O'Sullivan is a surname of

Irish Irish may refer to: Common meanings * Someone or something of, from, or related to: ** Ireland, an island situated off the north-western coast of continental Europe ***Éire, Irish language name for the isle ** Northern Ireland, a constituent unit ...

origin. The surname is associated with the southwestern part of

Ireland Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...

, and was originally found in

County Tipperary County Tipperary ( ga, Contae Thiobraid Árann) is a county in Ireland. It is in the province of Munster and the Southern Region. The county is named after the town of Tipperary, and was established in the early 13th century, shortly after th ...

and

Kerry Kerry or Kerri may refer to: * Kerry (name), a given name and surname of Gaelic origin (including a list of people with the name) Places * Kerry, Queensland, Australia * County Kerry, Ireland ** Kerry Airport, an international airport in County ...

before the Anglo-Norman invasion. It is the third most numerous surname in Ireland. Roughly half of O'Sullivans hail from

, with around 50% of the O'Sullivans residing there.

History

consists of ''ó'' (

Old Irish Old Irish, also called Old Gaelic ( sga, Goídelc, Ogham script: ᚌᚑᚔᚇᚓᚂᚉ; ga, Sean-Ghaeilge; gd, Seann-Ghàidhlig; gv, Shenn Yernish or ), is the oldest form of the Goidelic/Gaelic language for which there are extensive writt ...

'' úa'') "grandchild, descendant", and the masculine

genitive case In grammar, the genitive case (abbreviated ) is the grammatical case that marks a word, usually a noun, as modifying another word, also usually a noun—thus indicating an attributive relationship of one noun to the other noun. A genitive can al ...

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 Etymology ()The New Oxford Dictionary of English (1998) – p. 633 "Etymology /ˌɛtɪˈmɒlədʒi/ the study of the class in words and the way their meanings have changed throughout time". is the study of the history of the Phonological chan ...

of the given name is uncertain. In his book titled ''The Surnames of Ireland,'' genealogist

Edward MacLysaght Edgeworth Lysaght, later Edward Anthony Edgeworth Lysaght, and from 1920 Edward MacLysaght ( ga, Éamonn Mac Giolla Iasachta; 6 November 1887 – 4 March 1986) was a genealogist of twentieth century Ireland. His numerous books on Irish surnames b ...

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 A diminutive is a root word that has been modified to convey a slighter degree of its root meaning, either to convey the smallness of the object or quality named, or to convey a sense of intimacy or endearment. A (abbreviated ) is a word-formatio ...

''-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 Fíngen mac Áedo Duib (Modern Irish: ''Finghin mac Aodha Dhuibh'', IPA: �fʲɪɲʝənʲmˠəkˈiːəɣəvʲ (died 618) was a King of Munster from the Eóganacht Chaisil branch of the Eoganachta. He was the great-grandson of Feidlimid mac Óengusa ...

, and placed in the 9th century.''Irish Family History'', Dublin, 186
p. 237
Genealogy:

Óengus mac Nad Froích Óengus mac Nad Froích (430-489) was an Eoganachta and the first Christian King of Munster. He was the son of Nad Froich mac Cuirc by Faochan, a British lady (called daughter of the King of Britain). In Geoffrey Keating's ''History of Ireland'' ...

(d. 489, first Christian king of Munster),

Feidlimid mac Óengusa Feidlimid mac Óengusa (455-500), or Feidlimid Dub, was an Eoganachta King of Munster in the early 6th century. He was the son of Óengus mac Nad Froích, the first Christian king of Munster. The chronology of the 6th-century kings of Munster in ...

("Felim"), "Criomthan", "Hugh Dubh",

("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 County Kerry ( gle, Contae Chiarraí) is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and forms part of the province of Munster. It is named after the Ciarraige who lived in part of the present county. The population of the co ...

. ''O'Sullivan'' is the regular anglicization of the Irish name. Less common spelling variants of the name include:

Sullavan Sullavan is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Margaret Sullavan Margaret Brooke Sullavan (May 16, 1909 – January 1, 1960) was an American stage and film actress. Sullavan began her career onstage in 1929 with the Univers ...

, 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''.

People with surname

A

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

C

Camille O'Sullivan Camille O'Sullivan is an Irish musician, vocalist, and actress. O'Sullivan is known for her unique, dramatic musical style and covers of artists such as Radiohead, Tom Waits, and David Bowie. As an actress, O'Sullivan has appeared in Mrs Hende ...

(born 1975), Irish singer *

Cornelius O'Sullivan Cornelius O'Sullivan, FRS (20 December 1841 – 8 January 1907) was an Irish brewer's chemist. He was born the son of merchant James O'Sullivan of Bandon, County Cork and was educated locally, before winning a scholarship to study chemistry at th ...

(1841–1907), Irish brewer's chemist

D

* Daniel O'Sullivan (disambiguation), several people * David O'Sullivan (disambiguation), several people *

Denis O'Sullivan (golfer) Denis O'Sullivan (born 11 March 1948) is a retired professional Irish golfer. He won the 1985 Irish Amateur Close and the 1990 Irish Amateur Stroke Play, but did not turn professional until 1997, when he decided to try to qualify for the Europea ...

(born 1948), Irish golfer *

Denis J. O'Sullivan Denis James O'Sullivan (5 March 1918 – 20 July 1987) was an Irish Fine Gael politician. He was first elected to Dáil Éireann at his second attempt at the 1951 general election. He served as a Fine Gael Teachta Dála (TD) for various Cork c ...

(1918–1987), Irish Fine Gael TD from Cork *

Denise O'Sullivan Denise O'Sullivan (born 4 February 1994) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for the American club North Carolina Courage of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) and the Republic of Ireland national team which s ...

(born 1994), Irish footballer *

Diarmuid O'Sullivan Diarmuid O'Sullivan (born 27 July 1978) is an Irish hurling coach and hurler who plays for Cork Premier Championship club Cloyne. He played for the Cork senior hurling team for 12 years, during which time he usually lined out as a full-back. ...

(born 1978), Irish sportsman *

Donal Cam O'Sullivan Beare Donal Cam O'Sullivan Beare, Prince of Beare, 1st Count of Berehaven ( ga, Domhnall Cam Ó Súileabháin Bhéara) (1561–1618), was an Irish nobleman and soldier who was the last independent Chief of the Name of the O'Sullivan clan. He was thus ...

(1561–1613), Irish chieftain

E

Eddie O'Sullivan Eddie O'Sullivan (born 21 November 1958) is an Irish rugby union coach, player (wing & fly-half) and a former Gaelic footballer. He is a former head coach of the United States national rugby union team and of the Ireland national rugby union te ...

(born 1958), Irish rugby union coach and footballer *

Edward William O'Sullivan Edward William O'Sullivan (17 March 1846 – 25 April 1910) was an Australian journalist and politician. Early life and journalism O'Sullivan was born in Launceston, Tasmania. His father deserted the family when he was a child and he was mai ...

(1846–1910), Australian journalist and politician *

Eoghan Rua Ó Súilleabháin Eoghan Rua Ó Súilleabháin (174829 June 1784), anglicized as Owen Roe O'Sullivan ("Red Owen"), was an Irish poet. He is known as one of the last great Gaelic poets. A recent anthology of Irish-language poetry speaks of his "extremely musical" po ...

(Owen Roe O'Sullivan, 1748–1782), Irish Gaelic poet * Eugene D. O'Sullivan (1883–1968), American Democratic Party politician from Nebraska

G

Gearóid O'Sullivan Gearóid O'Sullivan (28 January 1891 – 25 March 1948) was an Irish teacher, Irish language scholar, army officer, barrister and Sinn Féin and Fine Gael politician. Early life and education Jeremiah O'Sullivan was born in Coolnagurrane near ...

(1891–1948), Irish teacher, Irish Republican Army officer, barrister and Sinn Féin and Fine Gael politician *

Gerald Robert O'Sullivan Gerald Robert O'Sullivan VC ( ga, Gearóid Roibeard Ó Súilleabháin; 8 November 1888–21 August 1915) was an Irish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be ...

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 Raymond Edward "Gilbert" O'Sullivan (born 1 December 1946) is an Irish singer-songwriter who achieved his most significant success during the early 1970s with hits including "Alone Again (Naturally)", " Clair", and " Get Down". O'Sullivan's s ...

(born 1946), Irish-born, UK-based singer-songwriter, who had several hits in the 1970s *

Gillian O'Sullivan Gillian O'Sullivan (born 21 August 1976 in Killarney) is an Irish race walker. She set the unofficial world record in the 5000m walk in Belfast, United Kingdom since 2002 however, the IAAF have refused to verify it. She won a silver medal at th ...

(born 1976), Irish race walker *

Grace O'Sullivan Grace O'Sullivan (born 8 March 1962) is an Irish politician who has been a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from Ireland for the South constituency since July 2019. She is a member of the Green Party, part of the European Green Party. Sh ...

(born 1962), Irish environmentalist and politician *

Graham O'Sullivan Graham O'Sullivan is an Irish Gaelic footballer who plays for the Dromid Parses club and at senior level for the Kerry county team. Sullivan made his senior championship debut in the 2022 Munster Senior Football Championship semi-final again ...

, Kerry Gaelic footballer

H

* Harry Sullivan (baseball) (1818–1919), Major League Baseball pitcher *

Harry Stack Sullivan Herbert "Harry" Stack Sullivan (February 21, 1892, Norwich, New York – January 14, 1949, Paris, France) was an American Neo-Freudian psychiatrist and psychoanalyst who held that "personality can never be isolated from the complex interpersonal ...

, American psychologist and psychoanalyst

J

J. T. O'Sullivan John Thomas O'Sullivan (born August 25, 1979) is an American former professional gridiron football quarterback who played nine seasons in the National Football League (NFL), two seasons in NFL Europe and one season in the Canadian Football Leagu ...

(born 1979), American professional football player *

Jacquie O'Sullivan Jacquie O'Sullivan (born 7 August 1960)''Smash Hits'', 1988. Personal File: Jacqui O'Sullivan, p. 11 is an English singer and songwriter, best known as a member of the pop group Bananarama from 1988 until 1991, replacing Siobhan Fahey, who ...

(born 1960), British singer and songwriter *

Jan O'Sullivan Jan O'Sullivan (; born 6 December 1950) is a former Irish Labour Party politician who served as Minister for Education and Skills from 2014 to 2016 and as a Minister of State from 2011 to 2014. She served as a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Limeri ...

(born 1950), Irish Labour Party politician, currently a Teachta Dála (TD) for Limerick East *

Jeremiah O'Sullivan Jeremiah O'Sullivan (February 6, 1842 – August 10, 1896) was an Irish-born clergyman of the Roman Catholic Church who served as Bishop of Mobile from 1885 until his death in 1896. Biography Jeremiah O'Sullivan was born in Kanturk, County Cork, ...

(1842–1896), Irish-born American Roman Catholic bishop * Jerry O'Sullivan (disambiguation), several people * John O'Sullivan (disambiguation), several people *

Sir John O'Sullivan Sir John William O'Sullivan (c. 1700 - c. 1760) was an Irish professional soldier, who spent most of his career in the service of France, but is best known for his involvement in the Jacobite rising of 1745, an attempt to regain the British thro ...

(c. 1700 – c. 1760), a professional soldier in the service of France, known for his involvement in the Jacobite rising of 1745.

K

Kevin O'Sullivan (baseball) Kevin Michael O'Sullivan (born December 27, 1968) is an American college baseball coach and former player. O'Sullivan is the current head coach of the Florida Gators baseball team of the University of Florida. O'Sullivan is best known for leadi ...

(born 1968), American college baseball coach

L

* Laura O'Sullivan (born 1991), Welsh footballer * Louise O'Sullivan (born 1973), Irish telecommunications executive *

Lance O'Sullivan Lance Anthony O'Sullivan (born 28 August 1963 in New Zealand) is a Thoroughbred horse trainer and former champion jockey in New Zealand. Lance is the son of premiership winning horse trainer Dave O’Sullivan and the brother of Paul O'Sulliv ...

(born 1963), New Zealand jockey, retired

M

Maggie O'Sullivan Maggie O'Sullivan was born in 1951. She is a British poet, performer and visual artist associated with the British Poetry Revival. O'Sullivan was born in Lincoln, England of Irish immigrant parents. She moved to London in 1971 and worked for th ...

(born 1951), British poet, performer and visual artist *

Marcus O'Sullivan Marcus O'Sullivan (born in Cork, Ireland on 22 December 1961) is an Irish retired middle-distance runner. He competed for Ireland at four Summer Olympics. After Steve Scott and John Walker, he is the third all-time by total of sub-4 minute m ...

(born 1961), Irish coach and former middle-distance runner based in the United States *

Maureen O'Sullivan Maureen O'Sullivan (17 May 1911 – 23 June 1998) was an Irish-American actress, who played Jane in the ''Tarzan'' series of films during the era of Johnny Weissmuller. She performed with such actors as Laurence Olivier, Greta Garbo, William ...

(1911–1998), Irish cinema actress *

Michael O'Sullivan (disambiguation) Michael O'Sullivan may refer to: Individual *Michael O'Sullivan (politician) (1784–1839), Lower Canada lawyer, militia officer, politician and judge * Sir Michael Neil O'Sullivan (1900–1968), Australian politician and lawyer *Michael O'Sull ...

, several people *

Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin (; 10 December 1950 – 7 November 2018) was an Irish musician, composer, academic and educationalist. Biography Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin was a pianist, composer, recording artist and academic; he held the Pro ...

(1950–2018), Irish composer and musician *

Mickey O'Sullivan Mickey "Ned" O'Sullivan (born 14 April 1952) is an Irish former Gaelic football manager, selector and former player. His league and championship career at senior level with the Kerry county team spanned ten seasons from 1971 to 1980. Born in K ...

(1932–2012), American college baseball coach *

Muiris Ó Súilleabháin Muiris Ó Súilleabháin (; 19 February 1904 – 25 June 1950), anglicised as Maurice O'Sullivan, was an Irish author famous for his Irish-language memoir of growing up on the Great Blasket Island and in Dingle, County Kerry, off the western ...

(1904–1950), Irish writer; author of autobiography ''Fiche Blian ag Fás'' (Twenty Years A-Growing)

N

Nóirín O'Sullivan Nóirín O'Sullivan (born 3 November 1960) is an Irish Garda who has served as Director of Strategic Partnerships for Europe at the International Association of Chiefs of Police since October 2017. She previously served as Garda Commissioner from ...

, first female Commissioner of the Garda Síochána

P

* Paddy O'Sullivan (1918–1994), female Special Operations Executive spy during World *

Pádraig O'Sullivan Pádraig O'Sullivan (born 11 May 1984) is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician who has been a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Cork North-Central constituency since the 2019 by-election. He was a member of Cork County Council for the Cobh local electo ...

, Irish Fianna Fáil politician *

Pat O'Sullivan Patricia B. O'Sullivan Lucey (September 1, 1926 – November 6, 2019) was an American amateur golfer. Early life She was born in New Haven, Connecticut, daughter of Marguerite Lawton and Patrick Brett O'Sullivan, a US Representative from Conn ...

, American amateur golfer who won the 1951 Titleholders Championship *

Patrick O'Sullivan Patrick O'Sullivan (born February 1, 1985) is a Canadian-born American former professional ice hockey forward who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Los Angeles Kings, Edmonton Oilers, Carolina Hurricanes, Minnesota Wild and P ...

(born 1985), Canadian-born American professional ice hockey player *

Patrick O'Sullivan (disambiguation) Patrick O'Sullivan (born 1985) is an American ice hockey player. Patrick O'Sullivan may also refer to: * Patrick O'Sullivan (author), Irish author and railway historian from Cahersiveen * Patrick O'Sullivan (businessman) (born 1949), Irish business ...

, 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

R

Richard O'Sullivan Richard O'Sullivan (born 7 May 1944) is an English comedy actor, who is known for his role as Robin Tripp in the 1970s sitcoms ''Man About the House'' (1973–1976) and '' Robin's Nest'' (1977–1981) and as the title character in the period fa ...

(born 1944), English actor, notable for his sitcom roles in the 1970s and 1980s *

Ronnie O'Sullivan Ronald Antonio O'Sullivan (born 5 December 1975) is an English professional snooker player who is the current world champion and world number one. Widely recognised as one of the most talented and accomplished players in the sport's history, ...

(born 1975), English professional snooker player

S

Sean O'Sullivan (disambiguation) Sean O'Sullivan * Seán Ó Súilleabháin (1903–1996), folklorist involved in the Irish Folklore Commission * Sean O'Sullivan (baseball) (born 1987), Major League Baseball pitcher * Sean O'Sullivan (engineer), entrepreneur and engineer * Seán O ...

, several people *

Seumas O'Sullivan Seumas or Seamus O'Sullivan (born James Sullivan Starkey; 17 July 1879 – 24 March 1958) was an Irish poet and editor of ''The Dublin Magazine''. His father, William Starkey (1836-1918), a physician, was also a poet and a friend of George Sigerson ...

(1879–1958), Irish poet and editor of ''The Dublin Magazine'' *

Shawn O'Sullivan Shawn O'Sullivan (born May 9, 1962 in Toronto, Ontario) is a retired Canadian boxer who won gold at the World Amateur Championships in 1981 and the light middleweight silver medal at the 1984 Summer Olympics. He was inducted into Box ...

(born 1964), Canadian boxer *

Siobhan O'Sullivan Siobhan O'Sullivan is an Australian political scientist and political theorist who is currently an associate professor in the School of Social Sciences, University of New South Wales. Her research has focused, among other things, on animal welf ...

, Australian political scientist and political theorist *

Sonia O'Sullivan Sonia O'Sullivan (born 28 November 1969) is an Irish people, Irish former track and field athlete. She won a gold medal in the 5000 metres at the 1995 World Championships in Athletics, 1995 World Championships, and a silver medal in the 5000 met ...

(born 1969), Irish Olympic runner *

Stephanie O'Sullivan Stephanie O'Sullivan (born October 3, 1959) is a former Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence (PDDNI) who was appointed to that position on February 18, 2011. She worked to assist the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) in managi ...

(born 1959), Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence

T

Terence Patrick O'Sullivan Terence Patrick O'Sullivan (1913–1970) was a British civil engineer. He specialised initially in steel and reinforced concrete structures. Later he founded a firm of consulting engineers, T. P. O’Sullivan & Partners, which grew to have offi ...

(1913–1970), English civil engineer * Thomas C. O'Sullivan (c. 1858–1913), New York politician and judge *

Timothy O'Sullivan (Fianna Fáil politician) Timothy (Ted) O'Sullivan (26 July 1899 – 3 March 1971) was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician from County Cork. He was a Teachta Dála (TD) for 27 years, and a Seanad Éireann, Senator for 15 years. O'Sullivan was elected to Dáil Éireann at h ...

(1899–1969), Irish Fianna Fáil Party politician *

Timothy H. O'Sullivan Timothy H. O'Sullivan (c. 1840 – January 14, 1882) was a photographer widely known for his work related to the American Civil War and the Western United States. Biography O'Sullivan's history and personal life remains unclear as there is lit ...

(c. 1840–1882), American Civil War photographer *

Toddy O'Sullivan Toddy O'Sullivan (8 November 1934 – 12 December 2021) was an Irish Labour Party politician who served for sixteen years as a Teachta Dála (TD) for constituencies in Cork, and for five years as a junior minister. He also served as Lord Mayor ...

(1934–2021), Irish Labour Party politician *

Tyrone O'Sullivan Tyrone O'Sullivan, OBE (born 1945), is a Welsh former National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) Branch Secretary, and current Chairman of Goitre Tower Anthracite Ltd., the owners of Tower Colliery. Early life O'Sullivan was born in the heart of th ...

(born 1945), Socialist and Chairman of Goitre Tower Anthracite Ltd., the owners of Tower Colliery.

V

Vince O'Sullivan Vincent ("Vince") John O'Sullivan (born February 23, 1957 in London, Greater London) is a retired male racewalker from the United States, who competed at the 1984 Summer Olympics for ''Team USA''. He was fifth at the 1979 Pan American Games and ...

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

W

Wayne O'Sullivan Wayne St John O'Sullivan (born 25 February 1974) is an Irish retired professional footballer. Since retiring as a player he has worked as a coach. Born in Cyprus, O'Sullivan played youth football for Swindon Town before making his professional d ...

(born 1974), Irish soccer player in Australia *

William S. O'Sullivan William S. O'Sullivan (January 31, 1928 – March 28, 1971) was an American loanshark and longtime enforcer for Donald Killeen, the head of the Irish mob in South Boston, Massachusetts. O'Sullivan also acted as a mentor to a young James J. Bulger, ...

(1928–1971), Irish-American gangster

History

People with surname

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See also