My great-aunt did a lot of research into the history of the paternal side of the family, and my maternal grandfather researched his side. Both sides were traced back to some time in the 18th century, It was quite interesting.
It turns out I'm descended from Irish and German immigrants on the paternal side, and people who fought for and against the Jacobite cause on the maternal side (the ones who were against the Jacobite cause were of Clan Campbell, who were known for being bad b*****ds).