The overlaid Saltire and Nordic crosses denote Sutherland's unique history on the mainland where the extent of Viking control met Scotland.

The bicolour of red and yellow represents the Atlantic Ocean and North Sea, which border the county on its west and east coasts respectively.

These, plus the red and yellow colour combination, are taken from the arms borne by Hugh de Moray, Earl of Sutherland.

[4] After a county newspaper, The Northern Times, published the final design, some Sutherland residents expressed disapproval, mainly through social media.

Complaints focused on the colours, said to evoke communism, and that the eagle was crudely drawn and not the best choice to represent the region.