Show ContentsSlevin History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Today's Irish surnames are underpinned by a multitude of rich histories. The name Slevin 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 Slevin family

The surname Slevin 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 Slevin family

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

Slevin Spelling Variations

Within the archives researched, many different spelling variations of the surname Slevin were found. These included One reason for the many variations is that scribes and church officials often spelled an individual's name as it sounded. This imprecise method often led to many versions. Slavin, Slaving, Slevin, Sleving, Slevan, Sleavin and many more.

Early Notables of the Slevin family

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


United States Slevin migration to the United States +

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 Slevin or a variant listed above, including:

Slevin Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Daniel, Edward, Ellen, Francis, James, John, Michael, Owen, Patrick, and Thomas Slevin all, who arrived in Philadelphia between 1838 and 1868

Canada Slevin migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Slevin Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Thomas Slevin, aged 2 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Odessa" departing from the port of Dublin, Ireland but died on Grosse Isle in August 1847 [3]

Contemporary Notables of the name Slevin (post 1700) +

  • Ronnie Slevin (b. 1941), retired Irish hurler who played for Tipperary in 1962
  • Noel Slevin, Irish journalist and columnist in Letterkenny, County Donegal, known for his column "Slevin on Sunday"
  • Ciarán Slevin (b. 1986), Irish hurler who has played since
  • Gerard Slevin (1919-1997), Irish Chief Herald of Ireland (1955-1981), involved in the design of the European flag
  • Edward "Ted" Slevin, English professional rugby league footballer who played from 1948 to 1962, member of the England National Team (1950-1953)
  • Brian Francis Slevin, Commissioner of Police, Hong Kong


  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)
  3. Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 55)


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