Show ContentsO'Boil History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Irish surname O'Boil 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 O'Boil family

The surname O'Boil 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 O'Boil family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our O'Boil 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 O'Boil History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

O'Boil Spelling Variations

Irish names were rarely spelled consistently in the Middle Ages. Spelling variations of the name O'Boil dating from that time include Boyle, O'Boyle, Boghill, Hill, Boile, Baoghal, Baole and many more.

Early Notables of the O'Boil 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 O'Boil Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the O'Boil family

A massive amount of Ireland's native population left the island in the 19th century for North America and Australia in hopes of finding more opportunities and an escape from discrimination and oppression. A great portion of these migrants arrived on the eastern shores of the North American continent. Although they were generally poor and destitute, and, therefore, again discriminated against, these Irish people were heartily welcomed for the hard labor involved in the construction of railroads, canals, roadways, and buildings. Many others were put to work in the newly established factories or agricultural projects that were so essential to the development of what would become two of the wealthiest nations in the world. The Great Potato Famine during the late 1840s initiated the largest wave of Iris immigration. Early North American immigration and passenger lists have revealed a number of people bearing the name O'Boil or a variant listed above: Benjamin Boyle who settled in New Hampshire in 1718; Christopher Boyle settled in Virginia in 1645; Bernard, Charles, Daniel, Dennis, Edward, Francis, Hugh, James, John, Joseph, Michael, Patrick, Richard, Robert, Thomas and William Boyle, all arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania between 1820 and 1860. In Newfoundland, Joanna Boyle was married in St. John's in 1832.



  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)


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