NameCensus.

UK surname

Boyles

Anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Baoighill, meaning "descendant of Baoigheall" (possibly "lively pledge" or "lively hostage").

In the 1881 census there were 588 people recorded with the Boyles surname, ranking it #5,934 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 919, ranked #6,208, down from #5,934 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Oakley, Shabbington and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Newark and Sherwood, North Devon and Drumchapel North.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Boyles is 1,001 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 56.3%.

1881 census count

588

Ranked #5,934

Modern count

919

2016, ranked #6,208

Peak year

1999

1,001 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Boyles had 588 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,934 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 919 in 2016, ranked #6,208.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 891 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Boyles surname distribution map

The map shows where the Boyles surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Boyles surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Boyles over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 345 #6,823
1861 historical 401 #6,399
1881 historical 588 #5,934
1891 historical 686 #5,710
1901 historical 851 #5,356
1911 historical 891 #5,000
1997 modern 903 #5,947
1998 modern 988 #5,724
1999 modern 1,001 #5,710
2000 modern 981 #5,787
2001 modern 946 #5,844
2002 modern 964 #5,846
2003 modern 940 #5,882
2004 modern 944 #5,870
2005 modern 932 #5,866
2006 modern 910 #5,987
2007 modern 932 #5,928
2008 modern 931 #5,980
2009 modern 942 #6,037
2010 modern 950 #6,124
2011 modern 974 #5,930
2012 modern 935 #6,066
2013 modern 949 #6,084
2014 modern 938 #6,190
2015 modern 930 #6,181
2016 modern 919 #6,208

Geography

Back to top

Where Boyles' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Oakley, Shabbington, London parishes, Brill and Lighthorne. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Newark and Sherwood, North Devon, Drumchapel North and Kirklees. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 Oakley, Shabbington Oxfordshire
3 London parishes London 1
4 Brill Oxfordshire
5 Lighthorne Warwickshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Newark and Sherwood 001 Newark and Sherwood
2 North Devon 014 North Devon
3 North Devon 013 North Devon
4 Drumchapel North Glasgow City
5 Kirklees 046 Kirklees

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Boyles

These lists show first names that appear often with the Boyles surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Boyles

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Boyles, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Boyles surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Boyles household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Boyles is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Boyles is most concentrated in decile 7 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Boyles falls in decile 4 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Boyles is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Boyles, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Boyles

The surname Boyles is of Anglo-Norman origin and derives from the Old French words 'boile' or 'bouile', meaning a rounded container or bowl. It's believed that the name was originally an occupational surname for a bowl-maker or someone who made or sold bowls.

The earliest known records of the surname Boyles date back to the late 12th century in England. In the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire from 1195, there is a reference to a Hugo de Boiles, indicating the name's presence in the region during that time.

Over the centuries, the name has undergone various spelling variations, including Boyle, Boill, Boiles, and Boills. These variations can often be attributed to the scribes of the time who recorded names phonetically based on how they sounded.

In the renowned Domesday Book of 1086, which served as a comprehensive record of landowners and their holdings in England, there is no direct mention of the surname Boyles. However, this does not necessarily mean the name did not exist at the time, as many surnames were still in their formative stages.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Boyles can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, which mentions a John de Boyles. This record provides evidence of the surname's presence in the English county during the 13th century.

Some notable individuals with the surname Boyles throughout history include:

1. Robert Boyle (1627-1691), an influential Anglo-Irish natural philosopher, chemist, physicist, and inventor, regarded as one of the pioneers of modern experimental scientific method.

2. Roger Boyles, 1st Earl of Orrery (1621-1679), an Anglo-Irish military leader and statesman who played a significant role in the English Civil War and the Restoration of the monarchy.

3. John Boyles, 5th Earl of Cork and Orrery (1707-1762), an Irish nobleman, scientist, and author, known for his contributions to the study of astronomy and his literary works.

4. Mary Boyles (c. 1630-1678), an English botanist and illustrator, recognized for her significant contributions to the study and documentation of plants in the 17th century.

5. Andrew Boyle (1563-1644), an Anglo-Irish landowner and member of the Irish House of Commons, who played a role in the Plantation of Ulster in the early 17th century.

While the surname Boyles may have originated from a humble occupation, its history spans centuries and includes notable figures who have left their mark in various fields, from science and literature to politics and exploration.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Boyles families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Boyles surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 74 Boyles' recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.30x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 74 1.30x
Buckinghamshire 53 15.44x
Somerset 47 5.14x
Devon 45 3.81x
Surrey 38 1.37x
Kent 37 1.91x
Warwickshire 31 2.17x
Yorkshire 31 0.55x
Cumberland 19 3.89x
Essex 17 1.52x
Northamptonshire 17 3.18x
Staffordshire 17 0.89x
Gloucestershire 14 1.26x
Northumberland 13 1.54x
Stirlingshire 12 5.73x
Sussex 12 1.25x
Durham 11 0.65x
Suffolk 11 1.59x
Glamorgan 10 1.01x
Berkshire 9 2.11x
Leicestershire 9 1.43x
Monmouthshire 8 1.95x
Wigtownshire 8 10.61x
Ayrshire 7 1.65x
Lanarkshire 6 0.33x
Bedfordshire 4 1.36x
Hampshire 4 0.34x
Lancashire 4 0.06x
Perthshire 3 1.18x
Oxfordshire 2 0.57x
Cardiganshire 1 0.72x
Cheshire 1 0.08x
Denbighshire 1 0.47x
Hertfordshire 1 0.26x
Huntingdonshire 1 0.89x
Lincolnshire 1 0.11x
Norfolk 1 0.11x
Renfrewshire 1 0.23x
Worcestershire 1 0.13x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Brill in Buckinghamshire leads with 29 Boyles' recorded in 1881 and an index of 1150.79x.

Place Total Index
Brill 29 1150.79x
Islington London 19 3.45x
Lighthorne 17 2428.57x
Oakley 16 1951.22x
Dunster 15 684.93x
Camberwell 14 3.86x
Withiel Florey 13 2500.00x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 12 22.90x
Falkirk 11 22.44x
St Marylebone London 11 3.63x
Brighton 9 4.66x
Cleator 9 44.25x
Colchester St Giles 9 81.30x
Heanton Punchardon 9 1046.51x
Bredgar 8 666.67x
Ruislip 8 282.69x
Shoreditch London 8 3.25x
Wycombe 8 31.26x
Croydon 7 4.56x
Kirkmichael 7 180.88x
Rotherhithe 7 9.98x
St Woollos 7 15.28x
Tynemouth 7 15.47x
Whitehaven 7 26.87x
Dalziel 6 30.38x
Eccleshall 6 82.53x
Farthinghoe 6 869.57x
Kensington London 6 1.90x
Lee 6 21.34x
Marston Sicca 6 845.07x
Middlesbrough 6 8.19x
Northam 6 69.69x
Southwick 6 37.50x
Speen 6 86.08x
Wimbledon 6 19.32x
Cheltenham 5 5.82x
Dulverton 5 186.57x
Eastdown 5 714.29x
Hackney London 5 1.57x
Heworth 5 15.02x
Hexham 5 38.26x
Ilfracombe 5 41.08x
Lewisham 5 4.84x
Thornhill 5 30.45x
Birmingham 4 0.84x
Colchester St Botolph 4 41.97x
Colchester St Mary At 4 100.76x
Harborne 4 6.51x
Horninglow 4 44.30x
Middleton Cheney 4 171.67x
Old Cleeve 4 122.70x
Penninghame 4 52.02x
Plymouth St Andrew 4 4.39x
Rumburgh 4 571.43x
Sevenoaks 4 25.48x
St Pancras London 4 0.88x
Swansea Town 4 4.94x
Thurlaston 4 384.62x
Wootton 4 157.48x
Ystradyfodwg 4 4.61x
Aston 3 0.76x
Aynho 3 275.23x
Barnstaple 3 16.17x
Bramfield 3 245.90x
Deptford St Paul 3 2.01x
Fulham London 3 3.64x
Greenwich 3 3.32x
Holy Trinity 3 2.22x
Kettering 3 13.89x
Leicester St Mary 3 5.90x
Nettlecombe 3 517.24x
New Luce 3 215.83x
Perth West Church 3 24.81x
Shadwell London 3 18.88x
Sherwill 3 375.00x
Stafford St Mary 3 11.06x
Tonbridge 3 4.29x
Warblington 3 64.94x
Warwick St Nicholas 3 28.57x
Buckland In Dover 2 31.15x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Boyles surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Boyles surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
William 50
John 30
George 25
Thomas 21
James 19
Henry 12
Frederick 10
Charles 8
Edward 8
Arthur 7
Richard 6
Robert 6
Joseph 5
Abraham 4
Albert 3
Alexander 2
Daniel 2
Earnest 2
Edwin 2
Emanuel 2
Frank 2
Fred 2
Hamilton 2
Martin 2
Michael 2
Patrick 2
Samuel 2
Walter 2
Ansell 1
Archie 1
Benjamin 1
Charlesss 1
Chas. 1
Edmund 1
Ernest 1
F.Jesse 1
Fredrick 1
Giles 1
Harry 1
Hugh 1
Isac 1
Jane 1
Jas. 1
Luke 1
Owen 1
Percy 1
Peter 1
Philip 1
R. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Boyles surname: questions and answers

How common was the Boyles surname in 1881?

In 1881, 588 people were recorded with the Boyles surname. That placed it at #5,934 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Boyles surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 919 in 2016. That gives Boyles a modern rank of #6,208.

What does the Boyles surname mean?

Anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Baoighill, meaning "descendant of Baoigheall" (possibly "lively pledge" or "lively hostage").

What does the Boyles map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Boyles bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.