English
The surname Sullevan is of Irish origin.It is one of the most Irish of names,being the third most common surname in Ireland;behind Murphy and Kelly.The name is an anglicised form of O'Suileabhain 'descendant of Suileabhan',a personal name composed of the elements 'suil' eye and 'dubh' black,dark.The name comes to signify one-eyed or hawk-eyed.The Sullivans in Ireland,as with all the great Irish families,are still concentrated in or near their ancient homeland;eighty percent of the Sullivans are found in the counties of Cork and Kerry.It was not until the Anglo-Norman invasion that the O'Sullivans came to the fore.Their origin,however,is illustrious:descended fron the famous Oilioll Olum,king of Munster in the second century of the Cristian era.Many were also lords of a territory near Cahir prior to the invasion.The Anglo-Norman invasion forced the O'Sullivans westward,where they became very numerous and powerful.The principal castle being at Dunkerron on the shore of Kenmare Bay.The name in its Gaelic form dates back to early history .This name was brought to America by Irish immigrants.One of the first forefathers to bring this name to America is that of a Owen Sullivan,who emigrated to America in 1723;he settled in Berwick,Maine.One of the best known pugilists of all time was a John L. Sullivan (1858-1918).This surnmane is the sixt-seventh most common name in America.