Show ContentsSleevane History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Today's Irish surnames are underpinned by a multitude of rich histories. The name Sleevane originally appeared in Gaelic as O Sleibhin or O'Sleibhin, derived from "sliabh," which means "mountain," and was a symbolic name for the Chief of this Clann. This is "the name of a branch of the Cenél Eoghain in Ulster. Some families of the name settled in Co. Westmeath." [1]

Another notes a slightly different Gaelic spelling of the name: O'Sliabhain, which has the same meaning "mountain." Like many other Irish families, they claim descent from Colla da Crioch, one of the most famous Heremon Kings of Ireland. [2]

Early Origins of the Sleevane family

The surname Sleevane was first found in Fermanagh (Irish: Fear Manach) in the southwestern part of Northern Ireland, Province of Ulster, where they held a family seat from ancient times.

Early History of the Sleevane family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Sleevane research. Another 134 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1172 and 1640 are included under the topic Early Sleevane History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Sleevane Spelling Variations

Irish names were rarely spelled consistently in the Middle Ages. Spelling variations of the name Sleevane dating from that time include Slavin, Slaving, Slevin, Sleving, Slevan, Sleavin and many more.

Early Notables of the Sleevane family

More information is included under the topic Early Sleevane Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Sleevane family

To escape the religious and political discrimination they experienced primarily at the hands of the English, thousands of Irish left their homeland in the 19th century. These migrants typically settled in communities throughout the East Coast of North America, but also joined the wagon trains moving out to the Midwest. Ironically, when the American War of Independence began, many Irish settlers took the side of England, and at the war's conclusion moved north to Canada. These United Empire Loyalists, were granted land along the St. Lawrence River and the Niagara Peninsula. Other Irish immigrants settled in Newfoundland, the Ottawa Valley, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. The greatest influx of Irish immigrants, however, came to North America during the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. Thousands left Ireland at this time for North America and Australia. Many of those numbers, however, did not live through the long sea passage. These Irish settlers to North America were immediately put to work building railroads, coal mines, bridges, and canals. Irish settlers made an inestimable contribution to the building of the New World. Early North American immigration records have revealed a number of people bearing the Irish name Sleevane or a variant listed above, including: Bernard, Edward, Hugh, James, John, Patrick, Peter, and William Slaven who arrived in Philadelphia between 1842 and 1862; Charles, Cornelius, Danial, Edward, Francis, Hugh, John, Michael, Patrick, Thomas and William Slavin all arrived in Philadelphia between 1808 and 1864.



  1. MacLysaght, Edward, More Irish Families. Dublin: Irish Academic Press, 1982. Print. (ISBN 0-7165-0126-0)
  2. O'Hart, John, Irish Pedigrees 5th Edition in 2 Volumes. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1976. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0737-4)


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