Boyle is a Donegal name at heart. In Irish it is Ó Baoighill, the family whose country in west Donegal is still called the barony of Boylagh, and Boyle and O'Boyle are two spellings of the same name. Every gift below comes from our Boyle and O'Boyle Irish family gifts collection, where the family crest sits on the Irish National Tartan.
The Name Behind the Gift
Woulfe counts the O'Boyles among the principal families of Cenél Conaill, of the same stock as the O'Donnells and O'Dohertys. They were first chiefs of the Three Tuaths in north-west Donegal; when the MacSweeneys took those lands, the O'Boyles moved west to Tír Ainmhireach, which became Críoch Bhaoigheallach, "O'Boyle's country," and so the barony of Boylagh. Boyle is still the third most common surname in Donegal. The full story is in our Boyle surname history. The Scottish Boyles of Kelburn, Earls of Glasgow, are a separate family with their own Kelburn history, and if you are unsure which line is yours, our guide to telling where a Celtic surname comes from will help you place it.
Woven or Printed: Choosing a Boyle Blanket
The Boyle Irish woven blanket is the heirloom piece. Crest and tartan are woven through premium cotton yarn rather than printed, the edges are finished with a traditional fringe, and it comes in three sizes from 52 × 37 inches up to 80 × 60 inches. Choose it for a wedding, a milestone birthday or a grandparent who will one day hand it on.
The printed Boyle tartan throw is the lighter, everyday choice: 100% polyester, 50 × 60 inches, printed on one side with a white reverse. It suits a dorm room, a camper or the back of the couch, where it will be pulled over someone's knees every night.
Boyle or O'Boyle: Match the Spelling
Most pieces carry Boyle, but a few are made for families who kept the O': the O'Boyle family crest mug, the O'Boyle wall pennant and the House of O'Boyle garden flag. The mug, pennant and garden flag each come in a Boyle version too, so check how the family writes its name, or a grandmother's maiden name, before you order.
Two Ornament Styles
The round ceramic Boyle ornament is 3 inches across and printed on both sides, so it looks right from any angle on the tree. The framed Boyle ornament is a 3.25 × 2.31 inch portrait frame with a polished metal finish and a satin ribbon, printed on one side and made to face the room. Give one this year and the other next, and a small Boyle tradition starts itself.
Everyday Boyle Gifts
- Boyle family crest mug: 11 oz glossy white ceramic with a black handle and interior.
- Boyle cork coaster set: glossy 3.75-inch squares on natural cork for the coffee table or home bar.
- Boyle wall pennant: 18 × 21 inches of polyester twill for a den or home office.
- Boyle garden flag: two sizes for the front door or garden; pole not included.
- Boyle T-shirt: short-sleeve cotton in Irish Green or Black, S to 3XL.
- Boyle novelty license plate: the crest over the Irish flag for the truck or the garage wall.
Matching the Gift to the Occasion
Christmas: the woven blanket under the tree, with an ornament for each of the cousins. Father's Day and Mother's Day: a mug or pennant for the parent who passed the Boyle name down. Weddings: a woven blanket for the new Boyle household. Housewarmings: a garden flag in whichever spelling is on the mailbox. Remembrance: the framed ornament, hung each December for a Boyle who is missed.
Put the Story in the Card
Write one line inside: "Ó Baoighill, of Boylagh in west Donegal." The rest is in the Boyle surname history. If the family tree runs deeper into Donegal, the O'Donnell history covers the lords of Tír Chonaill, and the Sweeney history covers the MacSweeneys who took over the Three Tuaths.
Boyle Gift FAQ
What is the best gift for someone named Boyle?
For a milestone, the woven Boyle blanket. For the home, a garden flag or wall pennant. For everyday use, the mug or the cork coaster set.
Are Boyle and O'Boyle the same family name?
Yes. Both come from Ó Baoighill; Boyle simply dropped the O'. Pick the spelling your family uses.
Is Boyle an Irish or Scottish name?
Most Irish Boyles are the Gaelic Ó Baoighill of Donegal. The Boyles of Kelburn in Ayrshire, Earls of Glasgow, are a separate Scottish family, and the Earls of Cork were an English family who settled in Munster.
What tartan is on these gifts?
The Irish National Tartan, the background across our Irish family crest range.
Do you make gifts for the other surnames in our family tree?
Yes. Our catalog covers over 2,000 Irish, Scottish and Welsh names, with free shipping to 7 countries.