NameCensus.

UK surname

Foyle

A locational surname derived from a location called Foyle in Ireland.

In the 1881 census there were 592 people recorded with the Foyle surname, ranking it #5,906 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 746, ranked #7,323, down from #5,906 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, East and West Tisbury, Wardour and Portsmouth, Portsea. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Harrogate, Wiltshire and Leeds.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Foyle is 875 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 26.0%.

1881 census count

592

Ranked #5,906

Modern count

746

2016, ranked #7,323

Peak year

1911

875 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Foyle had 592 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,906 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 746 in 2016, ranked #7,323.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 875 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Foyle surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Foyle surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Foyle 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 411 #5,901
1861 historical 366 #6,987
1881 historical 592 #5,906
1891 historical 616 #6,254
1901 historical 813 #5,549
1911 historical 875 #5,082
1997 modern 733 #6,988
1998 modern 756 #7,055
1999 modern 788 #6,880
2000 modern 778 #6,925
2001 modern 755 #6,952
2002 modern 777 #6,940
2003 modern 756 #6,975
2004 modern 778 #6,823
2005 modern 739 #7,044
2006 modern 723 #7,180
2007 modern 743 #7,107
2008 modern 740 #7,176
2009 modern 750 #7,248
2010 modern 763 #7,297
2011 modern 769 #7,172
2012 modern 753 #7,198
2013 modern 763 #7,237
2014 modern 771 #7,205
2015 modern 762 #7,210
2016 modern 746 #7,323

Geography

Back to top

Where Foyles are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, East and West Tisbury, Wardour and Portsmouth, Portsea. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Harrogate, Wiltshire, Leeds, South Holland and Teignbridge. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 East and West Tisbury, Wardour Wiltshire
4 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Harrogate 004 Harrogate
2 Wiltshire 054 Wiltshire
3 Leeds 003 Leeds
4 South Holland 002 South Holland
5 Teignbridge 010 Teignbridge

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Foyle

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Foyle

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Foyle, 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

Ageing Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

European Enclaves

Within London, Foyle is most associated with areas classed as European Enclaves, part of Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles. 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

Many residents of these accessible neighbourhoods have wide-ranging non-UK European origins. Typically residing in privately rented flats, many residents live alone and are beyond normal retirement age. There are more students than elsewhere in the Supergroup, some of which live in communal establishments. Household residents are often drawn from different ethnic groups.

Wider London pattern

These neighbourhoods house people of all ages, predominantly of White British or European extraction. Resident turnover is low. Religious affiliation is less common than average and tends to be Christian if expressed. Homeownership, typically of terraced houses, is common but use of the social rented sector is not. Employment is typically in professional, managerial and associate professional or technical occupations. There are few full-time students. Level 4 qualifications are common. More households lack dependent children than have them which, considered alongside low levels of crowding and over-all age structure, indicates that many households may be post child-rearing and in late middle age. Incidence of disability is low, as is residence in communal establishments.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Foyle is most concentrated in decile 2 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy end of the index.

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

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Foyle falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Foyle is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Foyle

The surname Foyle is believed to have originated in Ireland, specifically in the counties of Donegal and Londonderry. It is thought to be derived from the Irish Gaelic word "foghail," which means "plunder" or "raid." This suggests that the name may have been initially given to someone who participated in raids or plundering activities during the tumultuous times of medieval Ireland.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Foyle can be traced back to the 16th and 17th centuries. One notable example is Rory Foyle, a chieftain who lived in the early 17th century and was involved in the Irish Rebellion of 1641. The name also appears in various legal documents and land records from that era, indicating that the Foyle family had established roots in the region.

In terms of place names associated with the surname, there is the River Foyle, a major waterway that flows through County Londonderry. The name of the river may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname over time. Additionally, there is a town called Moville, derived from the Irish "Magh Foyle," which translates to "the plain of the River Foyle," further reinforcing the connection between the name and the geographical area.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname Foyle:

1. Kathleen Foyle (1885-1975), a British publisher and bookseller who founded the famous Foyle's bookshop in London. 2. Dominick Foyle (1867-1930), an Irish-born American baseball player who played for the Chicago White Stockings in the late 19th century. 3. James Foyle (1892-1963), a British actor and film director who worked in the early days of British cinema. 4. Seamus Foyle (1919-1990), an Irish Gaelic footballer who played for the Donegal senior team in the 1940s and 1950s. 5. Constance Foyle (1904-1992), a British actress and writer who authored several novels and plays in the mid-20th century.

While the surname Foyle is not among the most common Irish surnames, it has a rich history deeply rooted in the cultural and geographical tapestry of Ireland, particularly in the northern regions. The name's association with raiding and plundering activities in ancient times adds an intriguing layer to its origin story.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Foyle families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Foyle 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. Wiltshire leads with 176 Foyles recorded in 1881 and an index of 34.46x.

County Total Index
Wiltshire 176 34.46x
Middlesex 105 1.82x
Hampshire 67 5.66x
Dorset 53 13.98x
Surrey 45 1.60x
Somerset 33 3.55x
Devon 28 2.33x
Warwickshire 19 1.30x
Kent 14 0.71x
Lancashire 14 0.20x
Monmouthshire 9 2.16x
Sussex 6 0.62x
Gloucestershire 5 0.44x
Worcestershire 3 0.40x
Anglesey 2 1.95x
Durham 2 0.12x
Yorkshire 2 0.03x
Cumberland 1 0.20x
Derbyshire 1 0.11x
Essex 1 0.09x
Glamorgan 1 0.10x
Lanarkshire 1 0.05x
Northamptonshire 1 0.18x
Northumberland 1 0.12x
Shropshire 1 0.20x
Stirlingshire 1 0.47x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aston in Warwickshire leads with 16 Foyles recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.99x.

Place Total Index
Aston 16 3.99x
East Tisbury 16 909.09x
Portsea 16 6.90x
Milborne Port 15 403.23x
Sidmouth 15 218.02x
St Pancras London 14 3.01x
Wilton 14 387.81x
Fovant 13 1171.17x
Lambeth 13 2.58x
Wardour 13 866.67x
Blandford Forum 10 133.69x
Dinton 10 1111.11x
Heytesbury 10 537.63x
Southampton St Mary 10 13.44x
Bermondsey 9 5.24x
Bower Chalk 9 1084.34x
Chelsea London 9 5.17x
Everton 9 4.12x
North Bradley 9 241.29x
Paddington London 9 4.24x
Trowbridge 9 39.88x
Andover 8 71.56x
Bow London 8 10.88x
Hammersmith London 8 5.62x
Kingston On Thames 8 11.84x
Norton Bavant 8 1538.46x
St George Hanover Square 8 7.86x
St John Winchester 8 321.29x
St Marylebone London 8 2.59x
St Woollos 8 17.17x
Tilshead 8 851.06x
Warminster 8 71.49x
Wincanton 8 167.36x
Battersea 7 3.29x
Crediton 7 61.46x
Milborne St Andrew 7 625.00x
Shoreditch London 7 2.80x
St Botolph Aldgate London 7 58.87x
Swindon 7 17.67x
Crawley 6 666.67x
Deptford St Paul 6 3.95x
Figheldean 6 652.17x
Pimperne 6 705.88x
Salisbury St Martin 6 112.78x
Bishopstone 5 204.92x
Gillingham 5 76.80x
Kensington London 5 1.56x
Sherborne 5 44.80x
Willesden 5 9.19x
Yeovil 5 26.47x
Fisherton Anger 4 42.33x
Kington Magna 4 434.78x
Wardleworth 4 10.21x
Weeke 4 111.42x
Beaminster 3 71.26x
Brighton 3 1.53x
Chilmark 3 272.73x
Chitterne St Mary 3 769.23x
Clapham 3 4.16x
Dartford 3 14.89x
Dewlish 3 329.67x
Edenbridge 3 77.72x
Exeter St Sidwell 3 10.90x
Portsmouth 3 11.01x
Shipston On Stour 3 87.46x
Stratford Under Castle 3 476.19x
Abbas Combe 2 289.86x
Camberwell 2 0.54x
Child Okeford 2 119.76x
Collingbourne Ducis 2 235.29x
Ealing 2 3.88x
Esh 2 16.00x
Fulham London 2 2.39x
Hackney London 2 0.62x
Islington London 2 0.36x
Owslebury 2 119.05x
Rotherhithe 2 2.80x
St Giles In Fields London 2 7.06x
St Thomas Winchester 2 23.92x
West Tisbury 2 127.39x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 48
George 28
John 25
Thomas 24
James 20
Charles 15
Henry 15
Harry 12
Edward 9
Alfred 7
Frank 7
Isaac 6
Robert 6
Arthur 5
Frederick 5
Samuel 5
Albert 4
Herbert 4
Tom 4
Walter 3
Abraham 2
Ernest 2
Hubert 2
Matthew 2
Richard 2
Benjimin 1
Beresford 1
Bernard 1
Clayton 1
David 1
Earnest 1
Edwin 1
Eli 1
Enos 1
Francis 1
Fred 1
Gilbert 1
Harvey 1
Higginson 1
Israel 1
J.R. 1
Jesse 1
Josiah 1
Morgan 1
Nicholas 1
Philis 1
Ralph 1
Seth 1
Sidney 1
Simeon 1

FAQ

Foyle surname: questions and answers

How common was the Foyle surname in 1881?

In 1881, 592 people were recorded with the Foyle surname. That placed it at #5,906 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Foyle surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 746 in 2016. That gives Foyle a modern rank of #7,323.

What does the Foyle surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a location called Foyle in Ireland.

What does the Foyle map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Foyle 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.