| ![Show Contents]() Doyle History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
Etymology of DoyleWhat does the name Doyle mean? The Doyle surname is generally thought to derive from a place name, perhaps Pont Doylly, or Duilly in Normandy. Alternatively, the Oyler, Ollier and similar spellings could have been derived from the English occupational name for an extractor or seller of oil having derived from the Anglo-Norman French word "olier" from "oile." In northern England linseed oil was commonly derived from flax and used as a substitute for olive oil. 1 Early Origins of the Doyle familyThe surname Doyle was first found in Oxfordshire where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor. After the Battle of Hastings in 1066, William, Duke of Normandy, having prevailed over King Harold, granted most of Britain to his many victorious Barons. It was not uncommon to find a Baron, or a Bishop, with 60 or more Lordships scattered throughout the country. These he gave to his sons, nephews and other junior lines of his family and they became known as under-tenants. They adopted the Norman system of surnames which identified the under-tenant with his holdings so as to distinguish him from the senior stem of the family. After many rebellious wars between his Barons, Duke William, commissioned a census of all England to determine in 1086, settling once and for all, who held which land. He called the census the Domesday Book, 2 indicating that those holders registered would hold the land until the end of time. Hence, conjecturally, the surname is descended from the tenant of the lands of Eynsham held by Columban, a Norman noble as under tenant of the Bishop of Lincoln who was recorded in the Domesday Book census of 1086. His overlord was Robert d'Ouilli. Early History of the Doyle familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Doyle research. Another 182 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1071, 1073, 1120, 1129, 1354, 1542, 1573, 1576, 1577, 1585, 1605, 1614, 1616, 1633, 1640, 1641, 1663, 1666, 1677, 1709 and 1815 are included under the topic Early Doyle History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Doyle Spelling VariationsSpelling variations of this family name include: Doyley, D'Oyley, Doyle, D'Oyle, Doylee, Doley, Duley, Duly, Duely, Dueley, Ollie, Oyler, Oylie, D'Oyly, Olley, Oulley, Oullie, Ollie, Owley, Oyly, Oilli, Oiley, L'Oyle and many more. Early Notables of the Doyle familyOutstanding amongst the family at this time was - Thomas D'Oyley (fl. 1585), English antiquary, the second son of Sir Henry D'Oyly, knight, of Pondhall in the parish of Hadleigh, Suffolk; Robert D'Oyley (1542-1577) of Hambleden, Buckinghamshire, who...
Doyle World RankingIn the United States, the name Doyle is the 419th most popular surname with an estimated 67,149 people with that name. 3 However, in Canada, the name Doyle is ranked the 284th most popular surname with an estimated 15,204 people with that name. 4 And in Quebec, Canada, the name Doyle is the 912nd popular surname. 5 Newfoundland, Canada ranks Doyle as 106th with 318 people. 6 Australia ranks Doyle as 171st with 18,411 people. 7 New Zealand ranks Doyle as 531st with 1,310 people. 8 The United Kingdom ranks Doyle as 252nd with 23,854 people. 9
| Doyle migration to the United States | + |
Some of the first settlers of this family name were: 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 | + |
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
| Suggested Readings for the name Doyle | + |
- Patrick Doyle and Timothy Keane, Their Families and Descendants by Clarke L. Neal.
- Hanks, Patricia and Flavia Hodges, A Dictionary of Surnames. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1988. Print. (ISBN 0-19-211592-8)
- Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
- "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
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