Sullivan/Sullivant name difference

[dan_sullivan@prodigy.com (MR DAN A SULLIVAN)]

In response to Dave's note here's what I've found out on the subject of
the Sullivan "t".

I found one Sullivan genealogy written by Joseph Sullivant around 1870
that discussed the "t".  He said it was added at an "earlier time" to
differentiate it from another Sullivan family that this Sullivan line
did not like.

I've seen some people explain it away as colonial creative spelling. 
But there is some data in the IGI that indicates that the spelling was
used in Ireland in the late 1600s.  The IGI entry was from some parish
records.

It does seem to to recur generation after generation.  At least in my
family  it was repeated for two (Isaac Sullivant b. abt. 1770 and Joseph
Sullivant b. 1806) generations before the "t" was dropped.  Both these
family members signed their deeds with their names.  And Joseph Sullivan
b. 1847 (my great grandfather) who  dropped the "t" was illiterate
according to the census.

I've seen lines in Sullivan lines in  VA, MD, and NC that had the "t" on
their names.  So I don't think it is coincidence but I don't really know