Descendant of Súileabhán, a name usually read as 'little dark-eyed one'. It is the 105th most common surname in the United States (2010 Census count). Below: where the name comes from, and an original Sullivan crest you can have made into a blanket or rug with your own line of text.
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Irish (Cork and Kerry): shortened, anglicized form of O'Sullivan, Gaelic Ó Súilleabháin 'descendant of Súileabhán'. The base word is súil 'eye'; Woulfe reads it as súil + dubh 'dark' + diminutive -án. The family is associated with southwestern Ireland (Tipperary, Kerry). About 78% of Sullivans live in the United States.
Spellings and related forms: O'Sullivan, Ó Súilleabháin, Sullavan, Sullivant, Sillivant.
The root of Súileabhán is súil, "eye", often read as "dark-eyed" or "hawk-eyed". The owl stands for the watchful eye.
Most surnames have no single "family crest". In heraldry, a coat of arms belonged to one person and passed down one line of descent. Sites that sell "the Sullivan coat of arms" usually show the arms of one historic family that shared the name. Ours is different on purpose: an original design built from what the name means, which any Sullivan can own honestly.
| Product | Size | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Velveteen blanket | 30 × 40 in | $59 |
| Velveteen blanket | 50 × 60 in | $75 |
| Velveteen blanket | 60 × 80 in | $89 |
| Area rug | 24 × 36 in | $95 |
| Area rug | 36 × 60 in | $130 |
| Area rug | 48 × 72 in | $170 |
Blankets: soft velveteen plush (100% polyester), printed on one side; may run up to 3 in. short of the listed size. Rugs: polyester chenille with hemmed edges and a coated backing, for indoor use. Both are printed in the USA (Georgia and North Carolina).
No. Coats of arms were granted to individual people, not to everyone who shares a surname, so there is no single Sullivan coat of arms that every Sullivan can claim. This crest is our own original design. The shield shows a watchful owl, chosen from the meaning of the name.
Yes. The family name is always Sullivan. Type your own line underneath: a year, first names or a place. Leave it empty if you want the name alone.
Yes. We email you a proof of your exact artwork before anything is printed. Nothing goes to production until you approve it.
Each piece is printed to order in the USA. Printing takes up to 10 business days, then a few days in the mail, so allow 2 to 3 weeks. US shipping is free. Ordering for a date? Order early.
Tell us within 30 days with a photo and we reprint it at no charge. Because every piece carries your name, we cannot take back an item that arrived as approved.
Name meanings come from the sources above, checked 2026-10. Where scholars disagree, we say so.
