Earl of Sutherland

Earldom of Sutherland
Gules, three mullets or, on a bordure of the second a double tressure flory counterflory of the first
Creation date	1230
Created by	Alexander II of Scotland
Peerage	Peerage of Scotland
First holder	William de Moravia
Present holder	Alistair Charles St Clair Sutherland, 25th Earl of Sutherland
Heir presumptive	Lady Rachel Elizabeth Sutherland, Mistress of Sutherland
Remainder to	heirs general of the body of the grantee
Subsidiary titles	Lord Strathnaver
Seat(s)	House of Tongue Dunrobin Castle
Motto	Sans peur ("Fearless") [1]

Earl of Sutherland is a title in the Peerage of Scotland. It was created circa 1230 for William de Moravia and is the premier earldom in the Peerage of Scotland. The earl or countess of Sutherland is also the chief of Clan Sutherland.

History

The original line of earls of Sutherland had the surname "de Moravia" although they sometimes used the surname "Sutherland", taken from their hereditary title. The name de Moravia meant "of Moray" or "of Murray". The de Moravias who were earls of Sutherland and chiefs of Clan Sutherland, arguably shared their early paternal ancestry with the chiefs of Clan Murray through their shared progenitor Freskin de Moravia. Various branches of the Murray Clan claim descent from Freskin, including those who were earls and later dukes of Atholl. Current research is underway via male-line Y-DNA studies in collaboration with both branches of these clans to determine if any modern branches share an early medieval ancestor. From Robert, 6th Earl (d. 1444) onward the surname Sutherland was used.

Elizabeth Sutherland, 10th Countess of Sutherland (1470–1535) married Adam Gordon, a younger son of George Gordon, 2nd Earl of Huntly, chief of Clan Gordon. Their first son is Alexander Gordon, Master of Sutherland, whose descendants were several of the next earls of Sutherland, who all used the surname Gordon. The title was again held by a long string of men, until the death of William Gordon, 18th earl, without sons, when the title passed to his daughter Elizabeth, 19th Countess of Sutherland (1765–1839).

The 19th Countess of Sutherland then married George Granville Leveson-Gower in 1785; he inherited the title of Marquess of Stafford from his father in 1803. The marquess held vast lands and wealth, having inherited from his father, the first marquess of Stafford, from his maternal uncle, the second duke of Bridgewater, and also holding much property associated with the Earldom of Sutherland, which belonged to his wife. He was made Duke of Sutherland in 1833.

The duke's son, also named George, inherited the Earldom of Sutherland from his mother and the Dukedom of Sutherland from his father. The two titles continued united in the Leveson-Gower family until the death of the fifth duke in 1963. The earldom passed to his niece Elizabeth, 24th Countess of Sutherland (1921–2019), while the dukedom had to pass to a male heir and was inherited by John Egerton, 5th Earl of Ellesmere (1915–2000).

The subsidiary title associated with the earldom is Lord Strathnaver (created 1230), which is used as a courtesy title by the earl's or countess's eldest son and heir. (There is no evidence of Sutherland use of this title from 1230 although later on the Gordons adopted it, but it was never formally approved by king or government. The title is disputed by Clan Mackay whose early chiefs are all titled "of Strathnaver" from Iye MacAiodh 1st of Strathnaver (b. about 1210) to at least Sir Donald Mackay who was created as the first Lord Reay in 1628. There is independent evidence of the recognition of this title in reference to "the noble Angus Aodh of Strathnaver" in a charter to Angus by the Lord of the Isles in 1415, in a 1504 'Gift of Non-entry' by James IV: "our lovit Y Mcky in Strathnaver". The title is also implicit in the 1517 bond of friendship between Adam Gordon and Aodh Mackay and then his son John's 1518 renewed bond that refers to John Mackay as "of Strathnaver". Other confirmations are from 1540 in a charter from the Bishop of Caithness : "Donald Mackay of Strathnaver", a 1623 Privy Council commission: "Sir Donald Mackay of Strathnaver". ^{[2] [3]} )

The family seat is Dunrobin Castle, near Golspie, Sutherland in Scotland.

Ancestors of the earls of Sutherland

Lozenge-shaped arms of the Countess of Sutherland

Different sources give different accounts of the ancestors of the earls of Sutherland. The generally accepted ancestry is that William de Moravia (William Sutherland), 1st Earl of Sutherland in the peerage of Scotland (died 1248) was the son of Hugh de Moravia, who in turn was a grandson of Freskin, a Flemish knight. ^[4] William Fraser, writing in the 19th century gives a similar account but states that Hugh was actually the son of Freskin, rather than his grandson. ^[5] Sir Robert Gordon (1580–1656), the 17th century historian of the House of Sutherland, and a younger son of Alexander Gordon, 12th Earl of Sutherland, stated that William de Moravia (William Sutherland), 1st Earl of Sutherland (died 1248) was the son of Hugh, Earl of Sutherland who was nicknamed Hugh Freskin, who was in turn son of Robert Sutherland (Earl of Sutherland and founder of Dunrobin Castle), who was son of Walter Southerland (Earl of Sutherland), who was son of Alane Southerland, Thane of Sutherland. ^[6]

Earls of Sutherland

Dunrobin Castle has similar architecture and partly exposed semi-green foundations as some medieval French castles such as Josselin Castle but is of the pan-19th century Scottish Baronial architecture with a formal French garden and is the seat of the Earls or Countesses of Sutherland – a title which passes to eldest female heirs on lack of male heirs.

Although the original line of earls had the surname "de Moravia" in the direct male line, historian Sir Robert Gordon, 1st Baronet, who was a younger son of Alexander Gordon, 12th Earl of Sutherland, states in his book A Genealogical History of the Earldom of Sutherland that the original line in fact used the surname "Sutherland". ^[7] According to modern historians of the Cambridge University Press, from Robert, 6th Earl onwards they used the surname Sutherland. ^[8]

• William de Moravia, 1st Earl of Sutherland (William Sutherland) (c. 1210–1248)
• William de Moravia, 2nd Earl of Sutherland (William Sutherland) (c. 1235–1307)
• William de Moravia, 3rd Earl of Sutherland (William Sutherland) (died 1330)
• Kenneth de Moravia, 4th Earl of Sutherland (Kenneth Sutherland) (c. 1270–1333)
• William de Moravia, 5th Earl of Sutherland (William Sutherland) (c. 1312–1370)
• Robert Sutherland, 6th Earl of Sutherland (c. 1350–1444)
• John Sutherland, 7th Earl of Sutherland (c. 1390–1460)
• John Sutherland, 8th Earl of Sutherland (1435–1508)
• John Sutherland, 9th Earl of Sutherland (died 1514)
• Elizabeth Sutherland, 10th Countess of Sutherland (1470–1535) (younger sister of the 9th Earl, she married Adam Gordon, younger son of George Gordon, 2nd Earl of Huntly)
  • Alexander Gordon, Master of Sutherland (son of Elizabeth) (c.1505–1530)
• John Gordon, 11th Earl of Sutherland (c. 1526–1567)
• Alexander Gordon, 12th Earl of Sutherland (c. 1552–1594)
• John Gordon, 13th Earl of Sutherland (1576–1615)
• John Gordon, 14th Earl of Sutherland (1609–1679)
• George Gordon, 15th Earl of Sutherland (1633–1703)
• John Gordon, 16th Earl of Sutherland (1661–1733) (changed his surname from Gordon to Sutherland)
• William Sutherland, 17th Earl of Sutherland (1708–1750)
• William Sutherland, 18th Earl of Sutherland (1735–1766)
• Elizabeth Sutherland, 19th Countess of Sutherland (1765–1839), wife of George Leveson-Gower, 1st Duke of Sutherland
• George Granville Sutherland-Leveson-Gower, 2nd Duke of Sutherland, 20th Earl of Sutherland (1786–1861)
• George Granville William Sutherland-Leveson-Gower, 3rd Duke of Sutherland, 21st Earl of Sutherland (1828–1892)
• Cromartie Sutherland-Leveson-Gower, 4th Duke of Sutherland, 22nd Earl of Sutherland (1851–1913)
• George Granville Sutherland-Leveson-Gower, 5th Duke of Sutherland, 23rd Earl of Sutherland (1888–1963)
• Elizabeth Sutherland, 24th Countess of Sutherland (1921–2019)
• Alistair Sutherland, 25th Earl of Sutherland (born 1947)

Present peer

Alistair Charles St Clair Sutherland, 25th Earl of Sutherland (born 7 January 1947) is the son of Charles Noel Janson and Elizabeth, Countess of Sutherland. At birth, he was given the names Alistair Charles St. Clair Janson; in 1963 he became Lord Strathnaver, when he also changed his surname to Sutherland. He was educated at Eton College and Christ Church, Oxford, graduating BA. ^[9]

He worked for the Metropolitan Police between 1969 and 1974 and for IBM between 1976 and 1979. ^[9]

On 9 December 2019, he succeeded as Earl of Sutherland in the peerage of Scotland (created 1235). ^[9]

On 29 November 1968, as Strathnaver, he married firstly Eileen Elizabeth Baker, daughter of Richard Wheeler Baker; they were divorced in 1980, ^[9] having had two daughters:

• Lady Rachel Elizabeth Sutherland, Mistress of Sutherland (born 1970) ^[9]
• Lady Rosemary Millicent Sutherland (born 1972) ^[9]

On 21 March 1980, Sutherland married secondly Gillian Murray, daughter of Robert Murray, and they had a son and a daughter: ^[9]

• Alexander Charles Robert Sutherland, Lord Strathnaver (1981–2022) ^[10]
• Lady Elizabeth Sutherland (born 1984) ^[9]

Sutherland's heir apparent, Alexander, Lord Strathnaver, died in a fall at cliffs near Thurso Castle on 3 September 2022. ^[10] The present heir presumptive is Sutherland's eldest daughter, Lady Rachel Sutherland, Mistress of Sutherland. ^[9]

Line of succession

• Elizabeth Sutherland, 24th Countess of Sutherland (1921–2019)
  • Alistair Charles St. Clair Sutherland, 25th Earl of Sutherland (born 1947)
    • (1). Rachel Elizabeth Sutherland, Mistress of Sutherland (born 1970)
    • (2). Rosemary Millicent Sutherland (born 1972)
    • (3). Elizabeth Sutherland Costin (born 1984)
      • (4). Isaac Sutherland Costin (born 2015)
  • (5). The Hon. Martin Dearman Sutherland Janson (born 1947)
    • (6). Nicholas George Sutherland Janson (born 1977)
    • (7). Benjamin Edward Sutherland Janson (born 1979)
      • (8). Wilfred Bertie Sutherland Janson (born 2011)
      • (9). Poppy Islay Sutherland Janson (born 2008)
      • (10). Isabella Rose Sutherland Janson (born 2013)
    • (11). Alexander Martin Sutherland Janson (born 1981)
    • (12). Christopher David Sutherland Janson (born 1984)
  • (13). Lady Annabell Elizabeth Hélène Bainton (born 1952)
    • (14). Alice Elizabeth Vernon Prescott (born 1985)

v t e  Gordon, Leveson-Gower, and Egerton family trees: Earls Gower, Marquesses of Stafford, Earls and Dukes of Sutherland and subsidiary titles

Earl of Sutherland and Lord Strathnaver, 1228 or 1231 William de Moravia a.k.a. Sutherland c. 1210–1248 1st Earl of Sutherland and Lord Strathnaver William de Moravia a.k.a. Sutherland c. 1235–1307 2nd Earl of Sutherland and Lord Strathnaver William de Moravia a.k.a. Sutherland (fl. Early 14th century) 3rd Earl of Sutherland and Lord Strathnaver Kenneth de Moravia a.k.a. Sutherland d. 1333 4th Earl of Sutherland and Lord Strathnaver William de Moravia a.k.a. Sutherland d. 1370 5th Earl of Sutherland and Lord Strathnaver Robert Sutherland d. 1444 6th Earl of Sutherland and Lord Strathnaver John Sutherland d. 1460 7th Earl of Sutherland and Lord Strathnaver Alex Sutherland d. 1456 Master of Sutherland John Sutherland d. 1508 8th Earl of Sutherland and Lord Strathnaver John Sutherland d. 1514 9th Earl of Sutherland and Lord Strathnaver Elizabeth Sutherland d. 1535 10th Countess of Sutherland and Lady Strathnaver Earldom of Sutherland resigned, 1527 Alexander Gordon c. 1505-1530 Earl of Sutherland and Lord Strathnaver, 1527 John Gordon 1525–1567 11th Earl of Sutherland and Lord Strathnaver Alexander Gordon d. 1594 12th Earl of Sutherland and Lord Strathnaver John Gordon 1576–1615 13th Earl of Sutherland and Lord Strathnaver John Gordon 1609–1679 14th Earl of Sutherland and Lord Strathnaver George Gordon 1633–1703 15th Earl of Sutherland and Lord Strathnaver John Gordon 1661–1733 16th Earl of Sutherland and Lord Strathnaver Baron Gower of Sittenham in the County of York, 1703 William Gordon 1683–1720 Lord Strathnaver John Leveson-Gower 1675–1709 1st Baron Gower, 5th Baronet Earl Gower and Viscount Trentham of Trentham in the County of Stafford, 1746 William Sutherland 1708–1750 17th Earl of Sutherland and Lord Strathnaver John Leveson-Gower 1694–1754 1st Earl Gower, Viscount Trentham, 2nd Baron Gower Marquess of Stafford, 1786 William Sutherland 1735–1766 18th Earl of Sutherland and Lord Strathnaver Granville Leveson-Gower 1721–1803 1st Marquess of Stafford, 2nd Earl Gower, Viscount Trentham, 3rd Baron Gower Duke of Sutherland, 1833 Viscount Granville, of Stone Park in the County of Stafford, 1815 Earl Granville (2nd creation) and Baron Leveson of Stone Park in the County of Stafford, 1833 Lady Elizabeth Sutherland 1765–1839 19th Countess of Sutherland and Lady Strathnaversuo jure George Granville Leveson-Gower 1758–1833 1st Duke of Sutherland, 2nd Marquess of Stafford, 3rd Earl Gower and Viscount Trentham, 4th Baron Gower Granville Leveson-Gower 1773–1846 1st Earl Granville, Viscount Granville, and Baron Leveson Earl of Ellesmere and Viscount Brackley of Brackley in the County of Northampton, 1846 George Granville Sutherland-Leveson-Gower 1786–1861 2nd Duke of Sutherland, 3rd Marquess of Stafford, 20th Earl of Sutherland and Lord Strathnaver, 4th Earl Gower and Viscount Trentham, 5th Baron Gower Francis Egerton 1800–1857 1st Earl of Ellesmere and Viscount Brackley George Granville Sutherland-Leveson-Gower 1828–1892 3rd Duke of Sutherland, 4th Marquess of Stafford, 21st Earl of Sutherland and Lord Strathnaver, 5th Earl Gower and Viscount Trentham, 6th Baron Gower George Granville Francis Egerton 1823–1862 2nd Earl of Ellesmere and Viscount Brackley Granville George Leveson-Gower 1815–1891 2nd Earl Granville, Viscount Granville, and Baron Leveson George Granville Sutherland-Leveson-Gower 1850–1858 Earl Gower Cromartie Sutherland-Leveson-Gower 1851–1913 4th Duke of Sutherland, 5th Marquess of Stafford, 22nd Earl of Sutherland and Lord Strathnaver, 6th Earl Gower and Viscount Trentham, 7th Baron Gower Francis Charles Granville Egerton 1847–1914 3rd Earl of Ellesmere and Viscount Brackley George Granville Sutherland-Leveson-Gower 1888–1963 5th Duke of Sutherland, 6th Marquess of Stafford, 23rd Earl of Sutherland and Lord Strathnaver, 7th Earl Gower and Viscount Trentham, 8th Baron Gower Lord Alastair St Clair 1890–1921 Sutherland-Leveson-Gower John Francis Granville Scrope Egerton 1872–1944 4th Earl of Ellesmere and Viscount Brackley Thomas Henry Frederick Egerton 1876–1953 Granville George Leveson-Gower 1872–1939 3rd Earl Granville, Viscount Granville, and Baron Leveson William Spencer Leveson-Gower 1880–1953 4th Earl Granville, Viscount Granville, and Baron Leveson Elizabeth Millicent Sutherland 1921–2019 24th Countess of Sutherland and Lady Strathnaversuo jure John Sutherland Egerton 1915–2000 6th Duke of Sutherland, 7th Marquess of Stafford, 5th Earl of Ellesmere and Viscount Brackley, 8th Earl Gower and Viscount Trentham, 9th Baron Gower Reginald Cyril Egerton 1905–1992 Granville James Leveson-Gower 1918–1996 5th Earl Granville, Viscount Granville, and Baron Leveson Alastair Charles St Clair Sutherland b. 1947 25th Earl of Sutherland and Lord Strathnaver Francis Ronald Egerton b. 1940 7th Duke of Sutherland, 8th Marquess of Stafford, 6th Earl of Ellesmere and Viscount Brackley, 9th Earl Gower and Viscount Trentham, 10th Baron Gower (Granville George) Fergus Leveson-Gower b. 1959 6th Earl Granville, Viscount Granville, and Baron Leveson Rachel Elizabeth Sutherland b. 1970 styled Mistress of Sutherland Alexander Charles Robert Sutherland 1981–2022 styled Lord Strathnaver James Granville Egerton b. 1975 styled Marquess of Stafford George James Leveson-Gower b. 1999 Heir presumptive to the Earldom of Sutherland Heir apparent to the Dukedom of Sutherland and Earldom of Ellesmere Heir apparent to the Earldom of Granville

See also

• Clan Sutherland
• Lord Duffus
• Duke of Sutherland
• Leveson-Gower family

References

1. Mosley, Charles, ed. (2003). Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knighthood (107 ed.). Burke's Peerage & Gentry. p. 3824. ISBN   0-9711966-2-1.
2. Grimble, Ian (1965) Chief of Mackay, Routledge & Keegan Paul, London
3. Mackay, Angus(1906), The Book of Mackay,Norman Macleod, Edinburgh
4. Sutherland, Malcolm (1996). A Fighting Clan, Sutherland Officers: 1250 – 1850. Avon Books. p. 3. ISBN   1-897960-47-6.
5. Fraser, Sir William (1892). The Sutherland Book. Vol. 1. Edinburgh: s.n. pp.  4-5 and contents . Retrieved 18 January 2021.
6. Gordon, Robert (1813) [Printed from original manuscript 1580 – 1656]. A Genealogical History of the Earldom of Sutherland. Edinburgh: Printed by George Ramsay and Co. for Archibald Constable and Company Edinburgh; and White, Cochrance and Co. London.
7. Gordon, Robert (1813) [Printed from original manuscript 1580 – 1656]. A Genealogical History of the Earldom of Sutherland. Edinburgh: Printed by George Ramsay and Co. for Archibald Constable and Company Edinburgh; and White, Cochrance and Co. London. p.  30. William Southerland, the first of that name, Earl of Southerland" (synonymous with "Sutherland") and also to line "Vnto Earle Hugh succeeded his sone William Southerland, Earle of Southerland
8. Greenway, D.E; Pryde, E.B; Roy, S. Porter, eds. (1996). Handbook of British Chronology. Cambridge University Press. p. 521. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
9. Burke's Peerage , volume 3 (2003), page 382
10. "Highland aristocrat Lord Strathnaver dies in accident at cliffs". BBC News. Retrieved 6 September 2022.

External links

• Family tree of the Earls of Sutherland
• Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Sutherland, Earls and Dukes of"  . Encyclopædia Britannica . Vol. 26 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 168–169.