Who Are The Boyles?

My original surname was Boyle.

(here's why it changed all those years ago)

Your Grandad, Derek Boyle, spent a good few years tracking the family tree, it's a thing old people do I s'pose 👴

But where did the name "Boyle" come from? The history that we were told includes Ireland after a surname trip across the water from Scotland post the "De Boylé" family entering England from Normandy in 1066 and heading up north.

"Hah, you're originally French!" we jokingly taunted our slightly anti-French Cockney father.

But this is just the family story we told each other, who knows if it's true at all, let's find out.

If you search "Boyle family name" then it's all about the Irish Boyles, the O'Boyles

The Irish surname Boyle comes from the Irish Gaelic Ó Baoighill, possibly derived from the earlier Irish word "baigell," which meant "having profitable pledges."

[source: House of Names, Boyle]

The Irish surname Boyle is a variant of O'Boyle, derived from the Gaelic 'O'Baoighill', meaning the male descendant of the rash one! Because there is some uncertainty about the exact derivation of the name, it is also believed to have connections with the Irish word geall, meaning "pledge" combined with "baoi" meaning "treacherous".

In the Middle Ages the O'Boyles were powerful and respected chieftains in County Donegal, who shared control of west Ulster with the O'Donnells and the O'Dohertys. They were also known for their ruddy complexion!

[source: Ireland Roots: Boyle]

It's also the Irish Boyles that have the following crest

But what about that Normandy connection?

The name Boyle comes from the Norman town of Beauville near Caen. In 1164 David de Boivil appears as a witness to a charter. In 1275 Richard de Boyville held the lands of Kelburn in Ayrshire. In around 1291 Henry de Boyville was keeper of Dumfries Castle, Wigtown Castle and Kirkcudbright Castle. Richard de Boyvil and Robert de Boyvil both appear on the Ragman Rolls in 1296 submitting to Edward I of England. Richard Boyle married a daughter of Sir Robert Comyn.

[source: Wikipedia: Clan Boyle]

Oh ok, so that part of the story also seems real. Hmmmm, seems we have Irish Boyles AND Scottish Boyles.

An explanation of the Scottish Boyles and how they were given lands in Scotland and the surname now occurs most often in Glasgow, Dunbartonshire, Renfrewshire and Lanarkshire

The Boyles were cousins of Hugo de Morville, who in 1124 was invited to accompany David I when he returned to Scotland from exile England. Hugo was appointed Hereditary Great Constable of Scotland, and among other possessions, was granted the lands of Cunningham and Largs. Around 1140, he settled the portion of the estate at Kelvin on the de Boyville family.

Oh, and the seventh Earl of Glasgow, David Boyle, was Governor of New Zealand from 1891-1897.

Scotland Boyles are famous as well as the Irish with their own crest

Dominus Providebit - God Will Provide

So did the Irish surname come about after a hop over the water from Scotland - maybe

Although generally regarded as an Irish surname of great antiquity, there is a possibility that it could be English of French origins brought to Ireland during the Norman invasion in the 12th century, The French origins of the name in England could derive from the Norman-French as'Boileau' meaning 'water wood' or 'Boille', a nickname of endearment for a small, rounded person, or possibly from 'de Boyville', meaning "from Boyville", a village in Normandy, France.

[source: Ireland Roots: Boyle]

Norman town - England - Scotland - Ireland. Dropping Boyles off along the route, those behind you are likely your ancestors, those ahead aren't connected.

However, it does seems that the Irish Boyles popped up all on their own and have nothing to do with the Norman / English / Scottish Boyles.

Except ...

Boyle is also a surname brought into Ireland by the English 'Adventurer' Richard Boyle in 1588. Born in Canterbury, Kent, he acquired estates in Co Waterford and Co Cork. He became Lord Treasurer of Ireland and was given the title Earl of Cork. His descendants were known as Earls of Cork and Orrery, and became well known for their learning. Virtually all of the Boyles listed in the 'Dictionary of National Biography' (Oxford), are of this Anglo-Irish family, including Robert Boyle (1627-1691) 'the father of modern chemistry'. I have seen the derivation of his name as Norman French De Binville. There are 32 Boyle households in Griffiths for Co Cork, and 11 for Co Waterford, although these would be ordinary householders of native Gaelic stock, rather than members of the Anglo-Irish family.

[source: Ireland101, Boyle Family History]

So there ya go, despite having a new Riversdale surname we are part of a lovely, ever expanding, web of Boyles that have a couple of very long histories centered around the Celtic nations of Normandy, Scotland, and Ireland ... And of course West London where my Dad's family were located.