Charles Parnell was a 19th century politician who advocated land reform in support of Irish tenant farmers. He and his supporters planned to shun any landlord (or estate agent) who refused to comply. Charles Boycott, the English estate agent for the Earl of Erne in Co. Mayo was the first unlucky recipient of the treatment. When he refused to lower rents he found that he and his family were completely isolated in their community. No household servants or farm laborers would work for them, no shopkeepers would provide them service and their mail delivery ceased. His surname became synonymous with group action to withhold support or patronage in protest of the organization's actions.

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