In Derry, Bradley will largely be of this origin. The territory of this sept was on the borders of Counties Derry, Donegal and Tyrone. The Boyles of Limavady who settled there in 1660 are of this stock. A branch also settled in Scotland, becoming well established in Ayrshire.
Derived from Beauville in France a family of this name accompanied William the Conqueror to England in 1066. A County Donegal sept, with their heartland at Cloghaneely, who alongside the O’Dohertys and the O’Donnells controlled northwest Donegal in medieval times. The name has various origins including: a local name for someone who lived by a gateway or barrier an occupational name for a maker of bars and a nickname for a tall, thin person. Derived from various place names in southwest Scotland, meaning height or hill. Source: The Surnames of Derry by Brian Mitchell (Derry Genealogy Centre, 1992) Surname