7,745 Global SLAVIN Family Members

SLAVIN Family History

This ancient and distinguished surname is of Old Irish origin, and is an Anglicized form of the Old Gaelic "O'Sleibhin", descendant of "Sleibhin", a personal byname from "sliabh", mountain, and originally given to one of magnificent bearing, or splendid stature. Traditionally, Irish family names are taken from the heads of tribes, revered elders, or some illustrious warrior, and are usually prefixed by "O", male descendant of, or "Mac", denoting "son of". The great O'Sleibhin sept were a branch of the Cenel Eoghain in Ulster, that is, belonging to that group of people descended from Eoghan, son of Niall of the Nine Hostages, a 4th Century King of Ireland.