He infuriated Scots when he accused them of being a nation of scroungers, but Kelvin MacKenzie’s words have come back to bite him after genealogical research revealed that he can count bankrupts, outlaws and even a man charged with being a murderer among his Aberdeenshire ancestors.

According to a family history search conducted by a Sunday newspaper, one of the colourful columnist’s Scottish ancestors went on the run after being accused of murder, while another was a bankrupt who was taken to court for owning money to his own son.

MacKenzie, a former editor of The Sun who is now a commentator in the newspaper’s English edition, caused an uproar with his remarks on the BBC’s Question Time last month, when he claimed that Scots preferred to live off taxes raised in the southeast of England instead of generating wealth for themselves.

“The reality is that Scots enjoy spending it, they don’t enjoy creating it, which is the opposite of down in the south,” he said.

He also accused Scots of “living well beyond their means”.

As well as provoking a backlash among Scots, and a rebuke from Alex Salmond, the First Minister, who called him “a tube”, MacKenzie’s comments were reported to police for alleged racism. After initial inquiries the investigation was scrapped.

However, in his most recent column the journalist repeated his claims and said that he had been praised by many of his fellow countrymen for his comments.

He wrote: “By the way, a week after Question Time I was walking down London’s Regent Street when it seemed virtually every other shopper thanked me for what I said.

“The English are sick and tired of funding the overspend in Scotland on health and education . . .”

Yesterday MacKenzie conceded that his controversial remarks could have described his own ancestors, and promised to reconsider his views.

He said: “What a fantastic family! Surely the whole of Scotland isn’t made up of murderers and bankrupts? I suppose they’ve all moved south.

“I tell you what, it’s no surprise that I ended up as editor of The Sun. I’ve got some criminal blood in me. Excellent!

“I will have to review my views of the Scots in light of this, given my own family was living beyond their means 130 years ago. Although that is actually the position Scots find themselves in today.”

Records at the National Archives of Scotland show that in the late 18th century, several members of the Calder clan, MacKenzie’s forebears, from Lumphanan, in Aberdeenshire, were accused of murder.

David Calder, 20, the tabloid journalist’s great great-great grandfather, faced charges of “murder and culpable homicide”. Also accused were Calder’s brothers Hugh, 22, and George, 25, and another member, Alexander, 36.

The case against David, Hugh and Alexander Calder was abandoned when it reached the High Court of Aberdeen in April 1807. But George, a farmer’s servant, who failed to appear before the judge, was declared an “outlaw from his Majesty’s laws” and a “fugitive”.

The next generation did not fare much better. Robert Calder, MacKenzie’s great-great grandfather, and a farmer, was declared bankrupt – or sequestrated – in 1881. His son, Robert junior, swore that his father owed him 30 months’ wages.

In total, Robert Calder was indebted to the tune of £1,220 – the equivalent of more than £100,000 today – to almost 60 creditors.

Amid the financial chaos Robert Calder’s other son, David – The Sun columnist’s great grandfather – moved to Glasgow, where he gave Highland dancing lessons under the name of MacKenzie because it sounded more Scottish. The family adopted the surname permanently, although MacKenzie has kept Calder as a middle name.

Stuart Cosgrove, the Channel 4 boss and cultural commentator, joked that MacKenzie should now pay for his family’s crimes.

He said: “I am appalled that he comes from such branded and bankrupt ancestry. He should be sent straight to Botany Bay.”

A spokesman for Mr Salmond said: “It’s clear where he gets his colourful conduct from.”

On the offensive

Anne Robinson insulted the Welsh in 2001 while a guest on Room 101 television programme. North Wales Police investigated but took no action. Five years later she told a contestant on The Weakest Link he was being voted off because he was Welsh

Jeremy Paxman called John Reid, then Health Secretary, an “attack dog”. Mr Reid accused the BBC broadcaster of discrimination on the grounds of his working-class Glasgow accent

Jade Goody called Shilpa Shetty, the Bollywood film star, and a fellow contestant on Celebrity Big Brother, “Shilpa Poppadom”. The incident saw Goody ostracised by the public and dropped from lucrative television and magazine contracts Sources: Google and Times database

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