Show ContentsBohill History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Irish surname Bohill comes from the Irish Gaelic Ó Baoighill, possibly derived from the earlier Irish word "baigell," which meant "having profitable pledges." 1

Early Origins of the Bohill family

The surname Bohill was first found in Donegal (Irish: Dún na nGall), northwest Ireland in the province of Ulster, sometimes referred to as County Tyrconnel, where they were descended from King Maoldun Baoghal (meaning "peril") of the Heremon line of Irish Kings. 2

Early History of the Bohill family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bohill research. Another 187 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1078, 1164, 1296, 1566, 1574, 1588, 1607, 1609, 1612, 1617, 1621, 1623, 1639, 1643, 1644, 1646, 1667, 1679, 1682, 1687, 1694, 1698, 1699 and 1702 are included under the topic Early Bohill History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bohill Spelling Variations

A name was often recorded during the Middle Ages under several different spelling variations during the life of its bearer because literacy was rare there was no real push to clearly define any of the languages found in the British Isles at that time. Variations found of the name Bohill include Boyle, O'Boyle, Boghill, Hill, Boile, Baoghal, Baole and many more.

Early Notables of the Bohill family

Notable amongst the family name at this time was Richard Boyle, 1st Earl of Cork, (1566-1643), an English settler in Ireland; The Lady Alice Boyle, Countess of Barrymore, (1607-1667) was the eldest daughter and second child of Richard Boyle, 1st Earl of Cork; Richard Boyle (c.1574-1644), Archbishop of Tuam; Michael Boyle, the younger (1609?-1702), Archbishop of Armagh; Roger Boyle (1617?-1687), an Irish Protestant churchman, Bishop of Down and Connor and...
Another 69 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Bohill Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


New Zealand Bohill 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:

Bohill Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • John Bohill, aged 21, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Eveline" in 1865 3
  • Mr. John Bohill, South African settler travelling from Cape Town aboard the ship "Eveline" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 22nd January 1865 4


  1. MacLysaght, Edward, The Surnames of Ireland. Ireland: Irish Academic Press, sixth edition, 1985. Print. (ISBN 0-7165-2366-3)
  2. O'Hart, John, Irish Pedigrees 5th Edition in 2 Volumes. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1976. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0737-4)
  3. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 4th November 2011). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  4. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html


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