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Foyle Family History

Foyle Name Meaning

English and Irish (of Norman origin): habitational name from any of the places in Normandy called La Feuillie (from Latin folia + -ata ‘leafy place wood’) either in Seine-Maritime or Manche. According to MacLysaght it has been established in Ireland since the 13th century at first in Dublin later in Leix. English (of Norman origin): habitational name from Foyle Farm in Oxted Surrey recorded as Foyllye la Foily in 1418. A name of French origin La Foyl(y)e was partially Anglicized as the Foyl(y)e shown by early surname forms. One suggestion is that this is derived from Old French fouille ‘excavation’. While this is formally possible there is no evidence for the term in Middle English or as a placename in northern France. More likely it has the same origin and meaning as 1 above and was given by an owner of Norman descent perhaps in imitation of one of the places called La Feuillie in Normandy. English and Welsh: perhaps an Anglicized form of Voyle (see Voyles ). It could be an English spelling pronunciation of Welsh Foel or Foyl (pronounced /voil/ in Welsh) or it might be an English substitution of English /f/ for /v/ a hypercorrection of words and names where /f/ is voiced to /v/ in western dialects of English such as vox for fox.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: Hoyle, Sole, Fosse, Hole, Folley, Royle, Fowle, Fonte, Foye, Royse

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

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Where is the Foyle family from?

You can see how Foyle families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Foyle family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Foyle families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1840 there were 4 Foyle families living in Ohio. This was about 67% of all the recorded Foyle's in USA. Ohio had the highest population of Foyle families in 1840.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Foyle surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Foyle ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Secretary were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Foyle. 19% of Foyle men worked as a Laborer and 20% of Foyle women worked as a Secretary. Some less common occupations for Americans named Foyle were Salesman and Maid. .

View Census Data for Foyle | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Laborer
    19%
  • Farmer
    11%
  • Clerk
    9%
  • Salesman
    9%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Secretary
    20%
  • Housekeeper
    15%
  • Seamstress
    15%
  • Maid
    10%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Foyle family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 18,000 census records available for the last name Foyle. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Foyle census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

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Passenger Lists

There are 1,000 immigration records available for the last name Foyle. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the USA, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

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Draft Cards

There are 1,000 military records available for the last name Foyle. For the veterans among your Foyle ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

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What is the average Foyle lifespan?

Between 1962 and 2004, in the United States, Foyle life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1965, and highest in 1977. The average life expectancy for Foyle in 1962 was 56, and 77 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Foyle

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