675 Global SHOVLIN Family Members

SHOVLIN Family History

This most unusual surname is of Old Gaelic origin, and is a variant of "Shevlin", itself the Anglicized form of "O'Seibhleain", composed of the Gaelic prefix "O", male descendant of, and a personal name from "sibhal", swift. According to the Four Masters the principal sept of "O'Sibhlen" was located in County Offaly, and was of considerable importance there prior to the Anglo-Norman Invasion in the 12th Century, but their descendants are no longer found in that part of the country. There was also an Ui Fiachrach sept (Counties Mayo, Sligo and Galway), while the name has a long standing association with County Donegal, for two of the name were among the followers of Hugh O'Donnell in 1601 (see below).