(Celtic) the Irish O’Suileabhain = Descendant of Suileab(h)an, i.e. Light or White Eye [v. O'-, and + súil, an eye + a phon. insertion + the genit. of bán, light, white]

Ó Súileabháin There were several sub-septs, e.g. O’Sullivan Beare, of this leading sept of the Munster Eoghanacht. Bibl; IF 270 etc; Map Cork and Kerry

(Irish) Grandson of Suileabhan (black-eyed).

This popular Irish surname comes from the Gaelic O’Suileabhain meaning ‘descendant of Suileabhain’. The exact meaning of the Gaelic Suileabhain is uncertain, but it is thought to mean ‘black-eyed’ for the first syllable is undisputably derived from the word ‘suil’ meaning ‘an eye’-as in the similar surname O’Sullaghan which derives from the Gaelic O’Suileachain meaning ‘quick-eyed’. The last part of the name may derive from some obsolete forename whose origins are now lost in the mists of time. There is speculation that it has a descriptive meaning which would compound with ‘eye’. The most likely meanings of the name according to this interpretation are ‘black-eyed’, ‘one-eyed’ or ‘hawk- eyed’.

Sullivan (or O’Sullivan, which means ‘son of or descendant of Sullivan’) is the most numerous name in Munster, and indeed the third most popular in all Ireland. The first O’Sullivans came from South Tipperary, but were driven north in the path of the Anglo-Norman invasions. They soon established themselves as the leading family clan in Munster.

This name does not appear in the early records (which are largely English and cover the mainland). The Sullivans first came to England and Scotland in appreciable numbers during the great emigrations of the nineteenth century. Here they can be found to this day in large numbers, especially in Liverpool, Glasgow, Manchester and London. However, the heaviest concentrations of O’Sullivans still crop up in Ireland. One of these is in the small seaside village of Waterville in Kerry on the far south-west coast of Ireland. Here, there are so many O’Sullivans in the village that until recently every shop and bar in the main street was called ‘O’Sullivan’s’.

To this day, the most popular of all light operas remain those written by Gilbert and Sullivan, The Mikado, HMS Pinafore and Trial by Jury being their most-performed works. Sir Arthur Seymour Sullivan (1842—1900) was the musical half of the partnership and also composed several successful sym­phonies and concertos in his youth. He also wrote that epitome of Victorian parlour songs, ‘The Lost Chord’.

Perhaps the greatest of all American prize-fighters was the celebrated John L. Sullivan (1858—1918). ‘The Great John L.’ could not only knock out all comers with his fists, he could also drink all comers under the table. He earned over $1 million in his career, and his flamboyant personality contributed to his legendary status. Ironically, later in life, reformed by his second wife, he ended up lecturing on the temperance circuit.

Cartoon character Felix the Cat was the creation of the Australian newspaper cartoonist, Pat Sullivan (1887—1933), who emigrated to the US.

Places and geographic features incorporating the name Sullivan are relatively rare. Only the United States has towns which are so named-5 called Sullivan and one Sullivanville. Canada has a Sullivan lake as well as 2 named O’Sullivan, also a Sullivan Bay. Off the coast of Burma there is a Sullivan Island.

In England, Scotland and Wales Sullivan is not common enough to be counted separately. In Ireland with about 46,000 namesakes Sullivan is the 3rd most popular surname. Around the world Sullivans are most common in Auckland (one in 556 families), Canberra (one in 742) and Sydney (one in 836). In the United States there are an estimated 241,000 Sullivans-making this the country’s 79th most popular surname.