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 |
|---|---|---|
| ulster | 897 | Mael Finnia, son of Flannacán, inflicted a battle-rout on the Ulaid and Dál nAraidi, in which many fell, including the king of Dál Araidi, i.e. Muiredach son of Mac Étigh, and Mael Mochéirge on of Indrechtach, king of Leth Cathail. Aidíth son of Laigne was wounded and escaped. |
| ulster | 898 | Aidíth son of Laigne, king of Ulaid, was deceitfully killed by his associates. |
| ulster | 913 | The heathens inflicted a battle-rout on the crew of a new fleet of the Ulaid, on the coast of England, and many fell, including Cumuscach son of Mael Mocheirgi, son of the king of Leth Cathail. |
| chroniconscotorum | 914 | The army of the North and the Ulaid was led by Niall son of Aed into Mide to Greilach Eilte. Flann son of Mael Sechnaill with his sons routed them there, and there fell there a number of them including Fergal son of Óengus son of Mael Dúin and Mael Mórda |
| chroniconscotorum | 919 | The battle of Áth Cliath won over the Irish by the foreigners i.e. by Ímar i.e. Sitriuc Gaile in which fell Niall Glúndub son of Aed, king of Temair, and Conchobor grandson of Mael Sechnaill heir designate of Ireland i.e. the king of Mide and Aed son of E |
| inisfallen | 919 | The battle of Áth Cliath, in which the men of Ireland were defeated by In Caech, grandson of Ímar, and there fell therein nobles of the north of Ireland, including Niall Glúndub son of Aed, king of Ireland, and Aed son of Eochucán, king of Ulaid, and Mael |
| chroniconscotorum | 925 | Dubgall son of Aed, heir designate of Ulaid, was slain by Cenél Maence. |
| inisfallen | 925 | Death of Dubgall son of Aed, king of Ulaid. |
| ulster | 925 | Dubgall son of Aed, king of Ulaid, was killed by his own people. |
| chroniconscotorum | 926 | Slaughter was inflicted on the foreigners by the Ulaid, in which eight hundred were killed including the king i.e. Albdan son of Gothfrith and Aufer and Rolt, by Muirchertach son of Niall. |
| ulster | 933 | Conaing son of Niall inflicted a defeat on the Ulaid at Ruba Con Chongalt, in which three hundred or somewhat more fell. Matudán son of Aed, with the forces of the Province of Ireland, and foreigners, went and plundered westward as far as Sliab Betha and southward as far as Mucnám, and Muirchertach son of Niall came upon them and defeated them, and they lost twelve score and their spoils U962.1 Flaithbertach son of Conchobor, king of Ailech, made a raid in Dál Araidi and plundered Condaire; and the Ulaid came upon him, and he and his two kinsmen, i.e. Tadc and Conn, and many others, were killed. |
| chroniconscotorum | 942 | Dún Lethglaise was plundered by the son of Raghnall and the son of Raghnall was killed by Matudán, king of Ulaid, with a week, for the honour of Pátraic. |
| chroniconscotorum | 950 | Matudán son of Aed, king of Ulaid, was slain by his own people. |
| inisfallen | 950 | Bissextile. Kl. Death of Matudán, king of Ulaid. Death of Ruaidrí Ua Canannáin, high-king of Cenél Conaill. |
| chroniconscotorum | 962 | There was a raid by Flaithbertach son of Concobor, king of Ailech, into Dál nAraide, and he plundered Coindere, and the Ulaid overtook them and he was killed there with his two brothers, i.e. Tadc and Conn. |
| inisfallen | 969 | Death of Ardgal son of Matudan, king of Ulaid, and of Donnocán son of Mael Maire, king of Airgialla, [inflicted] by the son of Congalachand by the foreigners of Áth Cliath. |
| chroniconscotorum | 970 | The battle of Cell Móna was won by Domnall son of Congalach with the foreigners of Áth Cliath over Domnall son of Muirchertach king of Temair, in which fell many including Ardgar son of Matudán, king of Ulaid, Donnacán son of Maelmuire, king of Airgialla, |
| ulster | 970 | The king of Ulaid, i.e. Ardgar son of Matudán, made an expedition with the foreigners and sacked Connaire, leaving a great many beheaded there. |
| ulster | 970 | The battle of Cell Móna was won by Domnall son of Congalach and Amlaíb against Domnall ua Néill, and there fell there Ardgar son of Matudán, king of Ulaid, and Donnacán son of Mael Muire king of Airgialla, and Cinaed son of Cróngall, king of Conaille, and very many others. |
| chroniconscotorum | 971 | Niall son of Aed, king of Ulaid, dies. |
