O'Sullivan (surname)

O'Sullivan is a surname of Irish origin. The surname is associated with the southwestern part of Ireland, and was originally found in County Tipperary and Kerry before the Anglo-Norman invasion. It is the third most numerous surname in Ireland. Roughly half of O'Sullivans hail from Ireland, with around 50% of the O'Sullivans residing there.

History consists of ó (Old Irish úa) "grandchild, descendant", and the masculine genitive case of Súileabhán, viz. Súileabhán's grandchild/descendant. The female form in Modern Irish is Ní Shúileabhán; "ní" is the shortened form of iníon uí, iníon "daughter", uí, the genitive of ó "grandchild, descendant".

The etymology of the given name is uncertain. In his book titled The Surnames of Ireland, genealogist Edward MacLysaght states that “while there is no doubt that the basic word is súil (eye) there is a disagreement as to the meaning of the last part of the name.” It is interpreted as súildubhán ⇄ “little dark-eyed one” by Woulfe in Sloinnte Gaedheal is Gall, from súil ⇄ "eye," dubh ⇄ "dark/black," and combined with the diminutive suffix -án. Other suggested etymologies include "one-eyed" and "hawk-eyed."

The original bearer of the name, one Suilebhan mac Maolura, is recorded in legendary Irish genealogy as belonging to the 8th generation after Fíngen mac Áedo Duib, and placed in the 9th century.Irish Family History, Dublin, 1865 p. 237. Genealogy: Óengus mac Nad Froích (d. 489, first Christian king of Munster), Feidlimid mac Óengusa ("Felim"), "Criomthan", "Hugh Dubh", Fíngen mac Áedo Duib ("Flan", d. 618), Seachnusa, Fiacha Laoch, Flan, Dubh-Jonracht, Murrogh, Eigherein, Maolura, Suilebhan.

MacLysaght lists Mac Criomhthain (MacCrohan) and Mac Giolla Chuda (MacGillycuddy) as notable branches of the Súileabhánaigh in County Kerry.

O'Sullivan is the regular anglicization of the Irish name. Less common spelling variants of the name include: Sullavan, Sullivant, Sillivant, Silliphant, and Sillifant.

Some O'Sullivans in the midlands and south Ulster were originally (O) Sullahan (from Ó Súileacháin, probably from súileach, quick-eyed, according to MacLysaght). This surname has now almost entirely changed to Sullivan.

Modern events

On May 30, 2026, a gathering of 1,848 people with the surnames O'Sullivan and Sullivan in Castletownbere, County Cork, was certified by Guinness World Records as the largest recorded gathering of people sharing a surname. The previous record was held by the Gallagher name, set on 9 September 2007 in Letterkenny, County Donegal, Ireland, with 1,488 participants. People with surname

Aisling Clíodhnadh O'Sullivan (born 1984), Irish comedian, actress, and screenwriter Andy O'Sullivan (Irish republican), Irish republican hunger striker

Camille O'Sullivan (born 1975), Irish singer Cormac O'Sullivan, fictional character Cornelius O'Sullivan (1841–1907), Irish brewer's chemist

Daniel O'Sullivan (disambiguation), several people David O'Sullivan (disambiguation), several people Denis O'Sullivan (golfer) (born 1948), Irish golfer Denis J. O'Sullivan (1918–1987), Irish Fine Gael TD from Cork Denise O'Sullivan (born 1994), Irish footballer Derry O'Sullivan (1944–2025), Irish-language poet Diarmuid O'Sullivan (born 1978), Irish sportsman Donal O'Sullivan (disambiguation), several people Donal Cam O'Sullivan Beare (1561–1613), Irish chieftain Donie O'Sullivan (journalist) (born 1991)

Eddie O'Sullivan (born 1958), Irish rugby union coach and footballer Edward William O'Sullivan (1846–1910), Australian journalist and politician Eoghan Rua Ó Súilleabháin (Owen Roe O'Sullivan, 1748–1782), Irish Gaelic poet Eugene D. O'Sullivan (1883–1968), American Democratic Party politician from Nebraska

Gearóid O'Sullivan (1891–1948), Irish teacher, Irish Republican Army officer, barrister and Sinn Féin and Fine Gael politician Gerald Robert O'Sullivan VC (1888–1915), Irish soldier in the British Army, recipient of the Victoria Cross Gerry O'Sullivan (1936–1994), Irish Labour Party TD Gilbert O'Sullivan (born 1946), Irish-born, UK-based singer-songwriter, who had several hits in the 1970s Gillian O'Sullivan (born 1976), Irish race walker Grace O'Sullivan (born 1962), Irish environmentalist and politician Graham O'Sullivan, Kerry Gaelic footballer

Harry Sullivan (baseball) (1888–1919), Major League Baseball pitcher Harry Stack Sullivan, American psychologist and psychoanalyst

J. T. O'Sullivan (born 1979), American professional football player Jacquie O'Sullivan (born 1960), British singer and songwriter Jan O'Sullivan (born 1950), Irish Labour Party politician, currently a Teachta Dála (TD) for Limerick East Jeremiah O'Sullivan (1842–1896), Irish-born American Roman Catholic bishop Jerry O'Sullivan (disambiguation), several people John O'Sullivan (disambiguation), several people Sir John O'Sullivan (c. 1700 – c. 1760), a professional soldier in the service of France, known for his involvement in the Jacobite rising of 1745. Julie O'Sullivan (born 1959), American lawyer and academic

K Katriona O'Sullivan British writer and psychologist

Kevin O'Sullivan (baseball) (born 1968), American college baseball coach

Kevin O'Sullivan (born 1980),Welsh shop worker

Laura O'Sullivan (born 1991), Welsh footballer Louise O'Sullivan (born 1973), Irish telecommunications executive Lance O'Sullivan (born 1963), New Zealand jockey, retired

Maggie O'Sullivan (born 1951), British poet, performer and visual artist Marcus O'Sullivan (born 1961), Irish coach and former middle-distance runner based in the United States Mary Blanche O'Sullivan (1860 – ?), American teacher, writer and editor Maureen O'Sullivan (1911–1998), Irish cinema actress Maurice O'Sullivan (disambiguation), several people Michael O'Sullivan (disambiguation), several people Michael J. Sullivan (born 1961), author Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin (1950–2018), Irish composer and musician Mickey O'Sullivan (1932–2012), American college baseball coach Muiris Ó Súilleabháin (1904–1950), Irish writer; author of autobiography Fiche Blian ag Fás (Twenty Years A-Growing), a description of life on the Great Blasket Island.

Nóirín O'Sullivan, first female Commissioner of the Garda Síochána

Paddy O'Sullivan (1918–1994), female Special Operations Executive spy during World Pádraig O'Sullivan, Irish Fianna Fáil politician Pat O'Sullivan, American amateur golfer who won the 1951 Titleholders Championship Patrick O'Sullivan (born 1985), Canadian-born American professional ice hockey player Patrick O'Sullivan (disambiguation), several people Paul O'Sullivan Band (formed in 2014), Pop-Rock band where all four members are named Paul O'Sullivan. Peter O'Sullivan (disambiguation), several people

Richard O'Sullivan (1944–2026), English actor, notable for his sitcom roles in the 1970s and 1980s Ronnie O'Sullivan (born 1975), English professional snooker player

Sean O'Sullivan (disambiguation), several people Seumas O'Sullivan (1879–1958), Irish poet and editor of The Dublin Magazine Shawn O'Sullivan (born 1964), Canadian boxer Siobhan O'Sullivan (1974–2023), Australian political scientist and political theorist Sonia O'Sullivan (born 1969), Irish Olympic runner, Sophie's mother Sophie O'Sullivan (born 2001) Irish Australian runner, Sonia's daughter Stephanie O'Sullivan (born 1959), Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence (USA)

Terence Patrick O'Sullivan (1913–1970), English civil engineer Thomas C. O'Sullivan (c. 1858–1913), New York politician and judge Timothy O'Sullivan (Fianna Fáil politician) (1899–1969), Irish Fianna Fáil Party politician Timothy H. O'Sullivan (c. 1840–1882), American Civil War photographer Toddy O'Sullivan (1934–2021), Irish Labour Party politician Tyrone O'Sullivan (1945–2023), Socialist and Chairman of Goitre Tower Anthracite Ltd., the owners of Tower Colliery.

Vince O'Sullivan (born 1957), American racewalker Vincent O'Sullivan (American writer) (1868–1940), Decadent American writer Vincent O'Sullivan (New Zealand writer) (1937–2024), New Zealand poet

Wayne O'Sullivan (born 1974), Irish soccer player in Australia William S. O'Sullivan (1928–1971), Irish-American gangster

O'Sullivan (surname)

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