Sullivan is an Irish surname, derived from the Gaelic O’Sullivan meaning “descendant of Súilleabhán”. The name is common throughout Ireland and has spread to other countries, particularly the United States. Notable individuals with the surname include American singer-songwriter Ed Sullivan, Irish novelist and playwright J.M. Sullivan, and British Olympic rower Frances Houghton (née Sullivan). The name is also associated with the Sullivan brothers, five siblings who died during World War II when their ship was sunk by a Japanese torpedo.
