The Irish Annals were a set of documents written in Monasteries throughout Ireland starting around 600 AD. Like the Bible, the oldest versions are lost, but we have copies made for a period of 1,000 years until the last and most complete was finished in 1636. Before, and even after that, many of the copies were destroyed due to the occupation of the country by foreigners.
This page is a collection of the entries that refer to the surname Hoy in its various forms which changed through time. The earliest is for the year 1019 and the last for 1208. Before that, the surname did not exist, but the genealogy of the family is well documented and it is these men who are recorded in the Annals.
The death of Muireadhach in 489 is considered the first reliable event, but not the date. Saint Patrick lived with him and later with his sons Eochaidh and Cairell.
The earliest spelling of the surname is Ua hEochadha where Ua means 'descendant of'. Eochadha and later Eochaidh (Owey) were a popular a king's names (our Eochaidh died in 1004) meaning Steedlike. "The genealogy of all the Dál Fiatach is filled with the name Eochu (Horse-God or Horse-Like), and its modern form (Eochaidh)" - from IrishTribes.com. Eochu is cognate with the latin word for horse, equus.
In the census of 1651, O'Hoy is listed as a principle surname in mid-Louth, while in late 18th century baptisms, it is always written Hoy. Starting after 1800, it came to be written Hoey which is now the most common in Ireland.
There are eight Annals listed here. For all of them, the earlier the date, the more accurate the entry. The entries before the time of Christ were attempts by the monks to join Irish history with Jewish and Greek history and cannot be taken as true, but may have some worth.
| Source | Year | Text |
|---|---|---|
| Four Masters | 39 | This Fiatach Finn (from whom are the Dá Fiatach in Uladh), after having been three years in the sovereignty of Ireland, was slain by Fiacha Finnfolaidh. |
| Four Masters | 226 | Fearghus Duibhdeadach, son of Imchadh, was king over Ireland for the space of a year, when he fell in the battle of Crinna, by Cormac, grandson of Conn, by the hand of Lughaidh Lagha. There fell by him also, in the rout across Breagh, his two brothers, Fearghus the Long Haired and Fearghus the Fiery, who was called Fearghus Caisfhiaclach of the Crooked Teeth. In the army of Cormac came Tadhg, son of Cian, and Lughaidh, to that battle; and it was as a territorial reward for the battle that Cormac gave to Tadhg the land on which are the Ciannachta, in Magh Breagh, as is celebrated in other books. |
| Four Masters | 236 | The battle of Granard by Cormac, the grandson of Conn, against the Ulstermen this year. |
| Four Masters | 236 | A battle at Eth; the battle of Ceann Daire; the battle of Sruth against the Ulstermen; the battle of Slighe Cuailgne. |
| Four Masters | 248 | A battle at Fochard Muirtheimhne by Cormac this year. |
| Four Masters | 262 | The battle of Crionna Fregabhail was fought by Cormac against the Ulstermen, where fell Aenghus Finn, son of Fearghus Duibhdeadach i.e. the Black Toothed, King of Ulster, with the slaughter of the Ulstermen about him. |
| Four Masters | 267 | Eochaidh Gonnat in the sovereignty of Ireland, when he fell by Lughaidh Meann, son of Aenghus, one of the Ulstermen. |
| Four Masters | 331 | The battle of Achadh Leithdheirg, in Fearnmhagh, was fought by the three Collas against the Ulstermen, in which fell Fearghus Fogha, son of Fraechar Foirtriun, the last king of Ulster, who resided at Eamhain. They afterwards burned Eamhain, and the Ulstermen did not dwell therein since. They also took from the Ulstermen that part of the province extending from the Righe and Loch nEathach westwards. Colla Meann fell in this battle. |
| Four Masters | 356 | After Muireadhach Tireach had been thirty years in the sovereignty of Ireland, he was slain by Caelbhadh, son of Crunn, King of Uladh, at Portrigh, over Dabhall. |
| Tigernach | 488 | The rest of St Ciana of Duleek. It is to him that Patrick gave his gospels. |
| tigernach | 489 | The death of Muireadhach Redneck and his Eochaidh took the kingship of Ulaid. |
| tigernach | 509 | Eochaidh son of Muireadhach died. Cairell son of Muireadhach Mundeirg in the kingship of Ulaid. |
| tigernach | 532 | Eochaidh son of Connlac, king of Ulaid. |
| tigernach | 552 | The death of Eochaid son of Connla, king of Ulaid, from whom the Uí Eachach of Ulaid descend. |
| tigernach | 552 | Fergna son of Oengus, king of Ulaid. |
| ulster | 553 | Death of Eochu son of Conlaed i.e. king of Ulaid, in whom the Uí Echach Ulad originate; and death of Béc son of Deiche. |
| tigernach | 556 | The battle of Druim Cleithe wherein Ferdia, grandson of Fidbad, king of Ulaid, fell by Deman son of Cairell and by the Uí Echach of the Ard. |
| chroniconscotorum | 557 | The killing of Fergna son of Ibdach, king of Ulaid, in the battle of Druim Cleithe, by Demán son of Cairell and the Uí Echach of Ard. AU 557. |
| inisfallen | 557 | Kl. Death of Fergna, king of Ulaid. |
| ulster | 557 | Death of Fergna or Fiacha descendant of Ibdach, king of Ulaid. |
