Hoyle

Hoyle is a surname of English origin and a brand name associated with card and other tabletop games. The name is most closely linked to the 18th-century English writer Edmond Hoyle, who popularized formal rules for games and whose publications helped standardize how many games were played.

Edmond Hoyle (c. 1672–1769) authored a series of game rule books in the 18th century. His most influential work, Hoyle's Rules of Games, and related treatises established widely accepted standards for games such as whist, backgammon, and various dice and card games. Because of his authority on rules, the name Hoyle became a generic shorthand for “official game rules” in popular culture.

The Hoyle brand subsequently expanded beyond print. Over the years, it has been used by multiple publishers for card game and family game compilations, and the label has appeared on various computer and video game titles. These products typically present a set of classic games, often with its own editions of rules or with rules aligned to Hoyle’s tradition.

Surname usage and cultural impact: Hoyle remains a surname found in English-speaking countries and is borne by individuals in diverse fields. In popular culture and publishing, “Hoyle” continues to evoke authoritative or canonical game rules, even as the brand has broadened to multimedia formats.

See also: Hoyle’s Rules of Games, Hoyle’s Book of Games, Hoyle’s Game titles.