Kyle is a name with Scottish roots that became part of the fabric of Ulster.
Where does the Kyle name come from?
Kyle is chiefly a Scottish locative surname, taken from the district of Kyle in Ayrshire in south-west Scotland. The place-name itself comes from a Gaelic word for a narrow strait or channel (caol). Families took the name from the land, and it is therefore Scottish rather than native Gaelic Irish in origin.
Kyle in Ireland
The name came to Ireland mainly through the Plantation of Ulster and the wider movement of Scottish families into the north of Ireland from the seventeenth century onward. It became established among the Ulster-Scots community, particularly in the northern counties, and has been carried by Irish families there ever since. As an Ulster name of Scottish origin, Kyle is found today in Ireland — especially the north — and among the diaspora in the United States, Canada, Australia and Britain.
Related Irish family names
Carry the Kyle name with you
From a soft woven blanket to a keepsake ornament, our Kyle heritage range lets you keep the family name close. Search the Kyle name to see the full collection of gifts and keepsakes.
Frequently asked questions
Is Kyle an Irish or Scottish name?
Kyle is Scottish in origin, from the district of Kyle in Ayrshire, but it became firmly established in Ulster through Scottish settlement and is carried by many Irish families today.
How did the Kyle name come to Ireland?
Chiefly through the Plantation of Ulster and the movement of Scottish families into the north of Ireland from the seventeenth century onward.
Is there a Kyle family crest?
Families of the name have heraldic traditions; the crest and tartan artwork on our Kyle products is created as decorative heritage artwork to celebrate the name.
