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Irish surname

Boland: Irish Surname History & Coat of Arms

Ó Beólláin · 'descendant of Beóllán' (Bjolan in Landnamabok)

Woulfe (1923) gives Boland and Bolan as anglicised forms of Ó Beólláin, 'descendant of Beóllán'. He names three families: hereditary erenaghs of the Columban church at Drumcliffe in Co. Sligo, a Co. Sligo Ui Fiachrach family seated at Doonaltan in Tireragh, and a Dalcassian family. In 1890 Boland births were found principally in Clare, Kildare and Roscommon.

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Coat of arms associated with the Boland surname
Irish formÓ Beólláin
Meaning'descendant of Beóllán' (Bjolan in Landnamabok)
CountiesSligo, Mayo, Clare, Kildare
Other spellings3

Origin of the Boland name

Woulfe names three Ó Beólláin families: (1) an ecclesiastical family in Co. Sligo, for many centuries erenaghs of the Columban church at Drumcliffe, 'noted for their hospitality'; (2) a Co. Sligo Ui Fiachrach family seated at Doonaltan, barony of Tireragh; (3) a Dalcassian family, descended, he says, from Mahon, son of Torlough.[1]

  1. 1222More, daughter of O'Boyle, wife of Auliffe O'Beollain, died.[6]
  2. 1252Maelmaedhóg O'Beollain, Coarb of Columbkille at Drumcliff, died.[7]
  3. 1254Maelfinnen O'Beollain, Coarb of Drumcliff, died.[7]
  4. 1423O'Beollain, Coarb of Drumcliff, died.[8]
  5. 1503O'Beollain, Coarb of St Columbkille at Drumcliff, died.[9]
  6. 189057 Boland births registered; principally Clare, Kildare and Roscommon.[3][4]

Where in Ireland

Co. SligoErenaghs of Drumcliffe and the Ui Fiachrach family at Doonaltan, Tireragh, 'where it is still numerous'.[1]
Co. MayoÓ Breólláin, 'possibly the same' name (Woulfe), is still in use in Mayo, anglicised Bolan and Boland.[2]
Co. ClareFirst county named for Boland births in 1890.[3]
Co. KildareOne of three counties where Boland births were principally found in 1890.[3]
Co. RoscommonOne of three counties where Boland births were principally found in 1890.[3]

Notable people named Boland

Maelmaedhóg O'Beollaind. 1252Coarb of Columbkille at Drumcliff; 'the most illustrious for hospitality' (Four Masters).[7]

Other spellings

Bolan · Bowland · O Bolan[1][5]

The Boland coat of arms

The design shown is a coat of arms associated with the Boland 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.

Boland crest gifts

Clan Boland Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap HD11 Boland Coat Of Arms Irish Cap Boland Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap$33.45Clan Boland Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic CapFK67 Classic Cap - Boland Coat Of Arms St Patrick's Day Classic Cap Irish Cap Boland Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic Cap$42.45

Boland surname: questions

What does the surname Boland mean?

Woulfe gives Boland as a form of Ó Beólláin, 'descendant of Beóllán', and adds in brackets 'Bjolan in Landnamabok'.[1]

Is Boland an Irish name?

Yes. Woulfe lists Boland, Bolan and Bowland as anglicised forms of the Irish surname Ó Beólláin. He also prints (Bolan, Boland) in brackets under Ó Breólláin, a name he calls 'possibly the same as Ó Beólláin' and says is 'now almost universally anglicised Bolan and Boland'.[1][2]

Where in Ireland is the Boland name from?

Woulfe places two Ó Beólláin families in Co. Sligo: the erenaghs of Drumcliffe, and an Ui Fiachrach family at Doonaltan in Tireragh. He also names a Dalcassian family. In 1890 Boland births were found principally in Clare, Kildare and Roscommon.[1][3]

Were the Bolands connected with Drumcliffe?

Yes. Woulfe says the heads of one Ó Beólláin family were for many centuries erenaghs of the Columban church at Drumcliffe, and the Four Masters record O'Beollain coarbs of Drumcliff dying in 1252, 1254, 1423 and 1503.[1][7][8][9]

Sources

  1. Ó Beólláin — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/ob/o-beollain.php
  2. Ó Breólláin — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/ob/o-breollain.php
  3. Boland — Birth Indexes of 1890 — Special Report on Surnames in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1909), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/report/births/boland.php
  4. Table Explanation — Birth Indexes of 1890 — Special Report on Surnames in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1909), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/report/births/table-explanation.php
  5. Boland — Varieties and Synonymes of Surnames and Christian Names in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1901), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/varieties/list/125.php
  6. Annals of the Four Masters (trans. John O'Donovan), 1222 (part 6) — CELT edition, CELT, University College Cork. celt.ucc.ie/published/T100005C/text006.html
  7. Annals of the Four Masters (trans. John O'Donovan), 1252–1254 (part 9) — CELT edition, CELT, University College Cork. celt.ucc.ie/published/T100005C/text009.html
  8. Annals of the Four Masters (trans. John O'Donovan), 1423 (part 6) — CELT edition, CELT, University College Cork. celt.ucc.ie/published/T100005D/text006.html
  9. Annals of the Four Masters (trans. John O'Donovan), 1503 (part 1) — CELT edition, CELT, University College Cork. celt.ucc.ie/published/T100005E/text001.html

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