Sutherland

The Sutherlands take their name from the Sudrland, the territory lying to the south of Caithness. It is though that the inhabitants of the district assumed this name.

The Earls of the clan are descended from Freskin, the first of ten Murrays.

The earldom of Sutherland is claimed to be one of the most ancient in Britain, and is alleged to have been given to William, Lord of Sutherland in 1228. He was the direct grandson of Freskin, of the Murrays of Atholl.

The 2nd Earl, fought for Bruce at Bannockburn, and the 3rd Earl was slain at the Battle of Halidon Hill in 1333. The 4th Earl married a daughter of Robert the Bruce.

The Sutherlands had longstanding feuds with many clans, but particularly the MacKays. The line died with no heir in 1514, and was passed to the sister of the Earl, whose husband was Adam Gordon Of Aboyne.

The Gordons had the same problems as their predecessor and the 11th Earl was poisoned, with his wife by Isobel Sinclair at the command of the Earl of Caithness.

The last Gordon Earls of Sutherland died in 1766.