The Suffolk evolved from the mating of Norfolk Horn ewes with Southdown rams in the Bury St Edmunds area, these sheep were known as Southdown Norfolks. A man named Arthur Young stated that they should be called Suffolks and the first flock book was established in 1887. Today Suffolks are used primarily as a terminal sire and crossed with many different breeds of ewes to produce well shaped lambs for meat production.