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Irish surname

Doyle: Irish Surname History & Coat of Arms

Ó Dubhghaill · 'descendant of Dubhghall' (the black foreigner)

Doyle comes from the Irish Ó Dubhghaill, 'descendant of Dubhghall' (the black foreigner). Woulfe (1923) calls it a very common surname, 'doubtless of Danish origin', most frequent in the maritime counties of Leinster and Munster. In 1890 it was the twelfth most numerous surname in Ireland.

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Coat of arms associated with the Doyle surname
Irish formÓ Dubhghaill
Meaning'descendant of Dubhghall' (the black foreigner)
CountiesWexford, Wicklow, Dublin, Carlow
Other spellings3

Origin of the Doyle name

Woulfe: Ó Dubhghaill is 'a very common Irish surname, doubtless of Danish origin'. It is found in all parts of Ireland, 'but is most frequent in the maritime counties of Leinster and Munster, and in the neighbourhood of the old Danish settlements'. He names no single sept or chief.[1]

  1. 1786Future bishop James Warren Doyle, 'J.K.L.', born at or near New Ross.[2][3]
  2. 1797Caricaturist John Doyle, 'H.B.', born in Dublin.[4]
  3. 1819James Warren Doyle becomes Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin.[2][3]
  4. 1834Bishop Doyle dies at Carlow; buried in the cathedral he built.[2]
  5. 1890Doyle ranks twelfth in Ireland, about 23,000 people (Matheson).[6]

Where in Ireland

Co. WexfordOne of six counties holding three-fourths of Doyle birth entries in 1890.[7]
Co. WicklowOne of six counties holding three-fourths of Doyle birth entries in 1890.[7]
Co. DublinOne of six counties holding three-fourths of Doyle birth entries in 1890.[7]
Co. CarlowOne of six counties holding three-fourths of Doyle birth entries in 1890.[7]

Notable people named Doyle

James Warren Doyle ('J.K.L.')1786–1834Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin; campaigner for Catholic Emancipation, writing as 'J.K.L.'.[2][3]
John Doyle ('H.B.')1797–1868Dublin-born artist, best known for caricatures of political figures under the pseudonym 'H.B.'.[4]

Other spellings

O'Doyle · Dowell · Doole[1]

Scottish connection

The MacDougalls (Woulfe: MacDugalds), lords of Lorne in Scotland, bear the Irish name Mac Dubhghaill, 'son of Dubhghall', built on the same personal name as Ó Dubhghaill (Doyle). Woulfe treats it as a separate surname: a Scoto-Irish family of the same stock as the MacDonalds, some of whom came to Ireland as gallowglass captains in the 14th and 15th centuries.[1][5]

The Doyle coat of arms

The design shown is a coat of arms associated with the Doyle surname. In Irish and British heraldry a coat of arms is granted to one person and passes to their heirs; it does not belong to everyone who shares the surname. Many families still use the arms of their name as a symbol of their heritage.

Doyle crest gifts

Clan Doyle Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap MB16 Doyle Coat Of Arms Irish Cap Doyle Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap£26.00Clan Doyle Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic CapEF52 Classic Cap - Doyle Coat Of Arms St Patrick's Day Classic Cap Irish Cap Doyle Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic Cap£33.00

Doyle surname: questions

What does the surname Doyle mean?

Woulfe gives Ó Dubhghaill, 'descendant of Dubhghall' (the black foreigner).[1]

Is Doyle a Viking name?

Woulfe calls Ó Dubhghaill 'doubtless of Danish origin' and says it is most frequent near the old Danish settlements; he explains Dubhghall, 'the black-stranger', as a name the Irish gave to the Danes.[1][5]

Where in Ireland is the Doyle name most common?

Matheson found three-fourths of Doyle birth entries in 1890 in Dublin, Wexford, Wicklow, Carlow, Kerry and Cork; Woulfe says the maritime counties of Leinster and Munster.[7][1]

Are Doyle and MacDowell the same name?

No. Woulfe gives Ó Dubhghaill (Doyle) and Mac Dubhghaill (MacDowell, MacDougall) as separate surnames, though both come from the personal name Dubhghall.[1][5]

Sources

  1. Ó Dubhghaill — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/od/o-dubhghaill.php
  2. James Warren Doyle — A Compendium of Irish Biography (Alfred Webb, 1878), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/biography/JamesWarrenDoyle.php
  3. James Warren Doyle — Catholic Encyclopedia (1909), New Advent. newadvent.org/cathen/05151a.htm
  4. John Doyle ('H. B.') — A Compendium of Irish Biography (Alfred Webb, 1878), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/biography/JohnDoyle.php
  5. Mac Dubhghaill — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/macd/mac-dubhghaill.php
  6. Principal Surnames in Ireland (table of 100 principal surnames, Births Index 1890) — Special Report on Surnames in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1909), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/report/principal-surnames-ireland.php
  7. Doyle — Birth Indexes of 1890 — Special Report on Surnames in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1909), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/report/births/doyle.php

Note: Matheson's 1890 figures for a surname include its spelling varieties (Matheson, Table Explanation).