Clan Sutherland
Clan Sutherland is a Highland Scottish clan whose traditional territory is located in the region of Sutherland in the Northern Highlands of Scotland, and was one of the most powerful Scottish clans. The clan seat is Dunrobin Castle, Sutherland. The chief of the clan was also the powerful Earl of Sutherland, however, in the early 16th century this title passed through marriage to a younger son of the chief of Clan Gordon. The progenitor of Clan Sutherland was a Flemish nobleman named Freskin, who was also the progenitor of Clan Murray. It has been claimed that Freskin was Pictish, but it is much more likely that he was a Flemish knight, one of a ruthless group of warlords who were employed by the Norman kings to pacify their new realm after the Norman conquest of England. David I of Scotland, who was brought up in the English court, employed such men to keep hold of the wilder parts of his kingdom and granted Freskin lands in West Lothian. The ancient Pictish kingdom of Moray was also given to Freskin, and this put an end to the remnants of that old royal house. In a series of astute political moves Freskin and his sons inter-married with the old house of Moray to consolidate their power. Freskin's descendants were designated by the surname de Moravia. Freskin's grandson was Hugh de Moravia, who was granted lands in Sutherland and was known as Lord de Sudrland. Hugh's younger brother, William, was progenitor of Clan Murray. Hugh's eldest son (also called William) was William de Moravia, 1st Earl of Sutherland. The place name and clan name of "Sutherland" came from it being the 'land to the south' of the Norse Earldom of Orkney and Caithness. Although the senior line of chiefs who were the Earls of Sutherland had the surname 'de Moravia', they often used the territorial surname 'Sutherland'. The younger sons of the family also took the surname 'Sutherland', thus creating the cadet branches of Clan Sutherland ----- Crest: Motto: Sans Peur (Without Fear) Slogan: Ceann na Drochaide Bige! Region: Highlands District: Sutherland Historic seat: Dunrobin Castle Plant badge: Cotton Sedge Pipe music: The Earl of Sutherland's March Gaelic name: Suithearlarach (Singular) & Na Suithearlaraichean (Plural) Septs: Cheney, Cheyne, Chiene, Clyne, Duffes, Duffus, Federith, Gray, Grey, Keith, Mouat, Mowat(t), Moray, Murray, Norman, O'May Allied Clans: Clan Murray (13th to 16th centuries), Clan Gordon (16th century), Clan Mackay (18th century), Clan Gunn (18th century), Clan Sinclair (18th century), Clan Munro Rival Clans: Clan Murray (18th century), Clan Gordon (18th century), Clan Mackay (14th, 15th & 16th centuries), Clan Gunn (16th century), Clan Sinclair (16th century) Clan branches:
Names associated with the clan: Castles Dunrobin Castle is the seat of the Earl of Sutherland, chief of the Clan Sutherland. As a side note, the massive and stately castle, built to look like a French chateau, was the home of the Sutherland family for centuries. The family became infamous for their part in the Highland Clearances, during which many local crofters were forcibly evicted so the land could be used more profitably rearing sheep. A ghost haunts the upper floors of the castle, and is reputed to be the daughter of the 14th Earl of Sutherland, who was imprisoned by her father to stop her from marrying someone he regarded as unsuitable. She tried to escape down a rope from an upstairs room but fell to her death. Dornoch Castle given to John Gordon, 11th Earl of Sutherland in 1557 by the Bishop of Caithness. Duffus Castle was the seat of the Sutherland of Duffus branch of the clan. Forse Castle was the seat of the Sutherland of Forse branch of the clan. Aberscross Castle near Dornoch, Sutherland was the seat of the Murrays or Morrays of Aberscross, a sept of the Clan Sutherland, they were the principal vassals of the Earl of Sutherland and were charged with the defense of the shire. Their name appears predominantly on the front line in the feuds with the Mackays and Sinclairs. Aberscross Castle fell into ruin in the 17th century. (The name of the original line of Earls of Sutherland was "de Moravia" which means "of Moray" or "of Murray"). Aberscross Castle was held by the de Moravia (Murray) family from when they first moved to Sutherland at the end of the twelfth century. |