Orkney is an archipelago of more than 70 islands in the north of Scotland. It has a long and rich history that dates back to Mesolithic times. One of the clans that held lands in Orkney was **Clan Sinclair**, who were also the Earls of Orkney and Earls of Caithness. Clan Sinclair is a Highland Scottish clan that traces its origin to Normandy and later to Roslin in Lothian. The clan's motto is "Commit thy work to God" and its crest is a cock's head with an oak branch in its beak¹.
Clan Sinclair got Orkney through a series of marriages and grants. According to some sources, the first Sinclair who married into the Orkney earldom was **William Sinclair**, who wedded **Isabel of Orkney**, the daughter of **Malise II**, the Earl of Orkney, around 1330. Their son, **Henry Sinclair**, was granted the earldom of Orkney by **King Haakon VI of Norway** in 1379, as Orkney was then under Norwegian rule. Henry Sinclair was also Lord of Roslin and Lord High Admiral of Scotland. He was succeeded by his son, **Henry II Sinclair**, who was confirmed as Earl of Orkney by **King Eric III of Norway** in 1404. However, in 1468, Orkney was pledged to Scotland by **King Christian I of Denmark and Norway** as part of his daughter's dowry for marrying **King James III of Scotland**. The Sinclairs were then forced to resign their earldom and accept a new Scottish title instead. They retained their lands in Caithness and Roslin though.According to some sources, Orkney and Shetland never operated under the clan system, unlike the Scottish Highlands. Surnames were either based on the father's name (patronymic) or on the place of origin (toponymic), and could change until the 18th century. Therefore, it is unlikely that all the inhabitants of Orkney were considered members of Clan Sinclair, even though they held the earldom. However, some people may have adopted or inherited the Sinclair surname over time, especially if they had ties to Caithness or Roslin.
Some of the common surnames in Orkney are:
- **Sinclair**: As mentioned before, this surname comes from Clan Sinclair who were Earls of Orkney and Caithness¹. It is the most common surname in Orkney according to a census in 1841.
- **Flett**: This surname is thought to derive from a place name in Shetland, another island group near Orkney². It is the second most common surname in Orkney according to the same census.
- **Spence**: This surname may come from an Old French word meaning "dispenser" or "steward", indicating an occupation. It is the third most common surname in Orkney according to the same census¹.
- **Muir**: This surname may come from a Scots word meaning "moor" or "heath", indicating a place of origin³. It is the fourth most common surname in Orkney according to the same census.
Other common surnames in Orkney include Gair, Gilchrist, Gillies, Harcus, Heddle, Kirkness, Linklater, Marwick and Rendall.
(2) A history of names from the Scottish Highlands and Islands. https://www.scotsman.com/whats-on/arts-and-entertainment/history-names-scottish-highlands-and-islands-1475387
(3) Surname Database: Orkney Last Name Origin. https://www.surnamedb.com/Surname/Orkney
(4) Orkney Census Surname Index • FamilySearch. https://www.familysearch.org/en/wiki/Orkney_Census_Surname_Index
(5) Most Common Surnames in Orkney, With Meanings - Forebears. https://forebears.io/scotland/orkney/surnames
(1) Orkneyjar - Orkney Frequently Asked Questions. http://orkneyjar.com/orkney/faq.htm .
(2) History of Orkney - Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Orkney
(3) Orkney, Scotland Genealogy • FamilySearch. https://www.familysearch.org/en/wiki/Orkney,_Scotland_Genealogy
(4) Orkneymen | The Canadian Encyclopedia. https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/orkneymen
(5) Orkney - Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orkney
(6) History of Orkney - Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Orkney
(1) Sinclair Clan History. https://www.scotclans.com/blogs/tu2/sinclair-clan-history
(3) Clan Sinclair History. http://www.clansinclair.org/history.htm
(4) The Sinclair Lineage. http://sinclair.quarterman.org/ian.html
(5) Henry I Sinclair, Earl of Orkney - Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_I_Sinclair,_Earl_of_Orkney
(6) Clan Sinclair - Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clan_Sinclair
(1) History of Orkney - Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Orkney
(2) Orkney Islands | History, Geography, & Facts | Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/place/Orkney-Islands
(3) Orkney - Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orkney
(5) Orkney, Scotland Genealogy • FamilySearch. https://www.familysearch.org/en/wiki/Orkney,_Scotland_Genealogy
