA analysis. New DNA evidence suggest their origins may be from somewhere in Central Asia.
Collins Families 