O'Sullivan History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The old Gaelic name used by the O'Sullivan family in Ireland was Ó Suileabhain, which is partially derived from the word "suil," which means "eye." The surname probably means either one-eyed or hawk-eyed.
Early Origins of the O'Sullivan family
The surname O'Sullivan was first found in the territory of Cahir in County Tipperary (Irish: Thiobraid Árann), established in the 13th century in South-central Ireland, in the province of Munster. The Sullivan spelling is by far the most common name in Munster, and is predominantly found in the counties of Cork and Kerry, with a smaller but still significant population in County Limerick.
Early History of the O'Sullivan family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our O'Sullivan research. Another 127 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1172, 1590, 1660, 1700, 1745, 1748, 1784 and 1837 are included under the topic Early O'Sullivan History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
O'Sullivan Spelling Variations
Spelling variations of this family name include: O'Sullivan, Sullivan and others.
Early Notables of the O'Sullivan family
Notable amongst the family name at this time was
- Phillip O'Sullivan Beare (1590-1660), soldier in the Spanish army who is best remembered as a historian
- Colonel John O'Sullivan (b. 1700) companion to the "Young Pretender" who led the Irish Brigade at Culloden in 1745
O'Sullivan World Ranking
In the United States, the name O'Sullivan is the 3,853rd most popular surname with an estimated 7,461 people with that name. 1 However, in Australia, the name O'Sullivan is ranked the 329th most popular surname with an estimated 10,905 people with that name. 2 And in New Zealand, the name O'Sullivan is the 278th popular surname with an estimated 2,199 people with that name. 3 The United Kingdom ranks O'Sullivan as 546th with 11,889 people. 4
O'Sullivan migration to the United States +
Some of the first settlers of this family name were:
O'Sullivan Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
- Andrew, Arthur, Daniel, Denis, John, Michael, Patrick, Simon, Timothy, and William O'Sullivan, who all, who arrived in Philadelphia between 1840 and 1860
O'Sullivan migration to Canada +
Some of the first settlers of this family name were:
O'Sullivan Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
- Michael O'Sullivan, aged 26, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the brig "William" from Cork, Ireland
- Thomas O'Sullivan, aged 26, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the brig "William" from Cork, Ireland
- Margaret O'Sullivan, aged 25, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the brig "William" from Cork, Ireland
- Catherine O'Sullivan, aged 24, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the brig "William" from Cork, Ireland
- Mary O'Sullivan, aged 25, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the ship "Providence" from Cork, Ireland
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
O'Sullivan migration to Australia +
Emigration to
Australia followed the
First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:
O'Sullivan Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
- Mr. Patrick O'sullivan, (b. 1818), aged 20, Irish solider born in Kerry, Ireland who was convicted in Kent, England for 15 years for assault, transported aboard the "Bengal Merchant" on 24th March 1838, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 5
- James John O'Sullivan, aged 34, a teacher, who arrived in South Australia in 1849 aboard the ship "Elgin" 6
- James O'Sullivan, aged 34, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Elgin" in 1849 6
- Ellen O'Sullivan, aged 30, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Elgin" in 1849 6
- David O'Sullivan, aged 2, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Elgin" in 1849 6
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
O'Sullivan migration to New Zealand +
Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:
O'Sullivan Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
- Ellen O'Sullivan, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Alfred" in 1864 7
- Mr. John O'Sullivan, (b. 1840), aged 33, Irish labourer from County Kerry travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Surat" going to Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand in 1873, the ship sunk at the Catlins River all the passengers were transported to Dunedin via various rescure vessels 8
- Mr. Jeremiah O'Sullivan, (b. 1840), aged 34, Irish mason from County Cork travelling from London aboard the ship "Tweed" arriving in Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 4th September 1874 8
- Margaret O'Sullivan, aged 19, a servant, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Cartvale" in 1874
- Morto O'Sullivan, aged 38, a mason, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Ocean Mail" in 1875
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Contemporary Notables of the name O'Sullivan (post 1700) +
- Anthony O'Sullivan (b. 1920), American silent film actor and director who appeared in 163 films
- Sean Daniel O'Sullivan (b. 1987), American Major League Baseball pitcher
- Patrick O'Sullivan (b. 1985), American professional NHL ice hockey forward
- John Francis O'Sullivan (1850-1907), Irish-American awarded the Medal of Honor during the Indian Wars
- Dan O'Sullivan (b. 1968), professional NBA player
- Sir Vincent O'Sullivan KNZM (1937-2024), New Zealand poet, short story writer, novelist, playwright, critic and editor, 9th New Zealand Poet Laureate (2013-2015)
- Siobhan O'Sullivan (1974-2023), Australian political scientist, political theorist and associate professor in the School of Social Sciences, University of New South Wales
- Tyrone O'Sullivan OBE (1945-2023), Welsh trade unionist, Branch Secretary of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) and Chairman of Goitre Tower Anthracite Ltd
- Michael O'Sullivan (1784-1839), Irish-born, Canadian lawyer, militia officer, politician and judge in Lower Canada, famous for fighting a duel with a Montreal doctor, William Caldwell, over the proposal to build a new hospital for Montreal, both men were wounded and survived, each with a permanent disability
- Ronald Antonio "Ronnie" O'Sullivan (b. 1975), English professional snooker player, current World Snooker Champion (2022)
- ... (Another 16 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Historic Events for the O'Sullivan family +
- Mr. Michael J O'Sullivan, British Leading Stoker, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking 9
- Miss Bridget Mary O'Sullivan (d. 1912), aged 21, Irish Third Class passenger from Glenduff, Kerry who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 10
The O'Sullivan Motto +
The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.
Motto: Lamh foistenach abú
Motto Translation: The steady hand to victory.
Citations +