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Author Topic: O Sullivan / Sullivan  (Read 87 times)

Offline Millywicket71

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O Sullivan / Sullivan
« on: Tuesday 27 February 24 11:22 GMT (UK) »
Hi  Can anyone shed light on why names change down the generations.  I was very kindly shown my great grandparents weeding cert on here Michael Sullivan & Johanna Mary Sullivan (maiden Burke)

My grandfather was Patrick Sullivan born 24 May 1921 in Athlacca.  However on my grandfathers documents in the uk he is O'Sullivan?

Is this a normal thing?  We have always wondered why his cousin was Sullivan yet my grandfather, then my mother and siblings were O'Sullivan

Any help would be appreciated

Online KGarrad

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Re: O Sullivan / Sullivan
« Reply #1 on: Tuesday 27 February 24 11:52 GMT (UK) »
Sullivan and O'Sullivan would have been interchangeable.

I did a tree for a friend some years ago, and found the same issue with O'Reilly and Reilly.
I think it rather depends on How Irish/English they wanted to appear?
Garrad (Suffolk, Essex, Somerset), Crocker (Somerset), Vanstone (Devon, Jersey), Sims (Wiltshire), Bridger (Kent)

Offline Sinann

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Re: O Sullivan / Sullivan
« Reply #2 on: Tuesday 27 February 24 13:13 GMT (UK) »
People began reusing the O Mc and Mac around the time of the Celtic Revival, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celtic_Revival
Just stems from a new sense of pride in themselves and their country.
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