The phrase “according to Hoyle” is most often used in situations when a speaker wants to indicate that his comment is based on some acknowledged level of authority, especially when a direct written reference is not available. In other words, a speaker is asserting that what he is saying or proposing is based on the highest authority and in accord with a strict set of rules.

Little is known about most of Edmond Hoyle’s life. Hoyle is believed to have been trained to become a barrister (lawyer, attorney). In 1741, Hoyle began working as a whist tutor to members of the English Royal Family and other members of the upper classes. In addition to providing personal instruction, he sold a short booklet on the game of whist to his clients, describing his strategies for playing the game. After hIs booklet became quite popular, unauthorized copies of it began to circulate throughout London. Hoyle later published and copyrighted his A Short Treatise On The Game Of Whist: Containing The Laws Of The Game And Also Some Rules (1743) in an attempt to prevent the unauthorized publication of his works.

Editor’s Notes: Evidence would indicate that Sir Edmond (Edmund) Hoyle would be considered a member of the British branch of families that carry the Hoyle surname.

Because of his success, Hoyle followed with similar treatises on backgammon, chess, quadrille, piquet, and brag. In 1750, a compendium of these essays was published, as Mr. Hoyle’s Games Complete, and over time it pushed off the market Charles Cotton’s aging The Compleat Gamester, long considered to be the “standard” English-language reference work on the subject of playing of games – especially gambling games – since its publication in 1674.

Hoyle’s A Short Treatise On The Game Of Whist was regarded as authoritative until 1864, after which time it was superseded by the new rules written by John Loraine Baldwin and adopted by the Arlington and Portland clubs.

Many modern game rule books still contain the word “Hoyle” in the title, but that doesn’t mean that they are works that are directly derivative of those written by Hoyle.

Sir Edmond Hoyle was a charter inductee into the Poker Hall of Fame in 1979 thanks to his many contributions to not only poker, but all types of card and board games.

Sir Edmond’s surname can still be seen printed on hundreds of books such as Hoyle’s Rules of Games: Third Revised and Updated Edition about card and board games and on the backs of playing cards.

During my studies I always had a nagging curiosity about where my ancestors would have been and what they were doing during major historic events. Were some of my ancestors famous knights going on the Crusades? Were others soldiers during the Napoleonic wars? Were any involved in the American Revolution or the Civil War? If so, who’s side were they on? Were they “johnny rebs” or did they wear Union blue? Did any of my family meet George Washington or Robert E. Lee in person?

I’d hope that I would see the name “Hoyle” show up as I studied. Maybe a famous general, a pioneer like Lewis and Clark, maybe a soldier at the Alamo. Every time I picked up a history book, I’d look at the index to see if my surname was listed. There seemed to be lots of Howes, Hoyts, and Holts in the indices, but never a Hoyle.

I was so happy the first time that I heard the expression, “According to Hoyle.” I had no idea what it meant, but my mother (Patricia [Jarvis] Hoyle) told me that anyone using the phrase meant “this is a fact” or “that’s the rule.” She further explained that it referred to “some Englishman (Sir Edmond Hoyle) from hundreds of years ago” who defined and wrote a book about all the rules of various card games and the expression caught on and remained fairly common, especially among older people.

Of course my elation at first hearing about this famous person with my last name was quickly deflated. When Mom said, “I don’t think we’re related to him” I was so disappointed. I’d finally found out that there was a really famous person named Hoyle, only then to discover that I was probably might not related at all.

Instead of that news discouraging me, it made me only more determined to find out if I did have any famous ancestors. What I found over the years is that most were not famous in the modern sense, but many were notable and honorable in their service to their countries and for their accomplishments in so many other meaningful ways.