Contents [hide]

Doyle History Etymology Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables World Ranking

United States Australia New Zealand West Indies

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Motto Suggested Reading Sources

Doyle History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

Etymology of Doyle

What does the name Doyle mean?

The spelling and overall form of Irish names often vary considerably. The original Gaelic form of the name Doyle is Ó Dubhghaill, derived from the words dubh, which means black, and ghall, which means foreigner, or "dubhgall," which meant "dark and tall." 1

Early Origins of the Doyle family

The surname Doyle was first found in the counties of Wicklow, Wexford, and Carlow. Although the name is now common throughout Ireland, it has always retained a close association with these southeastern Leinster counties. Although at least one historian gives their descent from Dubhgilla, King of Idrone in Leinster, more evidence points to descent from King Conn of the "Hundred Battles." His name comes from the hundreds of battles he fought and won, before his death in the 2nd century.

It is traditionally believed that the family takes its name from a Norseman who settled in Ireland prior to the Norman Conquest; a theory that is borne out by the fact that the Doyles tended to be more concentrated in the coastal regions favored by Norse settlers. Moreover, the Gaelic word dubhghall was used in early times to refer to a Norseman or Scandinavian. With the settlement of Norsemen in various places, several distinct septs called O Dubhghail probably arose independently. 2

Early History of the Doyle family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Doyle research. Another 153 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1786, 1797, 1834, 1868, 1873 and 1917 are included under the topic Early Doyle History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Doyle Spelling Variations

Names written in official documents were generally spelt as they sounded, leading to the problem of one name being recorded under several different variations, creating the illusion in records of more than one person. Among the many spelling variations of the surname Doyle that are preserved in documents of the family history are Doyle, O'Doyle, Doyill, Doill, Doile, Doyel and others.

Early Notables of the Doyle family

Notable amongst the family name at this time was

James "J.K.L." Doyle (1786-1834), Bishop of Kildare and Leighlan
Father William Doyle (1873-1917)
John "H.B." Doyle (1797-1868), contributor to "Punch" and grandfather of Arthur Conan Doyle

Doyle World Ranking

In the United States, the name Doyle is the 419^th most popular surname with an estimated 67,149 people with that name. 3 However, in Canada, the name Doyle is ranked the 284^th most popular surname with an estimated 15,204 people with that name. 4 And in Quebec, Canada, the name Doyle is the 912^nd popular surname. 5 Newfoundland, Canada ranks Doyle as 106^th with 318 people. 6 Australia ranks Doyle as 171^st with 18,411 people. 7 New Zealand ranks Doyle as 531^st with 1,310 people. 8 The United Kingdom ranks Doyle as 252^nd with 23,854 people. 9

Doyle migration to the United States +

Irish families began to immigrate to British North America and the United States in the 18th century, but the greatest influx of Irish immigrants came during the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. The earlier settlers came to North America after a great deal of consideration and by paying relatively high fees for their passage. These settlers were primarily drawn by the promise of land. Those later settlers that came during the 1840's were trying to escape the conditions of poverty, starvation, disease, and death that had stricken Ireland. Due to the enormity of their numbers and the late date of their arrival, these immigrants primarily became hired laborers instead of homesteading settlers like their predecessors. An exhaustive search of immigration and passenger lists has revealed many Irish immigrants North America bearing the name Doyle:

Doyle Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Edward Doyle who settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania as early as 1683
Ed Doyle, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1683 10

Doyle Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Owen Doyle, who arrived in Maryland in 1711 10
Elizabeth Doyle, who arrived in Boston, Massachusetts in 1716 10
Eliza Doyle, who settled in Boston Massachusetts in 1716
Thomas Doyle, who arrived in Virginia in 1717 10
Elizabeth Doyle, who settled in Virginia in 1723
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Doyle Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Lawrence Doyle, who landed in America in 1800 10
Walter Doyle, who landed in America in 1801 10
Patk Doyle, aged 20, who landed in New York, NY in 1803 10
Michael Doyle, aged 27, who landed in New York, NY in 1804 10
Margaret Doyle, aged 34, who landed in New York, NY in 1804 10
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Doyle migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Doyle Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

James Doyle, who arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1749
James Doyle, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1750
Darby Doyle, who arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1750
Mr. Francis Drake U.E. who settled in Queensbury, York County, New Brunswick c. 1784 11

Doyle Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

John Doyle, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1801
Lawrence Doyle, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1803
Johanna Doyle, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1807
Mary Doyle, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1810
Margaret Doyle, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1816
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Doyle migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Doyle Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. James Doyle, Irish convict who was convicted in Carlow, Ireland for life, transported aboard the "Atlas" on 29th November 1801, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 12
Mr. Laurence Doyle, (b. 1762), aged 39, Irish convict who was convicted in Kilkenny, Ireland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Atlas" on 29th November 1801, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 12
Ms. Mary Doyle, (b. 1775), aged 26, Irish convict who was convicted in Carlow, Ireland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Atlas" on 29th November 1801, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, she died in 1830 12
Mr. Patrick Doyle, Irish convict who was convicted in Dublin, Ireland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Atlas" on 29th November 1801, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 12
Mr. Timothy Doyle, Irish convict who was convicted in Wexford, Ireland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Atlas" on 29th November 1801, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 12
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Doyle migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Doyle Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Thomas Doyle, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Cashmere" in 1851 13
Mr. Michael Doyle, (b. 1840), aged 20, Irish labourer from Dublin travelling from Bristol aboard the ship "William Miles" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 21st August 1860 14
Mrs. Bridget Doyle, (b. 1842), aged 18, Irish settler from Dublin travelling from Bristol aboard the ship "William Miles" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 21st August 1860 14
Mr. John Doyle, (b. 1836), aged 26, Scottish ploughman, from Kirkcudbrightshire travelling from London aboard the ship "Queen of Mersey" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, Southland, South Island, New Zealand on 20th October 1862 14
Mr. Doyle, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Sebastopol" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 21st May 1863 14
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Doyle (post 1700) +

Matthew Doyle (1954-2025), Irish-born, American professional tour tennis player, a long-time Irish Davis Cup player who after retiring from playing, he was Ireland's coach for several years
William T. Doyle (1926-2024), American politician, academic, and author, Member of the Vermont Senate (1969-2017)
Lauren Doyle (b. 1991), American rugby sevens player, who competed at the 2016, 2020 and 2024 Olympic games
Robert Dennis "Denny" Doyle (1944-2022), American Major League Baseball second baseman who played for the Philadelphia Phillies, California Angels, and Boston Red Sox
Peter G. Doyle, American mathematician of circle packing who identified the Doyle spiral, a pattern of non-crossing circles in a plane in the late 1980s or early 1990s
Debra Doyle (1952-2020), American author
Amanda Lenker Doyle, two-time American Casting Society of America Award nominated casting manager
Jerry Doyle (1956-2016), American talk radio host, known for his nationally syndicated talk show, The Jerry Doyle Show
Arthur Doyle (1944-2014), American jazz saxophonist, flutist, zanzithophonist and vocalist
Jack Doyle (1869-1958), American Major League Baseball player
... (Another 168 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Doyle family +

Halifax Explosion

Master John Thomas Fred Doyle (1908-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 15
Mrs. Elizabeth Ann Doyle (1885-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 15
Miss Gertrude Helen Louise Doyle (1915-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 15

HMAS Sydney II

Mr. Edward Francis Doyle (1922-1941), Australian Able Seaman from Prospect, South Australia, Australia, who sailed into battle aboard HMAS Sydney II and died in the sinking 16

HMS Repulse

Mr. Thomas Doyle, British Stoker Petty Officer, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking 17

Mount Mulligan Mine

Phillip Doyle, (J. Long), Irish-born, Australian coal miner who was killed in the Mount Mulligan Mine explosion in 1921

Pan Am Flight 103 (Lockerbie)

Michael Joseph Doyle (1958-1988), American Accountant from Voorhees, New Jersey, America, who flew aboard the Pan Am Flight 103 from Frankfurt to Detroit, known as the Lockerbie bombing in 1988 and died 18

RMS Lusitania

Mr. Michael Doyle, Irish 3rd Class passenger from County Kerry, Ireland, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and survived the sinking 19
Miss Anna Doyle, Irish 3rd Class passenger residing in New York, New York, USA returning to Ireland, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking 19
Mr. Peter Doyle, Irish Leading Fireman from Liverpool, England, who worked aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking 20
Mr. Joseph Doyle, English Trimmer from England, who worked aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and survived the sinking 20
Mr. John Doyle, Irish Fireman from Liverpool, England, who worked aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking 20

RMS Titanic

Mr. Laurence Doyle (d. 1912), aged 27, English Fireman/Stoker from Southampton, Hampshire who worked aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 21
Miss Elizabeth Doyle (d. 1912), aged 24, Irish Third Class passenger from Bree, Wexford who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 21

SS Atlantic

Mary Doyle, who was traveling aboard the ship "SS Atlantic" when it struck rocks off Nova Scotia in 1873, died in the sinking
Mr. Pat Doyle, Irish traveler aboard the ship "SS Atlantic" when it struck rocks off Nova Scotia in 1873, died in the sinking

SS Newfoundland

Mr. Thomas Doyle, Newfoundlander from Harbour Grace, who on the 30th March 1914 he was part of the Seal Crew of the "SS Newfoundland" leaving the ship to intercept the Stephano which took him to the hunting grounds, he disembarked to begin sealing, but was caught in a thickening storm, attempting to return to the Newfoundland he and the 132 crew made camp for two days the sealers were stranded on the ice in a blizzard attempting to return to the ship, he survived

USS Arizona

Mr. Wand B. Doyle, American Coxswain from Kentucky, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 22

The Doyle Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Fortitudine Vincit
Motto Translation: He conquers by fortitude.

Sources +

O'Hart, John, Irish Pedigrees 5th Edition in 2 Volumes. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1976. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0737-4)
MacLysaght, Edward, Irish Families Their Names, Arms and Origins 4th Edition. Dublin: Irish Academic, 1982. Print. (ISBN 0-7165-2364-7)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
"The first 1,000 family names by rank, Quebec (in French only)" Institut de la statistique du Quebec, https://statistique.quebec.ca/en/document/family-names-in-quebec/tableau/the-first-1000-family-names-by-rank-quebec
The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 14th July 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/atlas
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 5th November 2010). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
Halifax Explosion Book of Remembrance | Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. (Retrieved 2014, June 23) . Retrieved from https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion/halifax-explosion-book-remembrance
HMAS Sydney II, Finding Sydney Foundation - Roll of Honour. (Retrieved 2014, April 24) . Retrieved from http://www.findingsydney.com/roll.asp
HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html
Pan Am Flight 103's victims: A list of those killed 25 years ago | syracuse.com. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2013/12/pan_am_flight_103s_victims_a_list_of_those_killed_25_years_ago.html
Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 7) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/
Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 6) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/
Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html
Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html