Boyle Surname: Origin and Coat of Arms
What does Boyle mean, and where does it come from? Here is a brief introduction.
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Origin of the Boyle name
Boyle comes from Ó Baoighill, "descendant of Baoigheall", a personal name often explained as "vain pledge" or "dangerous pledge". The O'Boyles were a leading sept of Tirconnell in County Donegal, ruling from Ballyweel. The name remains numerous in Donegal and neighbouring Ulster counties.
Our historical archives hold much more on the Boyle name: dates, names and records of early bearers.
This overview covers the Boyle name in Ireland. We also hold records of the name in other countries, such as the United States, England and Scotland; your full pack is researched for your family's country of origin.
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Boyle name FAQ
What does the Boyle name mean?
Descendant of Baoigheall. Common variants include O'Boyle, Boal, Bohill.
Where does the Boyle surname come from?
It originates in Ireland, and is also found in the United States, England and Scotland.
Is there a Boyle coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals, not whole surnames, so there is no single Boyle crest. Herald Lab paints a personalized Boyle coat of arms based on historic heraldry.
Researched by Herald Lab Research Studio, since 1993. Sources: MacLysaght, The Surnames of Ireland; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford).