Kyle (surname)

This article is about the surname. For the given name, see Kyle (given name).

Kyle

Origin
Word/name	Scottish

Kyle is a surname of Scottish origin.

Etymology

The surname 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; cf. 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]

People

• Alexandra Kyle (born 1988), American actress
• Andy Kyle, Canadian baseball player
• Anne Dempster Kyle(1896–1966), American children's writer
• Beatrice Kyle (1902–1970), American high diver
• Benjaman Kyle, American man with retrograde amnesia
• Chris Kyle (1974–2013), United States Navy SEAL
• Craig Kyle, American writer
• David Kyle, science fiction writer
• Doug Kyle, Canadian long-distance runner
• Duncan Kyle
• George Kyle (1908–1998), Scottish footballer
• Gunhild Kyle (1921–2016), Swedish historian
• Harry Macdonald Kyle, Scottish ichthyologist and pioneer of Fisheries science.
• Iris Kyle, American 10-time overall Ms. Olympia professional bodybuilder
• Jack Kyle (1926–2014), Irish rugby player
• James H. Kyle
• Jason Kyle, former American football player
• Jayanthi Kyle, American singer
• Jeremy Kyle, British TV and radio presenter
• John C. Kyle
• John J. J. Kyle, Scots-born Argentine scientist
• John W. Kyle
• Jordan Kyle, American music producer, songwriter and sound engineer
• Kevin Kyle
• Louisa Venable Kyle (1903–1999), US writer
• Maeve Kyle (1928–2025), Irish track athlete and field hockey player
• Mark Kyle (born 1973), Irish Olympic eventing rider
• Penelope W. Kyle
• Peter Kyle (footballer)
• Peter Kyle (politician), British Labour MP
• Scott Kyle, Scottish actor
• Wallace Kyle

Fictional characters

• Benjamin Kyle (Babylon 5), TV series character
• Selina Kyle, better known as Catwoman

References

1. 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.
2. Robert Chalmers of Ayrshire in his History of Scotland claimed the word kyle means "a woody region". Another possible connection is that in Gaelic cill means "church" or "churchyard"^{[ citation needed ]} One source claims that kylle in old Scotland meant candle (Workmans Manuscript).^{[ citation needed ]}
3. Great Britain Family Names website maintained by University College London..