NameCensus.

UK surname

Oboyle

From the Irish Ó Baoighill, meaning "descendant of Baoigheall," a personal name derived from a diminutive of baoth, meaning "reckless."

In the 1881 census there were 163 people recorded with the Oboyle surname, ranking it #14,689 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,139, ranked #5,175, up from #14,689 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to New Monkland, Rochdale and Old Monkland. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Lincoln, Laurieston and Tradeston and Corby.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Oboyle is 1,193 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 598.8%.

1881 census count

163

Ranked #14,689

Modern count

1,139

2016, ranked #5,175

Peak year

2010

1,193 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Oboyle had 163 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #14,689 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,139 in 2016, ranked #5,175.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 229 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Oboyle surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Oboyle surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Oboyle 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 53 #23,739
1861 historical 76 #24,114
1881 historical 163 #14,689
1891 historical 190 #15,486
1901 historical 229 #13,894
1911 historical 184 #15,742
1997 modern 1,102 #5,055
1998 modern 1,150 #5,059
1999 modern 1,162 #5,062
2000 modern 1,132 #5,150
2001 modern 1,108 #5,138
2002 modern 1,139 #5,131
2003 modern 1,099 #5,186
2004 modern 1,097 #5,198
2005 modern 1,086 #5,177
2006 modern 1,074 #5,234
2007 modern 1,096 #5,205
2008 modern 1,133 #5,098
2009 modern 1,159 #5,099
2010 modern 1,193 #5,070
2011 modern 1,166 #5,108
2012 modern 1,166 #5,027
2013 modern 1,160 #5,139
2014 modern 1,169 #5,133
2015 modern 1,154 #5,141
2016 modern 1,139 #5,175

Geography

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Where Oboyles are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around New Monkland, Rochdale, Old Monkland, Stranton and Liverpool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Lincoln, Laurieston and Tradeston, Corby and Glenwood North. 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 New Monkland Lanark
2 Rochdale Lancashire
3 Old Monkland Lanark
4 Stranton Durham
5 Liverpool Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Lincoln 009 Lincoln
2 Laurieston and Tradeston Glasgow City
3 Lincoln 008 Lincoln
4 Corby 003 Corby
5 Glenwood North Glasgow City

Forenames

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First names often paired with Oboyle

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Oboyle

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Oboyle surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Oboyle household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Oboyle is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Oboyle is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Oboyle falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Oboyle 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 - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Oboyle

The surname OBOYLE is an anglicized version of the ancient Irish Gaelic name Ó Báoill. It originated in County Mayo, Ireland, and dates back to the 11th century. The prefix Ó denotes a male descendant, while Báoill is believed to be derived from the Old Irish word "badhbh," which means "dangerous" or "hostile."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the OBOYLE name can be found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history compiled in the 17th century. The annals mention an OBOYLE chieftain named Donnchadh Ó Báoill, who was slain in battle in 1170.

The OBOYLE surname is also associated with the Barony of Erris, a historical territory located in northwestern County Mayo. This region was once ruled by the OBOYLE clan, who held significant power and influence during the Middle Ages.

In the 16th century, Tadhg Ó Báoill, an OBOYLE chieftain, is mentioned in the Compositions of Connacht, a record of land ownership and taxation in the province of Connacht. This document provides insight into the clan's landholdings and social status during that period.

Notable individuals bearing the OBOYLE surname include:

1. Seán Ó Báoill (1587-1642), an Irish scholar and historian who wrote extensively on the genealogy and history of Irish clans. 2. Máire Nic Ó Báoill (1773-1845), a renowned Irish poet and songwriter from County Mayo. 3. Michael O'Boyle (1880-1958), an Irish-American prelate who served as the Bishop of Scranton, Pennsylvania. 4. Patrick O'Boyle (1896-1987), an American Catholic prelate who served as the Archbishop of Washington, D.C. 5. Brendan O'Boyle (1924-2001), an American politician who represented Pennsylvania in the United States House of Representatives.

Throughout its history, the OBOYLE surname has undergone various spellings, including Ó Báoill, O'Boyle, O'Boile, and O'Boyll, reflecting regional variations and anglicization over time.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Oboyle families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Oboyle 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. Lancashire leads with 42 Oboyles recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.49x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 42 3.49x
Yorkshire 29 2.89x
Lanarkshire 13 3.96x
Durham 11 3.65x
Cheshire 4 1.79x
Perthshire 4 8.79x
Flintshire 1 3.67x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Liverpool in Lancashire leads with 16 Oboyles recorded in 1881 and an index of 21.89x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 16 21.89x
Burnley 10 98.62x
Hoyland Nether 9 364.37x
Stranton 8 78.74x
Glasgow 7 12.02x
Hunslet 6 38.29x
Preston 6 18.63x
Govan 5 6.16x
Sheffield 5 15.63x
Wardleworth 5 72.67x
Birkenhead 4 22.41x
Dull 4 439.56x
York St Saviour 4 416.67x
Leeds 2 3.52x
Little Bolton 2 12.92x
Stockton On Tees 2 13.75x
Toxteth Park 2 4.91x
Barrow In Furness 1 6.11x
Dalserf 1 30.58x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 1 7.65x
Northop 1 103.09x
Sculcoates 1 6.27x
Selby 1 47.62x
York St George 1 126.58x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 10
Annie 3
Bridget 3
Ellen 3
Kate 3
Margaret 3
Ann 2
Catherine 2
Helen 2
Sarah 2
Belinda 1
Briget 1
Hannah 1
Honoria 1
Jane 1
Margt. 1
Marianne 1
Rebecca 1
Rosina 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 9
Edward 6
James 5
Patrick 5
Thomas 4
Michael 3
Thos. 3
Felix 2
Luke 2
Henry 1
Neil 1
Owen 1
Phillip 1
Thomas.M. 1
William 1

FAQ

Oboyle surname: questions and answers

How common was the Oboyle surname in 1881?

In 1881, 163 people were recorded with the Oboyle surname. That placed it at #14,689 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Oboyle surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,139 in 2016. That gives Oboyle a modern rank of #5,175.

What does the Oboyle surname mean?

From the Irish Ó Baoighill, meaning "descendant of Baoigheall," a personal name derived from a diminutive of baoth, meaning "reckless."

What does the Oboyle map show?

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