It is derived from a placename, likely from Gaelic caol "narrow, strait"[1] but there are other possible derivations.[2]
The name of the Kyle District itself is traditionally attributed to the legendary king
Coel Hen (there are actually no narrows or straights in Ayrshire's Kyle District; c.f.
Coylton).
On the geographical origin of those bearing the surname Kyle, by 1881 it occurred most densely in the county of
Berwickshire, followed by
Dumfries.[3]
^Harrison's Surnames of the United Kingdom says major variants Keil, Kile Kyle and Kylster, originated from the Celtic word caol, "narrow", and defines Kyle as "Dweller at the Narrow or Strait". Even today many Scottish straits retain that name, such as the
Kyle of Lochalsh, Kyle of Sutherland.
^Robert Chalmers of Ayrshire in his History of Scotland claimed the word kyle means "a woody region".
Another possible connection is that in
Gaeliccill means "church" or "churchyard"[citation needed]
One source claims that kylle in old Scotland meant
candle (Workmans Manuscript).[citation needed]
^Great Britain Family Names website maintained by University College London.
[1].
Surname list
This page lists people with the
surnameKyle. If an
internal link intending to refer to a specific person led you to this page, you may wish to change that
link by adding the person's
given name(s) to the link.
It is derived from a placename, likely from Gaelic caol "narrow, strait"[1] but there are other possible derivations.[2]
The name of the Kyle District itself is traditionally attributed to the legendary king
Coel Hen (there are actually no narrows or straights in Ayrshire's Kyle District; c.f.
Coylton).
On the geographical origin of those bearing the surname Kyle, by 1881 it occurred most densely in the county of
Berwickshire, followed by
Dumfries.[3]
^Harrison's Surnames of the United Kingdom says major variants Keil, Kile Kyle and Kylster, originated from the Celtic word caol, "narrow", and defines Kyle as "Dweller at the Narrow or Strait". Even today many Scottish straits retain that name, such as the
Kyle of Lochalsh, Kyle of Sutherland.
^Robert Chalmers of Ayrshire in his History of Scotland claimed the word kyle means "a woody region".
Another possible connection is that in
Gaeliccill means "church" or "churchyard"[citation needed]
One source claims that kylle in old Scotland meant
candle (Workmans Manuscript).[citation needed]
^Great Britain Family Names website maintained by University College London.
[1].
Surname list
This page lists people with the
surnameKyle. If an
internal link intending to refer to a specific person led you to this page, you may wish to change that
link by adding the person's
given name(s) to the link.