Pyles History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
There three schools of thought about the origin of the name Pyles. 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 Pyles family
The surname Pyles 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 Pyles family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Pyles 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 Pyles History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Pyles Spelling Variations
Spelling variations of this family name include: Pyle, Pile, Pyll, Pyles, Pylie, Pilie, Pill and others.
Early Notables of the Pyles family
Another 45 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Pyles Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Pyles Ranking
In the United States, the name Pyles is the 5,260th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 9
Pyles migration to the United States +
Some of the first settlers of this family name were:
Pyles Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
- Joseph Pyles, who landed in Washington County, Pennsylvania in 1834 10
Contemporary Notables of the name Pyles (post 1700) +
- Vern Pyles, former Republican member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
- Stephan Pyles, American world-class chef, cookbook author, philanthropist, and educator
- Howard Pyles (1853-1911), American illustrator
- M. A. Pyles, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from West Virginia, 1944 11
- John W. Pyles, American Democratic Party politician, Member of West Virginia State House of Delegates from Monongalia County; Elected 1962, 1964 11
- John W. Pyles, American politician, Member of West Virginia State House of Delegates from Wetzel County, 1937-38 11
- John E. Pyles, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for Presidential Elector for Kansas, 1972 11
- James A. Pyles, American Democratic Party politician, Postmaster at New Martinsville, West Virginia, 1915-23 11
- James Pyles, American Democratic Party politician, Vice-chair of West Virginia Democratic Party, 1969 11
- J. B. Pyles, American Democratic Party politician, Chair of Wetzel County Democratic Party, 1917 11
- ... (Another 2 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Historic Events for the Pyles family +
Monongah Mine
- Mr. Homer Pyles (b. 1882), Italian coal miner who was in mine 6 at the Monongah mine on 6th December 1907 when it exploded and collapsed; he died 12
Suggested Readings for the name Pyles +
- The Pyle-Pile Family in America, 1642-1980; also Pyles-Piles by Howard Thornton Pyle.
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)
- The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, February 3) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
- Monongah Mining Disaster retrieved on 8th August 2021. (Retrieved fromhttps://usminedisasters.miningquiz.com/saxsewell/monongah.htm).