View Sutherland genealogical haplotree
About the Sutherland family
It has long been believed that the families of Sutherland, Moray and Douglas descended in the male line from a common ancestor Freskin, of Flemish origin, who flourished in Scotland in the early 12th century. This view is now well supported by genetic evidence. Genetically these families are part of the R1b genetic group.
The SNP BY48361 appears to be the earliest SNP distinct to the Sutherland surname, so was very likely formed around the time that this became a fixed surname or soon after – perhaps about 1200 or a little later. Since no Sutherland male line descents are known except those from Kenneth, Earl of Sutherland, d 1333, it is almost certain that all those carrying BY48361 descend from Kenneth, who was the brother of William, Earl of Sutherland, a ‘signatory’ of the Declaration of Arbroath.
A significant number of Sutherlands who have taken an advanced Y-DNA test do not carry the SNP BY130907, which has been found in a documented descendant of Kenneth Sutherland, 1st of Forse, b 1352, but may or may not be carried by descendants of Robert, Earl of Sutherland, b 1350.