Find out how popular the last name Foyle is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Foyle.

Foyle, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Foyle surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Foyle in America

Foyle is the 56444th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Foyle surname appeared 362 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Foyle.

We can also compare 2010 data for Foyle to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name 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.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Foyle

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Foyle.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Foyle was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Foyle has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Foyle was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Foyle, please contact us.

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