An Irish, Scottish and English surname, Boyle comes from the Gaelic terms ‘baoth’ and ‘geall’ which refer to a rash yet rewarding pledge or very reckless person. The spelling variations for Boyle include Boyall, Boile, Baole and O’Boyle. In Ireland the Boyle surname originated in the Donegal region. In the 19th century many Boyle families moved to Canada, the United States, Australia and New Zealand. In northern England the Boyle surname is the most populated; in Durham, Yorkshire and Lancashire. The family name is found in the rest of England including a few of the counties in Wales. In Scotland the Boyle surname covers most of the country. Those counties with the greater Boyle populations include Lanarkshire and Renfrewshire. Within the United States the earliest Boyle settlers lived in New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Virginia, Ohio and New Jersey. Famous: Ralph Francis “Buzz” Boyle (professional baseball player), Hugh Boyle (professional Irish golfer), Danny Boyle (movie film director from England), Johnny Boyle (musician - drummer), Joseph C. Boyle (movie film director), Frankie Boyle (comedian from Scotland), Jeremiah Boyle (Civil War Union Army Brigadier General), Kay Boyle (novelist), Lara Flynn Boyle (film and television actress), Terry Boyle (professional footballer from Wales), Morris Boyle professional rugby player from Australia), Patrick Boyle (writer from Ireland), Robert William Boyle (co-inventor of sonar), Troy Boyle (comic book writer and artist), Susan Boyle (world-known Scottish singer) and Peter Boyle (film and television actor).