The progenitor of the clan was Freskin, a Flemish mercenary who succeeded in the arduous task of battling the Norsemen, and honours and distinction were bestowed on them that included the Lordship of Sutherland.
With the motto of ‘Without fear’, they were frequently embroiled in vicious inter-clan warfare, particularly with the MacLeods of Assynt, Sinclairs of Caithness and MacKays from the far North West.
Controversially, the Sutherland name became almost synonymous with the cruelties of the Highland Clearances of 1814 to 1820 when the family oversaw the eviction of their tenants to make way for sheep.
