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Irish surname

Boylan: Irish Surname History & Coat of Arms

Ó Baoighealláin · descendant of 'Baoigheallán' (diminutive of Baoigheall)

Woulfe (1923) gives Boylan as an anglicised form of Ó Baoighealláin, the name of 'a well-known Ulster family who were anciently chiefs of Dartraighe', the present barony of Dartry in west Co. Monaghan, 'and at one time of all Oriel'. In 1890 Ireland's birth indexes held 49 entries for Boylan, principally in Dublin, Monaghan, Cavan and Meath.

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Coat of arms associated with the Boylan surname
Irish formÓ Baoighealláin
Meaningdescendant of 'Baoigheallán' (diminutive of Baoigheall)
CountiesMonaghan, Dublin, Cavan, Meath
Other spellings4

Origin of the Boylan name

Woulfe: Ó Baoighealláin, 'a well-known Ulster family who were anciently chiefs of Dartraighe, the present barony of Dartry, in the west of Co. Monaghan, and at one time of all Oriel.'[1]

  1. 1201Four Masters: Gearrmaidi O'Boylan slain with Kinel-Owen raiders defeated by O'Donnell.[6]
  2. 1506Four Masters: three sons of O'Boylan slain with Mac Quillin in the Route.[7]
  3. 189049 birth entries; principally Dublin, Monaghan, Cavan and Meath.[3][4]

Where in Ireland

Co. MonaghanAncient chiefs of Dartraighe, now the barony of Dartry in west Monaghan; a principal county in 1890.[1][3]
Co. DublinFirst county named for Boylan births in the 1890 index.[3]
Co. CavanAmong the counties where Boylan births were principally found in 1890.[3]
Co. MeathAmong the counties where Boylan births were principally found in 1890.[3]

Other spellings

O'Boylan · O Boylane · Boyland · Boreland[1][6]

The Boylan coat of arms

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

Boylan crest gifts

Clan Boylan Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic CapUJ34 Classic Cap - Boylan Coat Of Arms St Patrick's Day Classic Cap Irish Cap Boylan Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic Cap$42.45

Boylan surname: questions

What does the surname Boylan mean?

Woulfe gives Boylan as a form of Ó Baoighealláin, 'descendant of Baoigheallán', a diminutive of the personal name Baoigheall.[1]

Is Boylan Irish?

Yes. Woulfe lists O Boylan, Boylan and Boyland as anglicised forms of the Irish surname Ó Baoighealláin, a well-known Ulster family.[1]

Where in Ireland is the Boylan name from?

Woulfe says the family were anciently chiefs of Dartraighe, now the barony of Dartry in west Co. Monaghan. In 1890 Boylan births were principally found in Dublin, Monaghan, Cavan and Meath.[1][3]

Are Boylan and Boyle the same name?

Woulfe gives them as separate Irish surnames: Boylan under Ó Baoighealláin, 'descendant of Baoigheallán' (a diminutive of Baoigheall), and Boyle under Ó Baoighill, 'descendant of Baoigheall'. Matheson's 1901 list of spelling varieties prints [Boyle] in brackets under Boylan.[1][2][5]

Sources

  1. Ó Baoighealláin — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/ob/o-baoigheallain.php
  2. Ó Baoighill — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/ob/o-baoighill.php
  3. Boylan — Birth Indexes of 1890 — Special Report on Surnames in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1909), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/report/births/boylan.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. Boylan — Varieties and Synonymes of Surnames and Christian Names in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1901), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/varieties/list/142.php
  6. Annals of the Four Masters (trans. John O'Donovan), 1200–1201 (part 3) — CELT edition, CELT, University College Cork. celt.ucc.ie/published/T100005C/text003.html
  7. Annals of the Four Masters (trans. John O'Donovan), 1506 (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).