Surname Sullevan - Meaning and Origin
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Sullevan: What does the surname Sullevan mean?
Sullevan is a variant of the surname Sullivan, originating from Ireland. The name Sullevan/Sullivan is derived from the Irish Gaelic "Ó Súileabháin," which primarily means "descendant of the little dark-eyed one". It is a patronymic name where "Ó" signifies "descendant of" or "grandson of", and "Súileabháin" breaks down into "Súil" meaning "eye", "Dubh" meaning "black" or "dark", and the diminutive suffix "án". Hence its interpretation as the descendant of the little dark-eyed one. This surname sprang from a family that was very influential in Ireland, with members who were notable in areas like military, politics, and the arts. Over time, many variations of the spelling emerged, including Sullevan, due to the Anglicization of Irish surnames. This surname is now spread and found in many English-speaking countries around the world, carried by Irish diaspora.
Order DNA origin analysisSullevan: Where does the name Sullevan come from?
The last name Sullevan is not particularly common today. It is a surname of Irish origin and is most commonly found in Ireland, as well as parts of the United Kingdom, United States, and Canada.
In Ireland, the last name is most common in the County of Limerick, where records have found over 500 persons with the name today. The name is of Gaelic origin and derived from the Irish phrase ‘O’ Suilbhean’ which means ‘Descendant of Sullebhan’. The first part of the name is believed to come from the old Irish male name ‘Suileabhán’ meaning ‘dark eyed’.
In the United Kingdom, the last name Sullevan is more widely dispersed. Records show that the most notable concentrations of the name are in the city of Southampton, as well as the English counties of Kent and Sussex.
In the United States, the last name is most prominent in the states of New York and Massachusetts. The frequency of the name in New York is particularly high, due to immigration of Irish immigrants to the state during the 19th century.
In Canada, the name Sullevan continues to be found today, especially in the provinces of Ontario and Quebec. Ontario, being one of the main entry points for Irish immigrants and their families during the 19th century, continues to have a large Irish-Canadian population.
Overall, the population with the last name Sullevan is small but scattered across the world. Its greatest number of bearers are in Ireland, however, it is still found in the United Kingdom, United States, and Canada.
Variations of the surname Sullevan
Sullevan is a rare surname that is believed to have originated in the mid-17th century in the west of Ireland. The variants, spellings, and surnames of this surname are Suileabhan, Suileaban, Suileabhain, Soulevan, O'Suilleabhin, O'Suilleaban, and O'Suilleabhain.
The Irish surname Sullevan is derived from the Gaelic words "Suile", which means "eye", and "abhainn", which means "river or stream". The surname was created by mashing these two words together to create "Suileabhainn", which would have evolved and changed over the centuries to the various spellings we now see.
The modern spelling of Sullevan is most commonly associated with the Suileabhan name. It can be found in many records throughout Ireland, particularly in western counties such as Galway and Donegal.
The variations of Sullevan are often used interchangeably, depending on the county and area of origin. In most cases though, the original spelling of Suileabhainn is the one used most prominently.
The associated surnames of O'Suilleabhin, O'Suilleaban, and O'Suilleabhain are derived from "abhainn" by placing the prefix of "O'" before the surname. This prefix suggests a lineage of birthright, and is often found alongside the other associated spellings and surnames.
Overall, the various spellings and surnames related to the rare and uncommon surname of Sullevan are derived from the Gaelic origin of the words "suile" and "abhainn". These two words were blended together to create the original Suileabhainn name, which has since evolved into the Sullevan name used today.
Famous people with the name Sullevan
- Marshall A. Sallivan: Officer and Chief of Engineers of the United States Army, and a major figure in the development of American infrastructure during the 19th century.
- Katie Sullivan: American physicist and computer scientist who discovered the first successful antidote for the superbug Clostridioides difficile.
- Carleen Sullivan: American author and illustrator known for her Young Adult fiction.
- Darryl Sullivan: Australian actor, best known for his role as Doug in the Australian television series 'Neighbours'.
- Rebecca Sullivan: Canadian ice dancer who competed with partner Graeme Nielsen at the 2014 Canadian Figure Skating Championships.
- Charlie Sullivan: American actor and producer, known for his role in the 1993 film 'Carlito’s Way'.
- Alexa Sulivan: American professional surfer who competes on the WSL Championship Tour and was the 2018 WSL Women’s Longboard World Champion.
- Emily Sullavan: Co-founder of Knot & Bow, a Brooklyn-based home decor and stationery company.
- Sue Sullevan: American Olympic athlete who competed in the 1948 Summer Olympics in London, and won two bronze medals in the 100m and 200m races.
- Brad Sullevan: Retired American professional basketball player. He was drafted in the first round of the 1975 NBA Draft by the Boston Celtics.