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Osullivan Family History

Osullivan Surname Meaning

Irish (Munster): Anglicized form of Gaelic Ó Súileabháin ‘descendant of Súileabhán’ a personal name from súil ‘eye’ + dubh ‘dark’ + the diminutive suffix -án.

Compare Sullivan.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


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Where is the Osullivan family from?

You can see how Osullivan families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Osullivan family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Osullivan families were found in USA in 1920. In 1891 there were 103 Osullivan families living in London. This was about 28% of all the recorded Osullivan's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Osullivan families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Osullivan surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Osullivan ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Osullivan. 25% of Osullivan men worked as a General Labourer and 75% of Osullivan women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Osullivan were Dock Labourer and Domestic Duties.

View Census Data for Osullivan | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • General Labourer
    25%
  • General Labourer Heavy Worker
    25%
  • Cook
    25%
  • Dock Labourer
    25%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    75%
  • Domestic Servant
    9%
  • Cook
    6%
  • Domestic Duties
    6%

What Osullivan family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 139,000 census records available for the last name Osullivan. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Osullivan census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Osullivan

Passenger Lists

There are 42,000 immigration records available for the last name Osullivan. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Osullivan immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 14,000 military records available for the last name Osullivan. For the veterans among your Osullivan ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Osullivan military records

You've only scratched the surface of Osullivan family history

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What is the average Osullivan lifespan?

Between 1943 and 2004, in the United States, Osullivan life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1947, and highest in 1989. The average life expectancy for Osullivan in 1943 was 68, and 74 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Osullivan

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Osullivan ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

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