In 1850 Francis Xavier Boyle1 emigrated to Canada from Ballymena, County Antrim, near Belfast, Northern Ireland. (for those who like name dropping, Liam Neeson and Timothy Eaton were also born in Ballymena!) This connection to our Celtic ancestry has caused me to periodically research the Boyle name as connected to Ireland. Among other things, I have discovered the Heraldic Crests of the Boyle Family.
There are a number of different versions, but they all feature a golden background displaying a green oak tree with spreading roots, symbolizing strength, endurance, and ancient heritage. One source describes the symbolism: “The Boyle coat of arms is a dramatic field of gold with one green oak tree with spreading roots. The tree in Irish heraldry is a symbol of strength and age.“2
One version of a Boyle Crest found on-line.
In 1905 one of Francis Xavier Boyle’s descendants, C.J. (Charlie) Boyle “went west” from Ontario to the Canadian Prairies and put down roots near Colgate, Saskatchewan. (To this day, these roots provide a very modest minerals royalty to Charlie’s descendants.)
For some time I have been struck how the bright yellow canola fields and the stately oaks are both part of Canada’s Prairie landscape. Only recently have the tools become available to me to create our own heraldic crest from photos of prairie canola and prairie oak.
Here is the result, our own Boyle Heraldic Crest:
1The genealogical research is supplied by Cheryl Boyle Banks