Contents [hide]

Pyle History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Suggested Reading Citations

Pyle History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland

There three schools of thought about the origin of the name Pyle. First, some believe the name "was derived from a geographical locality, 'at the peel' or fortified house." 1 2 Secondly, some believe the name was an "English 'west-country word for a creek,'." 3 4 5 Finally, one source claims the name to be derived from the Old English word "pil," denoting a "dweller by the stake or post." 6

In heraldry, a "pile" is an ordinary or division of the field, typically drawn as a pointed spike or arrow from the top of the shield towards the bottom (as shown in the Coat of Arms for the name which shows three gold piles)

Early Origins of the Pyle family

The surname Pyle was first found in Somerset, where Henry de la Pil was recorded in 1221. Later, we found Robert Pile in the Assize Rolls for Somerset in 1243 and Robert Attepile in Somerset in 1274. 6

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 proved the widespread use of the name by that time: Richard de la Pile, Somerset; Benedict de la Pille, Devon; and Nicholas de Pille, Essex. 1

But Somerset proved to be the stronghold of the family as Kirby's Quest noted: Walter atte Pyle; Richard atte Pile; and William atte Pyle all held lands there 1 Edward III (during the first year of King Edward III's reign.) 7

The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 had only one entry, that of Thomas del Pille. 1

"Pile or Pyle is a name that has long been associated with Exeter and its neighbourhood. George Pyle was sheriff of Exeter in 1620. Pile was a common name in Exmouth in the 17th century. The name still mostly gathers round Exeter and its district. " 8

In Scotland, "John Pill held a tenement in Irvine in 1418. Philip Pyle, merchant of the realm of Scotland, had safe conducts to travel in England in 1444 and 1446. Philip Pyle was a notary public in Jedworth in 1454, William Pyle or Pyll appears as burgess of Irvine in 1465 and 1472, and Thomas Pyle was admitted burgess of Aberdeen in 1506. John Pill was curator for Robert Vaus in Aberdeen in 1533, six persons of the name are recorded in 1577, Isobel Pylie appears in Edinburgh in 1621, and George Pyll is recorded in Oxnam nook in 1685." 3

Early History of the Pyle family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Pyle research. Another 218 words (16 lines of text) covering the years 1418, 1444, 1446, 1597, 1603, 1650, 1674, 1756, 1780 and 1804 are included under the topic Early Pyle History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Pyle Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Pyle, Pile, Pyll, Pyles, Pylie, Pilie, Pill and others.

Early Notables of the Pyle family

More information is included under the topic Early Pyle Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Pyle Ranking

In the United States, the name Pyle is the 2,295^th most popular surname with an estimated 12,435 people with that name. 9

Pyle migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Pyle Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Nicholas Pyle, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1683 10
Robert Pyle, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1683 10

Pyle Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

John Pyle, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1765 10

Pyle Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

William L. Pyle, aged 55, who arrived in New York in 1919 aboard the ship "Brazos" from San Juan, Puerto Rico 11
Louise A. Pyle, aged 51, who arrived in New York in 1919 aboard the ship "Brazos" from San Juan, Puerto Rico 11
McComas Pyle, aged 17, who arrived in New York in 1920 aboard the ship "Lockport" from Buenos Aires via St. Thomas 11
Wellden Pyle, aged 25, who arrived in New York, N.Y. in 1920 aboard the ship "Fort Victoria" from Hamilton, Bermuda 11

Pyle migration to Australia +

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

Pyle Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Thomas Pyle, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Bolivar" in 1850 12

Pyle 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:

Pyle Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Miss Sarah Pyle, (b. 1841), aged 32, British settler travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Surat" going to Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand in 1873, the ship sunk at the Catlins River all the passengers were transported to Dunedin via various rescure vessels 13

Contemporary Notables of the name Pyle (post 1700) +

Nancy Pyle (1937-2023), née Halloran, an American educator and politician who served on the San Jose City Council from 2005 to 2012
Jeffrey P. Pyle (1964-2022), American politician and educator from Kittanning, Pennsylvania, Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 2005 to 2021
John Howard Pyle (1906-1987), American politician, Governor of Arizona (1951-1955)
Thomas Delmer "Artimus" Pyle (b. 1948), American musician best known as the drummer for Lynyrd Skynyrd
Denver Dell Pyle (1920-1997), American film and television actor
Ernie Taylor Pyle (1900-1945), American Pulitzer prize-winning journalist (1944, Correspondence)
Howard Pyle (1853-1911), American illustrator of books for young audiences
John Howard Pyle (1906-1987), American Republican politician, Governor of Arizona, 1951-55 14
John Pyle, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Kansas, 2008, 2012; Chair of Ellis County Republican Party, 2011 14
James S. Pyle, American politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from Ohio 9th District, 1902 14
... (Another 18 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Citations +

Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
Charnock, Richard, Stephen, Ludus Patronymicus of The Etymology of Curious Surnames. London: Trubner & Co., 60 Paternoster Row, 1868. Print.
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
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)
Ellis Island Search retrieved 15th November 2022. Retrieved from https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/passenger-result
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) BOLIVAR 1850. Retrieved http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1850Bolivar.gif
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, February 3) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html