[9] David I of Scotland who was brought up in the English court, employed such men to keep hold of the wilder parts of his kingdom and granted to Freskin lands in West Lothian.

[9] The ancient Pictish kingdom of Moray (Moireabh in Scottish Gaelic) was also given to Freskin and this put an end to the remnants of that old royal house.

[9] In a series of astute political moves Freskin and his sons inter married with the old house of Moray to consolidate their power.

[8][10] Hugh's younger brother, William de Moravia of Petty, was progenitor of the Clan Murray.

[11] Previously to this younger sons of the family had also taken the surname 'Sutherland', thus creating the cadet branches of the Clan Sutherland.

[10][12] William de Moravia, 5th Earl of Sutherland (William Sutherland), whose wife was Margaret, the daughter of Robert the Bruce and sister of David II of Scotland,[10] led the clan at Kilblene where he participated in the siege of Cupar Castle Fife.

[12] William, Earl of Sutherland accompanied King David II of Scotland into England where both were captured at the Battle of Neville's Cross in 1346, by Durham.

A retaliatory raid by the Mackays on Dornoch took place, where the cathedral was set on fire and many Sutherland men were hanged in the town square.

He married Margaret Stewart, daughter of Alexander, Earl of Buchan, a younger son of King Robert II of Scotland.

[32] In 1545, at Dingwall, the Earl of Sutherland entered into a bond of manrent with John Mackenzie of Kintail for mutual defense against all enemies, reserving only their allegiance to the youthful Mary, Queen of Scots.

[33] In 1547, John Gordon, 11th Earl of Sutherland led the clan against the English army at the Battle of Pinkie Cleugh.

[34] In 1586, the Battle of Leckmelm took place where the Sutherlands, Mackays and MacLeods defeated the Clan Gunn.

In 1645, John Gordon, 14th Earl of Sutherland led the clan against the Royalists at the Battle of Auldearn but was defeated.

[12] Alexander Sutherland, 1st Lord Duffus was a supporter of the National Covenant and as a result his estates, probably those in Morayshire, were attacked by the Royalists.

He was not part of the Scottish army that subsequently marched to England, but was sent from Stirling to Perth to defend it from the attack of Oliver Cromwell, but was forced to surrender the town which he had only occupied for twelve hours previously with just 600 men.

[42][43] In 1719, a detachment of men from the Clan Sutherland fought for the British Government at the Battle of Glenshiel where they helped to defeat the Jacobites.

[12] However, this same Jacobite force under the Earl of Cromartie was defeated by the Clan Sutherland militia,[10] who formed an Independent Highland Company, in what became known as the Battle of Littleferry.

The first was of around 80 men, captained by Robert Macallister who was a senior factor for the Earl of Sutherland and whose lieutenant was Hector Munro of Novar and ensign was John Mackay from Golspie.

[10] The Duke set up businesses on the coast and ruthlessly cleared his tenants off the land, abandoning the customary obligations of a Scottish clan chief.