O'Boyle is a surname of Irish origin. It is anglicised from the Gaelic Ó Baoighill/Ó Baoill.
The clan was founded by a Donegal chieftain, Aneisleis Ó Baoighill, the grandson of Baoghal. The derivation of the Gaelic/Irish is uncertain, and has been translated as "Peril" or "Danger", "Son of the rash one" or more positively "having profitable pledges" (from the Irish word geall, meaning "pledge"). Their chiefs came to rule over Tír Ainmhireach in the west of what is now County Donegal, which as a result became known as Críoch Bhaoigheallach; later renamed as the barony of Boylagh under colonial rule.
Notable people with the surname include:
- Conor O'Boyle, Irish Defence Forces Chief of Staff
- Ciarán O'Boyle, Irish rugby player
- Dan O'Boyle (b. unknown, d. 1933), Irish republican; murdered 1933
- Fionnuala Jay-O'Boyle (born 1960), British lobbyist, charity trustee, and public official
- George O'Boyle (b. 1967), Northern Irish professional football player
- Harry O'Boyle (1904–1994), American football player
- Ian O'Boyle, Irish basketball player
- John O'Boyle (born 1928), American professional basketball player
- Maeve O'Boyle (b. 1987), Scottish singer and songwriter
- Maureen O'Boyle (b. 1963), American television show host and news anchor
- Michael O'Boyle, British computer scientist
- Neal O'Boyle, president of the Irish Republican Brotherhood from 1907 to 1910
- Patrick O'Boyle (1896–1987), American Roman Catholic archbishop and cardinal
- Sean O'Boyle (b. 1963), Australian composer
- Shaun O'Boyle, Irish science communicator, podcast producer and activist
- Tommy O'Boyle (1917–2000), American college football coach
Surname listThis page lists people with the surname O'Boyle. If an internal link intending to refer to a specific person led you to this page, you may wish to change that link by adding the person's given name(s) to the link.
References
- "Irish Surname - Boyle or O'Boyle". www.irelandroots.com. Retrieved 30 October 2015.
- Woulfe, Patrick (1923). "Ó Baoighill".