Sutherland
A Scottish surname originally meaning “southern land,” taken from the far-north county of Sutherland in Scotland.
The #1,195 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 10,436 Americans shares it.
Etymology
This surname is a locational name from the county of Sutherland in the far north of Scotland. The name is usually explained from Old Norse elements meaning “southern land,” from the perspective of Norse speakers in Orkney and the northern isles. In later English and Scots usage, it was adopted as a place-based surname for people from that district.
History
The name became established as a territorial surname in Scotland, especially among families connected with the county and its ruling line. It later spread widely beyond Scotland through migration, particularly to North America, Australia, and New Zealand. Modern bearers often descend from either the Highland noble house or from later adopters of the regional name.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Despite being in northern Scotland, Sutherland was called the “southern land” by Norse settlers because it lay south of Orkney from their point of view.
From the historical record
“See Souter. SUTHERLAND (Scand.) Bel. to Sutherland, the O.N. Su'Srland = the Southern Land (compared with the Orkneys). SUTHERST (Eng.) Dweller at the South Wood [O.E. iu'tS -1- hyrsi\ luT?HlRY}^-So"thPey. SUTHREN, V. Sothep(a)n. luTL!EFF}^°'^Sutcliff,q.v.”
— Surnames of the United Kingdom: a concise etymological dictionary (2 vols in 1)