My Sutherland Family~ Did They Live In Dunrobin Castle?

A thought I have been pondering~ Did any members of my Sutherland family ever reside in Dunrobin Castle? Being that said castle is magnificent in its' own right, it is also a castle, which is located in Golspie, Scotland and was built and still owned by the Sutherland family. (The Sutherland Family) It is only that several hundred years later that Sir Charles Barry did an extensive remodel, which he is famous for designing the Houses of Parliament. The Sutherland family may still inhabit this grand castle, but is it my Sutherland family or those of another?

Image Source: Getty Images

Photographer- Giorgio Perbellini

From prior reading, I know that Dunrobin Castle is the seat of Clan Sutherland and the oldest part of the castle dates back to the 13th century and was considered a stronghold of the family. What I wouldn't give to just take the actual grand tour of this place! According to Clan Sutherland, the castle has 189 rooms! Yikes- imagine having to clean that on a daily basis! But what intrigues me the most, is what is inside the castle, not necessarily the magnificent exterior and  its' gardens. Although that would be a pleasure to see too, but it is the artifacts, furniture, art and most of all the families memorabilia that I would like to see firsthand! I can just imagine the history that is on display here at Dunrobin.  
Tour The Castle!

I hope you enjoy the videos! 

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Real Men Wear Kilts

As you may know by reading my past blog entries, I have been researching my Scottish ancestral lines beginning with the Sutherland surname. My ancestors were mainly from the Caithness and Edinburgh region (now called Midlothian, I think). Scottish names are as diverse and colorful as the country they represent. 


There is so much to write about when you think of Scotland. I could write about the culture, food or whiskey, or just the people and I would probably be typing out a blog post that may be uninteresting to some of you, as it would probably be closer to a book than a blog entry. There are many web sites that I could refer you to, just on Scotland's Genealogy, but that would take all the fun out of searching and finding it yourself! 


In all truth, I haven't completed much research this week and feel like I have neglected my poor blog page. I had been trying to post daily on a variety of different topics, but not this week. In today's blog, I will be discussing some of the customs and traditions of my Scotland family. 


Scotland clothing mainly features the tartan (or plaid), which is the traditional dress of the people. Some mainlanders' may think that a man wearing a "dress" is too feminine, therefore that makes the man wearing it, also more feminine. That is certainly not the case. It has more to do with tradition and their own culture than just flouncing around in a skirt all day, every day. The kilt is worn on special occasions much like our suit and tie events that we have in the United States. The Scots mostly wear these kilts to weddings and formal gatherings. 

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http://www.marianachawi.blogspot.com

Many years ago men wore one large sheet of tartan cloth over a long shirt. It was folded in such a way as to form the kilt shape as well as covering the torso and pinned at the shoulder. Have you seen the movie, Braveheart? The kilt was used as a blanket when sleeping outdoors and was easy to move around in. When formal armies were formed, a more robust garment was needed and the kilt as we know it was made.The kilt also represented their own Clan family. There were different kilts that were worn in battle a long time ago, but these were the more muted shades of the same tartan, almost like a camouflage I would imagine.

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Scottish Piper

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Clan Sutherland

Family research is ultimately, a voyage of great discovery. Full of intrigue and fascinating history, it's a pastime that will reward you many times over. You need to fully gain an understanding of what your heritage is all about, not just by researching in the comforts of your home, but by getting first hand accounts by visiting the places your ancestors have come from. I understand that many of you cannot just pick up and go anywhere you please, at the spur of a moment. There are details you must see to and then for most of us, the issue of having enough money to sustain us during a trip. 

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Clan Sutherland

"The dramatic landscapes and seascapes of the north of Scotland are the ancestral homeland of the Sutherland Clan. The chiefs have a long and well documented history, taking their name from the Norse name of the land 'Sudrland', they became the most wealthy and powerful clan in the north of Scotland." (Sutherland Ancestors)

"There were two branches of Clan Sutherland associated with the Sutherland Earls, these were the Sutherlands of Forse and of Duffus, both of which were outside the county of Sutherland itself."

The motto of Clan Sutherland is "Sans Peur", which is French for "Without Fear". The official pipe music of Clan Sutherland is "The Earl of Sutherland's March". This pipe tune has apparently not been published, making it hard to find. 

For more information on Clan Sutherland go to this link:Clan Sutherland Society ~ Official Page

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