O'Boyle is a surname of Irish origin. It is anglicised from the Gaelic Ó Baoighill/Ó Baoill.
The O'Boyle family were a clan of the Northern Uí Néill, supposedly descended from the legendary Irish king Niall of the Nine Hostages down to a Donegal chieftain, Aneisleis Ó Baoighill. 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:
Bill O'Boyle (born 1963), American college football coach and former player Ciarán O'Boyle (born 1984), Irish former rugby union footballer Conor O'Boyle (), retired lieutenant general and Irish Defence Forces Chief of Staff Cornelius O'Boyle (c. 1547– 1591), Irish Catholic prelate and Bishop of Limerick Dan O'Boyle (died 1933), Catholic Irish publican murdered by Protestant loyalists George O'Boyle (born 1967), Northern Irish footballer Harry O'Boyle (1904–1994), American National Football League player Ian O'Boyle (born 1984), Irish former basketball player John O'Boyle (1928–1984), American basketball player Maeve O'Boyle (born 1987), Scottish singer and songwriter Maureen O'Boyle (born 1963), American television show host and news anchor Michael O'Boyle, Scottish computer scientist Neal O'Boyle (died 1912), Irish revolutionary, president of the Irish Republican Brotherhood Patrick O'Boyle (cardinal) (1896–1987), American Catholic archbishop and cardinal Patrick O'Boyle (Irish bishop) (1887–1971), Irish Catholic Bishop of Killala Sean O'Boyle (born 1963), Australian composer and conductor Shaun O'Boyle, Irish science communicator, podcast producer and activist Tommy O'Boyle (1917–2000), American college football player, coach and athletics administrator and National Football League assistant coach
Fictional characters include: Patrick O'Boyle, in the American sitcom The King of Queens
See also Boyle (surname), a Scottish surname Clan Boyle, a Scottish clan
References