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 | 971 | Niall son of Aed, king of Ulaid, dies U972.1 A battle between the Ulaid and the Dál Araidi in which fell the king of the Province, i.e. Aed son of Loingsech, and others. |
| chroniconscotorum | 972 | A battle between the Ulaid and the Dál Araide in which fell Aed son of Loingsech, king of the province, and others. Eochaidh was victor. |
| inisfallen | 972 | Death of Aed son of Loingsech, king of Ulaid, by the grandson of Matudán. |
| ulster | 976 | Tadc son of Ruaidrí, king of Cianacht, was killed in Ulaid. |
| chroniconscotorum | 980 | A great army was led by Mael Sechnaill son of Domnall, king of Temair, and by Eochaidh son of Ardgal, king of Ulaid, to the foreigners of Áth Cliath and they besieged them for three days and three nights, and brought away the hostages of Ireland including |
| tigernach | 980 | A great hosting by Maelseachnaill the Great son of Domhnall, king of Tara, and by Eochaidh son of Ardghal, king of the Ulaid, to the Foreigners of Dublin, and they beleaguered them for three days and three nights, and brought thence the hostages of Ireland, including Domhnall Claon, king of Leinster, and the guarantees of the Uí Néill besides, and they got their full demand from the Foreigners, {folio 15a2}to wit, two thousand kine, with jewels and treasures, and moreover with the freedom of the Uí Néill from tribute, from the Shannon to the sea. Tis then that Maelseachnaill proclaimed the famous rising when he said: ‘Let every one of the Gaels who is in the Foreigner's province come forth to his own country for peace and comfort.’ That captivity was the Babylonian captivity of Ireland; twas next to the capitivity of Hell. |
| chroniconscotorum | 982 | Árchú son of Niall, heir designate of Ulaid, was treacherously killed by his own people. |
| tigernach | 982 | Árchú son of Niall, crown prince of Ulster, by his own brethren in a trick was killed. |
| ulster | 989 | Eochaid son of Ardgar, king of Ulaid, went on an expedition to Cenél Eógain, and left behind ua hAitid dead. |
| inisfallen | 1000 | The men of Mumu invaded Áth Cliath, set fire to it, and burned it, and they invested it on the Kalends of January; and they burned Caill Tomair as firewood; and the king of the foreigners of Áth Cliath escaped from the battle to Ulaid, but found no protec |
| chroniconscotorum | 1002 | An army was led by Brian and by Mael Sechnaill with the men of Ireland, both Connachta and Munstermen and Laigin and foreigners, as far as Dún Delga in Conaille. Aed son of Domnall ua Néill, overking of Ailech, and Eochaidh son of Ardgal king of Ulaid wit |
| inisfallen | 1002 | A muster of the men of Mumu, the Connachta, the men of Mide, the Laigin, and of the foreigners of Áth Cliath and Port Láirge by Brian, son of Cennétig, against the Ulaid to take their hostages. |
| tigernach | 1002 | A hosting by Brian and by Maelseachlainn, accompanied by the men of Ireland, both Munster and Connacht and Leinster and Foreigners, as far as Dundalk in Conailli. Aodh son of Domhnall, high-king oa Ailech, and Eochaidh son of Ardgal, king of Ulster, with the Ulaid and the Kindred of Eoghan and of Conall, and the Airgéill met them and did not let them go past, so they separated under a truce, without hostage, without pledge. |
| fourmasters | 1003 | The battle of Craebh-tulcha, between the Ulidians and the Cinel-Eoghain, in which the Ulidians were defeated. In this battle were slain Eochaidh, son of Ardghair, King of Ulidia, and Dubhtuinne, his brother; and the two sons of Eochaidh, i.e. Cuduiligh an |
| chroniconscotorum | 1004 | The battle of Craeb Telcha between the Ulaid and the Cenél Eógain, and the Ulaid were defeated and there fell there Eochaidh son of Artgal, king of Ulaid, and Dub Tuinne his brother and Eochaidh's two sons i.e. Cú Duiligh and Domnall, and Garbíth, king of |
| fourmasters | 1004 | Gillacomhghaill, son of Ardghar, and his son, and two hundred along with them, were slain by Maelruanaidh, son of Ardghar, contending for the kingdom of Ulidia. |
| inisfallen | 1004 | A battle at Craeb Tulcha between the Ulaid and Cenél Eógain and Cenél Conaill, and Aed son of Domnall Ua Néill, king of Ailech, was slain therein; and Eochaid son of Ardgal, king of Ulaid, together with his princes fell in the same battle. |
| ulster | 1004 | The battle of Craeb Tulcha between the Ulaid and the Cenél Eógain, i.e. on Thursday the 18th of the Kalends, of October 14th Sept., and the Ulaid were defeated; and therein fell Eochaid son of Ardgar, king of Ulaid, and his kinsman Dub Tuinne, and his two sons, Cú Duilig and Domnall; and there was also a slaughter of the army, both noble and base Gairbíth king of Uí Echach, and Gilla Pátraic son of Tomaltach, and Cumuscach son of Flathroí, and Dub Slánga son of Aed, and Cathalán son of Étrú, and Coinéne son of Muirchertach, as well as the elite of the Ulaid; and the combat ranged as far as Dún Echdach and Druim Bó. Thus in the Book of Dub dá Leithe. Moreover, Aed son of Domnall ua Néill, king of Ailech, fell there in the 29th year of his age and in the tenth of his reign, and others also; but the Cenél Eógain claim that he was killed by themselves. |
| chroniconscotorum | 1005 | Giolla Comgaill son of Ardgal and his two sons and two hundred with them were treacherously killed by Mael Ruanaidh son of Ardgal when contending for the kingship of Ulaid. An army was led by Brian with the men of Ireland to Cenél Eogain and to Ulaid to s |
| fourmasters | 1005 | Maelruanaidh, son of Ardghar, King of Ulidia, was slain by Madadhan, son of Domhnall, after being one-half year in the government of the province. Madadhan, son of Domhnall, King of Ulidia, was killed by the Torc, i.e. Dubhtuinne, in the middle of Dun-Lea |
