The surname is believed to be derived from the French "fouille," which means "an excavation."
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Early Origins of the Foyles family
The surname Foyles was first found in Hampshire where they held a family seat from ancient times, some say they were granted lands by William the Conqueror after his conquest of England in 1066. One of the first of this name in records is Henry de Foyle, recorded in 1249 in the Assize Rolls for Wiltshire.
Early History of the Foyles family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Foyles research. Another 125 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1327 and 1642 are included under the topic Early Foyles History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Foyles Spelling Variations
Endless spelling variations are a prevailing characteristic of Norman surnames. Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules, and the introduction of Norman French added an unfamiliar ingredient to the English linguistic stew. French and Latin, the languages of the court, also influenced spellings. Finally, Medieval scribes generally spelled words according to how they sounded, so one person was often referred to by different spellings in different documents. The name has been spelled Foyle, Foile, Foille, Foylle and others.
Early Notables of the Foyles family
More information is included under the topic Early Foyles Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
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Migration of the Foyles family
To escape the political and religious persecution within England at the time, many English families left for the various British colonies abroad. The voyage was extremely difficult, though, and the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving. But for those who made it, the trip was most often worth it. Many of the families who arrived went on to make valuable contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families reveals a number of immigrants bearing the name Foyles or a variant listed above: William Foyle, who was an immigrant in bondage, who arrived in Virginia in 1774, Edward Foyle who settled in Philadelphia in 1836, Samuel Foyle, who settled in Philadelphia in 1873, Thomas Foyle and his wife Judith Sally Foyle, who came to Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1827, as well as John Foyle, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1877..
