The Sutherland Family
The Sutherland ancestry is that of my birth mother, whose surname I was given on my original birth certificate. Research for this family is new and only in the early stages. As my birthmother and all her siblings are deceased (except for one, who is "missing"), I have not been able to rely on many family oral traditions to uncover my blood ancestry. However, there are little clues in my adoption files and occasional pieces of information forthcoming from other family members, so tracing this family may bear fruit at some point in time.
Surname History
Name Meaning: Sudrland
(the South-Land)
The earliest Sutherlands are descended from Freskin, son of Ollec, a Flemish knight whose lands were in what is now Pembroke, Wales. Feskin was granted, by David I, King of Scots, the conquered lands of Strabrock in West Lothian and Duffas in Moray.
Feskin (or his son William) married into the Picto-Scottish Royal House of Moray, in the tradition of conquering Normans, to consolidate the territory. In the early thirteenth century, the far northern lands of Caithness taken from the Norse were given to Hugh of Moray (son of William) by William the Lion, King of Scots. Hugh's son, William, was made the Earl of Sutherland in about 1235. His descendants became the chiefs of the original Pictish tribe who were the early inhabitants of Caithness before the Viking invasions. Hugh's younger brother, William, became ancestor of the family of Murray.
William, the Fifth Earl of Sutherland, married Margaret, heiress of the House of Bruce, daughter of Robert the Bruce and sister to King David II. Their son was to have been heir to the throne of Scotland, but he died of the plague in 1361, ending the Sutherland succession to Scottish royalty. The title of King of Scots then passed to the Stewarts, although the Sutherlands wielded extensive authority in their earldom.
The history of the Sutherland Clan is tumultuous - murder, ransom, treachery, beheading, conspiracy - all played out over the centuries. However, they were a resilient people and they survived. Even the "Clearances" did not daunt the spirit of these Highlanders. Many found refuge and a new life in the Americas, both Canada and the United States.
The seat of Clan Sutherland is located in Goldspie at Dunrobin Castle ("Robert's Fort"), on the eastern coast of Sutherland. It was originally built in the late 1300's by Robert, the Sixth Earl of Sutherland and son of William by his second marriage. Today it is the seat of the Clan Chief, Elizabeth, Countess of Sutherland, who welcomes kinsmen from all around the world to a meeting of the Clan in 2001.
Name variations: Southerland, Sutherlin
Blazon Description
Gules, three mullets or, within a tressure
flory-counter-flory of the first
Sutherland Motto
Sans Peur
(Without Fear)
Sutherland Ancestors
Until 1997, this family was completely unknown to me. However, in conversation with my siblings and their father, I have learned some very interesting things about this birth family of mine. Hopefully, with time, the lives of my ancestors will unfold.
Of particular interest is the life of William James Sutherland. Born in South Portland, Maine, he was at one time a stand-in for Douglas Fairbanks Sr. Although, the movie(s) have not been verified at this time, we are still searching for mention of him in the credits of Fairbanks Sr. movies.
William's son, Armond, is "missing" and presumed dead, according to family members. The reason for his disappearance is unknown, but there had been reports of him being seen in the Boston, MA, area. Private detectives hired by the family were not been able to find him, so he was likely using an alias. Whatever the reason for his disappearance, family members would like to know more about him. Anyone with information about Armond or his whereabouts, please contact me.
