Contents [hide]

Doyle History Etymology Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables World Ranking

Australia New Zealand Canada United States

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Motto Suggested Reading Sources

Doyle History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

Etymology of Doyle

What does the name Doyle mean?

The spelling and overall form of Irish names often vary considerably. The original Gaelic form of the name Doyle is Ó Dubhghaill, derived from the words dubh, which means black, and ghall, which means foreigner, or "dubhgall," which meant "dark and tall." (O'Hart)

Early Origins of the Doyle family

The surname Doyle was first found in the counties of Wicklow, Wexford, and Carlow. Although the name is now common throughout Ireland, it has always retained a close association with these southeastern Leinster counties. Although at least one historian gives their descent from Dubhgilla, King of Idrone in Leinster, more evidence points to descent from King Conn of the "Hundred Battles." His name comes from the hundreds of battles he fought and won, before his death in the 2nd century.

It is traditionally believed that the family takes its name from a Norseman who settled in Ireland prior to the Norman Conquest; a theory that is borne out by the fact that the Doyles tended to be more concentrated in the coastal regions favored by Norse settlers. Moreover, the Gaelic word dubhghall was used in early times to refer to a Norseman or Scandinavian. With the settlement of Norsemen in various places, several distinct septs called O Dubhghail probably arose independently. 1

Early History of the Doyle family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Doyle research. Another 153 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1786, 1797, 1834, 1868, 1873 and 1917 are included under the topic Early Doyle History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Doyle Spelling Variations

Names written in official documents were generally spelt as they sounded, leading to the problem of one name being recorded under several different variations, creating the illusion in records of more than one person. Among the many spelling variations of the surname Doyle that are preserved in documents of the family history are Doyle, O'Doyle, Doyill, Doill, Doile, Doyel and others.

Early Notables of the Doyle family

James "J.K.L." Doyle (1786-1834), Bishop of Kildare and Leighlan
Father William Doyle (1873-1917)
John "H.B." Doyle (1797-1868), contributor to "Punch" and grandfather of Arthur Conan Doyle

Doyle World Ranking

the United Kingdom, the name Doyle is the 252^nd most popular surname with an estimated 23,854 people with that name. 2 However, in Australia, the name Doyle is ranked the 171^st most popular surname with an estimated 18,411 people with that name. 3 And in New Zealand, the name Doyle is the 531^st popular surname with an estimated 1,310 people with that name. 4 Canada ranks Doyle as 284^th with 15,204 people. 5 Quebec, Canada ranks Doyle as 912^nd. 6 Newfoundland, Canada ranks Doyle as 106^th with 318 people. 7 The United States ranks Doyle as 419^th with 67,149 people. 8

Doyle migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia included the First Fleet, Second Fleet and Third Fleet of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

First Fleet

Miss Ann Doyle, (1769 - 1822), aged 18, British settler convicted in Kent, England in 1787, sentenced to 7 years for breaking and entering, transported aboard the ship "Lady Juliana" leaving in 1789 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1790 9

Second Fleet

Mr. Michael Doyle, British settler convicted in Middlesex, England in 1787, sentenced to 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the ship "Albermarle" leaving in 1790 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1791 10

Third Fleet

Mr. Luke Doyle, British seaman on the Navy support ship for the First Fleet the "HMS Sirius" leaving in 1787 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1788

Following the First, Second and Third Fleets, other convicts and early settlers arriving in Australia include:

Doyle Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. James Doyle, Irish convict who was convicted in Carlow, Ireland for life, transported aboard the "Atlas" on 29th November 1801, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 10
Mr. Laurence Doyle, (b. 1762), aged 39, Irish convict who was convicted in Kilkenny, Ireland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Atlas" on 29th November 1801, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 10
Ms. Mary Doyle, (b. 1775), aged 26, Irish convict who was convicted in Carlow, Ireland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Atlas" on 29th November 1801, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, she died in 1830 10
Mr. Patrick Doyle, Irish convict who was convicted in Dublin, Ireland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Atlas" on 29th November 1801, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 10
Mr. Timothy Doyle, Irish convict who was convicted in Wexford, Ireland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Atlas" on 29th November 1801, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 10
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Doyle 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:

Doyle Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Thomas Doyle, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Cashmere" in 1851 11
Mr. Michael Doyle, (b. 1840), aged 20, Irish labourer from Dublin travelling from Bristol aboard the ship "William Miles" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 21st August 1860 12
Mrs. Bridget Doyle, (b. 1842), aged 18, Irish settler from Dublin travelling from Bristol aboard the ship "William Miles" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 21st August 1860 12
Mr. John Doyle, (b. 1836), aged 26, Scottish ploughman, from Kirkcudbrightshire travelling from London aboard the ship "Queen of Mersey" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, Southland, South Island, New Zealand on 20th October 1862 12
Mr. Doyle, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Sebastopol" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 21st May 1863 12
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Doyle migration to Canada +

Doyle Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

James Doyle, who arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1749
James Doyle, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1750
Darby Doyle, who arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1750
Mr. Francis Drake U.E. who settled in Queensbury, York County, New Brunswick c. 1784 13

Doyle Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

John Doyle, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1801
Lawrence Doyle, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1803
Johanna Doyle, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1807
Mary Doyle, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1810
Margaret Doyle, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1816
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Doyle migration to the United States +

Doyle Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Edward Doyle who settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania as early as 1683
Ed Doyle, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1683 14

Doyle Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Owen Doyle, who arrived in Maryland in 1711 14
Elizabeth Doyle, who arrived in Boston, Massachusetts in 1716 14
Eliza Doyle, who settled in Boston Massachusetts in 1716
Thomas Doyle, who arrived in Virginia in 1717 14
Elizabeth Doyle, who settled in Virginia in 1723
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Doyle Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Lawrence Doyle, who landed in America in 1800 14
Walter Doyle, who landed in America in 1801 14
Patk Doyle, aged 20, who landed in New York, NY in 1803 14
Margaret Doyle, aged 34, who landed in New York, NY in 1804 14
Michael Doyle, aged 27, who landed in New York, NY in 1804 14
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Doyle (post 1700) +

Peter Doyle (1945-2025), Irish cyclist, competed at the 1968 Summer Olympics and the 1972 Summer Olympics
Philip Doyle (b. 1992), Irish representative rower, bronze medalist at the 2024 Summer Olympics
Patrick "Paddy" Doyle (1941-2020), Irish hurler who played as a left wing-forward for the Tipperary senior team
Daniel "Danny" Doyle (1940-2019), Irish folk singer born in Dublin
Roddy Doyle (b. 1958), Irish novelist, dramatist and screenwriter and winner of the Booker Prize in 1993
Alan Thomas Doyle CM ONL (b. 1969), Canadian Genie nominated musician and actor from Petty Harbour, Newfoundland, founding member and lead singer of the Canadian Celtic band Great Big Sea
Chris Doyle (b. 1995), English footballer who plays for Morecambe
Christopher Doyle (b. 1952), Australian cinematographer
Chris Doyle (b. 1968), American football coach
... (Another 173 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Doyle family +

Halifax Explosion

Master John Thomas Fred Doyle (1908-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 15
Mrs. Elizabeth Ann Doyle (1885-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 16
Miss Gertrude Helen Louise Doyle (1915-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 16
Mr. Edward Francis Doyle (1922-1941), Australian Able Seaman from Prospect, South Australia, Australia, who sailed into battle aboard HMAS Sydney II and died in the sinking 16
Mr. Thomas Doyle, British Stoker Petty Officer, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking 17
... (Another 15 entries are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

The Doyle Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Fortitudine Vincit
Motto Translation: He conquers by fortitude.

Sources +

MacLysaght, Edward, Irish Families Their Names, Arms and Origins 4th Edition. Dublin: Irish Academic, 1982. Print. (ISBN 0-7165-2364-7)
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
"Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
"The first 1,000 family names by rank, Quebec (in French only)" Institut de la statistique du Quebec, https://statistique.quebec.ca/en/document/family-names-in-quebec/tableau/the-first-1000-family-names-by-rank-quebec
The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
Convict Records of Australia. Retrieved 4th February 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 14th July 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/atlas
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 5th November 2010). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
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)
Halifax Explosion Book of Remembrance | Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. (Retrieved 2014, June 23) . Retrieved from https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion/halifax-explosion-book-remembrance
HMAS Sydney II, Finding Sydney Foundation - Roll of Honour. (Retrieved 2014, April 24) . Retrieved from http://www.findingsydney.com/roll.asp
HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html