Eyles History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The origins of the Eyles name come from when the Anglo-Saxon tribes ruled over Britain. The name Eyles was originally derived from a family having lived on an island. The surname Eyles is derived from the Old French word isle, which means island and has become the modern French word île. The surname Eyles belongs to the class of topographic surnames, which were given to people who resided near physical features such as hills, streams, churches, or types of trees. However, the name Eyles may also be a patronymic surname derived from the Anglo-Saxon personal names Æl or Æthel.

Early Origins of the Eyles family

The surname Eyles was first found in Somerset where they held a family seat from very ancient times, some say well before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 A.D.

Early History of the Eyles family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Eyles research. Another 220 words (16 lines of text) covering the years 1320, 1338, 1679, 1683, 1688, 1703, 1713, 1715, 1716, 1721, 1727, 1734, 1735 and 1745 are included under the topic Early Eyles History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Eyles Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, French and other languages became incorporated into English through the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Eyles include Eyles, Eeles, Eels, Eylers and others.

Early Notables of the Eyles family

Notables of the family at this time include

Sir John Eyles, Lord Mayor of London; John Eyles (died 1703), of Great St. Helens, London and Southbroom, near Devizes, Wiltshire, an English politician, Member of the Parliament for Devizes in 1679...
Francis Eyles (c.1679-1735), of Essex Street, London, was an English politician, Member of the Parliament for Devizes (1715-1721.)

Eyles migration to the United States +

A great wave of immigration to the New World was the result of the enormous political and religious disarray that struck England at that time. Families left for the New World in extremely large numbers. The long journey was the end of many immigrants and many more arrived sick and starving. Still, those who made it were rewarded with an opportunity far greater than they had known at home in England. These emigrant families went on to make significant contributions to these emerging colonies in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers carried this name or one of its variants:

Eyles Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

George Eyles, who made his home in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1754

Eyles migration to Australia +

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

Eyles Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. John Eyles, English convict who was convicted in Warminister, Wiltshire, England for 10 years, transported aboard the "China" on 65th January 1846, arriving in Norfolk Island, Australia 1
John Eyles, aged 30, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1849 aboard the ship "Duke of Wellington" 2
Ambrose Eyles, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "John Munn" in 1849 3
Ann Eyles, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "John Munn" in 1849 3
Miss. Jane Eyles, (b. 1827), aged 23, English convict who was convicted in Warminster, Wiltshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Baretto Junior" on 5th April 1850, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 4

Eyles 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:

Eyles Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Daniel Eyles, aged 44, a farmer, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Mary Ann" in 1842
Jane Eyles, aged 44, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Mary Ann" in 1842
Mary Eyles, aged 23, a servant, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Mary Ann" in 1842
William Eyles, aged 18, a farmer, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Mary Ann" in 1842
Jane Eyles, aged 16, a servant, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Mary Ann" in 1842
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Eyles (post 1700) +

Francis Eyles (1704-1750), English politician, Member of the Parliament of England for Devizes (1727-1742)
Sir Francis Haskins Eyles -Stiles (b. 1762), 3rd Baronet, a British landowner; the only son and heir of Sir John Eyles, 2nd Baronet he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1742
Derek Charles Eyles (1902-1974), British illustrator and comics artist
Dr. John Eyles, Canadian social and policy scientist, Professor of Geography at McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario

Citations +

Convict Records of Australia. Retrieved 5th February 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/china
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) The DUKE OF WELLINGTON 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849Duke%20of%20Wellington.htm
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) JOHN MUNN 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849JohnMunnPassengers.htm
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/baretto-junior