SLEVIN Family History

Slevin or Slavin are the Anglicized forms of one of the most ancient and honourable of all surnames. They derive from "O'Sleibhin", descendant of the son (ain) of Sleibh, the latter being Gaelic for a mountain, and denoting a warrior of magnificent stature. Curiously, the name is mostly associated with poetry, the original nameholder being one of the earliest recorded bards (see below), but as he was also a close associate of Malachy, High King of Ireland, in his battles with Brian Boru, killed in 1014, it is probable that he was equally effective in the fighting role.