The surname Soolivan 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 Kenm…
Coat of arms: Per pale gules and azure, on a fess …