Gilfoyle History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:

Ireland

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The spelling and overall form of Irish names often vary considerably. The original Gaelic form of the name Gilfoyle is Mac Giolla Phoil, denoting the descendant of a follower of St. Paul.

Early Origins of the Gilfoyle family

The surname Gilfoyle was first found in County Offaly (Irish: Uíbh Fháilí) originally the Kingdom of Uí Failghe, located in central Ireland in the Province of Leinster, where they held a family seat from very ancient times.

Early History of the Gilfoyle family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Gilfoyle research. Another 56 words (4 lines of text) covering the year 1576 is included under the topic Early Gilfoyle History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Gilfoyle Spelling Variations

In the Middle Ages many people were recorded under different spellings each time their name was written down. Research on the Gilfoyle family name revealed numerous spelling variations, including Gilfoyle, MacGilfoyle, MacIlfoyle, Guilfoyle and many more.

Early Notables of the Gilfoyle family

Notable amongst the family name at this time was

Gilfoyle of County Offaly

Gilfoyle migration to the United States +

Ireland saw an enormous decrease in its population in the 19th century due to immigration and death. This pattern of immigration began slowly in the late 18th century and gradually grew throughout the early portion of the 19th century. However, a dramatic increase in the country's immigration numbers occurred when the Great Potato Famine struck in the 1840s. The early immigrants to North America were primarily destined to be farmers tending to their own plot of land, those that came later initially settled within pre-established urban centers. These urban immigrants provided the cheap labor that the fast developing United States and soon to be Canada required. Regardless of their new lifestyle in North America, the Irish immigrants to the United States and Canada made invaluable contributions to their newly adopted societies. An investigation of immigrant and passenger lists revealed many Gilfoyles:

Gilfoyle Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Patrick Gilfoyle, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1851 1
Michael Gilfoyle who settled in Philadelphia in 1872

Gilfoyle migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Gilfoyle Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Bridget Gilfoyle, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1835
John Gilfoyle, who arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1843
Thomas Gilfoyle, who arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1843

Gilfoyle migration to Australia +

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

Gilfoyle Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

William Gilfoyle, aged 18, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1858 aboard the ship "Bee"

Gilfoyle 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:

Gilfoyle Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Rosanna Gilfoyle, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Ernestina" in 1865
Bridget Gilfoyle, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Ernestina" in 1865