Hoyle
A locational surname referring to someone who lived near a holly tree or in a holly grove.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 10,694 Americans carry the last name Hoyle. That puts it at #3,857 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 3.12 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 32,051 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Hoyle surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
11K
1 in 32,051
Census rank
#3,857
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
3.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
9.2K
uncommon in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 9,192 bearers of the surname Hoyle in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 3.12 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 3857th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Hoyle, the largest self-reported group is White at 80.7%. The next largest groups are Black (14.0%) and Hispanic (2.6%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Hoyle
The surname HOYLE has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to be a topographic name derived from the Old English word "hol," meaning a small valley or hollow. This suggests that the earliest bearers of the name likely resided in or near such a geographical feature.
The earliest known record of the surname HOYLE appears in the Hundred Rolls of Yorkshire in 1273, where one William del Hol was mentioned. This indicates that the name was well-established in the northern counties of England by the 13th century.
Over time, the name evolved from its original form of "del Hol" to "Hole" and eventually "Hoyle." This change in spelling was likely influenced by regional dialects and the adaptation of the name to local pronunciations.
In the 14th century, the HOYLE surname appeared in the Poll Tax Returns of Yorkshire in 1379, where John del Hoyle and Agnes del Hoyle were listed. This record suggests that the name had spread across different areas of Yorkshire by that time.
One notable bearer of the HOYLE surname was Edmond Hoyle (1672-1769), a renowned English writer and authority on the rules of various games, particularly whist. His book "A Short Treatise on the Game of Whist" became a standard reference work and contributed to the popularization of the term "according to Hoyle," which is still used today to indicate adherence to established rules or norms.
Another famous HOYLE was Sir William Hoyle (1860-1940), a British civil engineer and architect who designed several notable buildings in India during the British Raj, including the Victoria Memorial in Kolkata.
In the United States, the HOYLE surname can be traced back to early colonial times. One of the earliest recorded instances is that of Thomas Hoyle, who arrived in Virginia in 1635.
The HOYLE name has also been associated with several places in England, such as Hoyle Mill in Lancashire and Hoyle House in Yorkshire, further reinforcing its connection to the region's geography and history.
It's worth noting that the HOYLE surname has undergone various spelling variations throughout history, including Hoil, Hoile, Hoyle, and Hoyll, reflecting the fluidity of surname spellings in earlier times.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Hoyle
Among Census respondents with the surname Hoyle, the largest self-reported group is White at 80.7%. The next largest groups are Black (14.0%) and Hispanic (2.6%).
The bar chart below shows how Hoyle bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Hoyle surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White80.7%
- Black or African American14.0%
- Hispanic or Latino2.6%
- Two or more races1.7%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.6%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.5%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Hoyle surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #3,457 | #3,857 | -11.6% |
| Count | 9,455 | 9,192 | -2.8% |
| Per 100K | 3.50 | 3.12 | -10.9% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Hoyle bearers went from 9,455 to 9,192 (-2.8% change). The surname moved down 400 positions in the national ranking, going from #3,457 to #3,857.
FAQ
Hoyle surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Hoyle?
The surname Hoyle holds position #3,857 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 10,694 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 3.12 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Hoyle surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Hoyle, the largest self-reported group is White at 80.7%. The next largest groups are Black (14.0%) and Hispanic (2.6%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.