NameCensus.

UK surname

Sullivan

An Irish occupational surname referring to a person who was a hawk-eyed guard or watchman.

In the 1881 census there were 12,445 people recorded with the Sullivan surname, ranking it #340 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 20,856, ranked #286, up from #340 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), St George in the East and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Merthyr Tydfil, Swansea and Cardiff.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sullivan is 21,464 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 67.6%.

1881 census count

12,445

Ranked #340

Modern count

20,856

2016, ranked #286

Peak year

2010

21,464 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Sullivan had 12,445 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #340 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 20,856 in 2016, ranked #286.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 14,328 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Sullivan surname distribution map

The map shows where the Sullivan surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Sullivan surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Sullivan over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 7,105 #394
1861 historical 8,462 #329
1881 historical 12,445 #340
1891 historical 11,818 #378
1901 historical 13,725 #382
1911 historical 14,328 #341
1997 modern 20,492 #286
1998 modern 21,152 #288
1999 modern 21,168 #289
2000 modern 20,943 #289
2001 modern 20,452 #289
2002 modern 20,978 #287
2003 modern 20,502 #287
2004 modern 20,419 #289
2005 modern 20,065 #289
2006 modern 20,095 #288
2007 modern 20,273 #289
2008 modern 20,343 #288
2009 modern 20,941 #287
2010 modern 21,464 #284
2011 modern 20,991 #286
2012 modern 20,476 #288
2013 modern 21,003 #287
2014 modern 21,077 #289
2015 modern 20,901 #288
2016 modern 20,856 #286

Geography

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Where Sullivans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), St George in the East, London parishes and St Giles-in-the-Fields. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Merthyr Tydfil, Swansea and Cardiff. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 St George in the East London (East Districts)
3 London parishes London 1
4 London parishes London 3
5 St Giles-in-the-Fields London (Central Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Merthyr Tydfil 008 Merthyr Tydfil
2 Merthyr Tydfil 002 Merthyr Tydfil
3 Merthyr Tydfil 005 Merthyr Tydfil
4 Swansea 019 Swansea
5 Cardiff 007 Cardiff

Forenames

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First names often paired with Sullivan

These lists show first names that appear often with the Sullivan surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Sullivan

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Sullivan, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Sullivan surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Sullivan household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

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Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Sullivan is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

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Group profile

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Sullivan is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Sullivan falls in decile 4 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Sullivan is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

This describes the area pattern most associated with Sullivan, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Sullivan

The surname Sullivan has its origins in Ireland, tracing back to the 12th century. It is an Anglicized form of the Irish Gaelic Ó Súilleabháin, which translates to "descendant of Súilleabháin." Súilleabháin is derived from the old Irish words "súil," meaning eye, and "bán," meaning white or fair.

The name is believed to have originated in County Cork and County Kerry, where the Sullivans were prominent clans and prominent landowners. The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Annals of Inisfallen, a chronicle of medieval Irish history, which mentions the name as early as the 13th century.

One of the earliest notable figures with the surname Sullivan was Donal Og Sullivan, a 16th-century Irish chieftain who led a rebellion against English rule in Munster. His death in 1618 marked the end of the Sullivan clan's dominance in the region.

Another historically significant Sullivan was Sir William Sullivan, an Irish politician and lawyer who lived from 1764 to 1839. He served as Master of the Rolls in Ireland and was a noted champion of Catholic Emancipation.

In the literary world, Algernon Charles Swinburne (1837-1909), an influential English poet and critic, had the maternal surname Sullivan. Swinburne was a prominent figure in the Victorian era and is remembered for his controversial writings and advocacy of free love.

In the realm of sports, John L. Sullivan (1858-1918) was an American boxer and the first heavyweight champion of gloved boxing. Known as the "Boston Strong Boy," he popularized boxing and helped establish it as a legitimate sport.

A more recent historical figure with the Sullivan surname is Anne Mansfield Sullivan (1866-1936), an American educator famous for being the instructor and lifelong companion of Helen Keller. Sullivan's groundbreaking methods of teaching Keller, who was deaf and blind, were widely acclaimed and inspired many in the field of education for the disabled.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Sullivan surname: questions and answers

How common was the Sullivan surname in 1881?

In 1881, 12,445 people were recorded with the Sullivan surname. That placed it at #340 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Sullivan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 20,856 in 2016. That gives Sullivan a modern rank of #286.

What does the Sullivan surname mean?

An Irish occupational surname referring to a person who was a hawk-eyed guard or watchman.

What does the Sullivan map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Sullivan bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.