Doyle

Doyle is a surname of Irish origin. The name is an Anglicisation of the Irish Ó Dubhghaill /oːˈd̪ˠʊwəlʲ/[citation needed], meaning “descendant of Dubhghall”. The personal name Dubhghall contains the elements dubh “black” + gall “stranger”.[1] Similar Scottish and Irish surnames, derived from the same personal name are: MacDougall / McDougall and MacDowell / McDowell.[1]

During the Viking Age the term Dubhghoill was used to describe the Vikings—usually Danes—and the term Fionnghoill (“fair foreigners”) was used to describe Norwegians.[2] There is uncertainty as to the exact meaning of these terms. If they do not refer to literal colours of hair, complexion, or apparel, the terms could denote “new” and “old” Vikings. If correct, the terms may distinguish differing groups or dynasties, or perhaps represent ethnonyms referring to Danes and Norwegians respectively.[3] Later, Fionnghall was used to describe Scottish Gaels from the Hebrides, and sometimes the Hiberno-Normans (or “Old English”). The most common term for the Hiberno-Normans was Seanghoill (“old foreigners”) to difference themselves from the Dubhghoill the “new foreigners” or “dark foreigners” who came to Ireland during Tudor conquest of Ireland.[2]