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 |
|---|---|---|
| inisfallen | 1005 | The Ulaid abandoned their land on account of scarcity and scattered throughout Ireland. |
| inisfallen | 1005 | A muster by Brian, son of Cennétig, of the men of Ireland, both foreigners and Gaedil south of Sliab Fuait, to Ard Machaand to Ráith Mór of Mag Line in Ulaid to obtain the hostages of Cenél Conaill and Cenél Eógain. |
| ulster | 1005 | Gilla Comgaill, king of Ulaid, was killed by Mael Ruanaid, his own brother. |
| ulster | 1005 | Aed son of Tomaltach, i.e. king of Leth Cathail, was killed by Flaithbertach ua Néill in an invasion of Leth Cathail. |
| ulster | 1005 | A rout of the Ulaid and of the Uí Echach at Loch Bricrenn, in which Artán, heir designate of Uí Echach, fell U1006.3 Eichmílid ua hAitid, king of Uí Echach—by the Ulaid, —Mael Ruanaid son of Flannacán—by the Conaille,—and Cathalán, king of Gailenga, were killed. |
| chroniconscotorum | 1006 | A great army of the men of Ireland was led by Brian son of Cendétigh, king of Mumu, to Cenél Conaill and Cené Eógain to obtain hostages, through the centre of Connacht, over Es Ruadh through the centre of Cenél Conaill, and through Cenél Eogain to Belach |
| fourmasters | 1006 | Domhnall, son of Dubhtuinne, King of Ulidia, was slain by Muireadhach, son of Madudhan, and Uarghaeth of Sliabh Fuaid. |
| inisfallen | 1006 | Brian, together with the men of Mumu, the Laigin, the men of Mide, Mael Sechnaill, the Connachta, the foreigners of Áth Cliath, and the men of the whole of Ireland south of Sliab Fuait [came] to Áth Luain, went to Es Ruaid, proceeded across it northwards, |
| ulster | 1006 | Brian brought an army on a circuit of Ireland into Connacht, over Es Ruaid into Tír Conaill, through Cenél Eógain, over Fertas Camsa, into Ulaid, into the assembly of the Conaille; and at Lammas they came to Belach Dúin, and the full demand of the community of Patrick and of his successor i.e. Mael Muire son of Eochaid, was granted. 1. (It is remarkable that Sliab Cua has no troop, |
| ulster | 1006 | Gilla Comgaill son of Ardgar son of Matudán, i.e. king of Ulaid, was killed by his brother i.e. by Mael Ruanaid son of Ardgar. |
| chroniconscotorum | 1007 | Mael Ruanaidh son of Ardgal king of Ulaid was killed by Matudán son of Domnall. Matudán son of Domnall, however, was killed by the Torc in the centre of Dui despite the protection of the saints of Ireland. The Torc, king of Ulaid, was killed by the power |
| fourmasters | 1007 | Muireadhach, son of Dubhtuinne, King of Ulidia, was slain. |
| inisfallen | 1007 | Death of Mael Ruanaid, king of Ulaid. |
| inisfallen | 1007 | A great muster of the men of Ireland, both foreigners and Gaedil, by Brian to Ard Macha, and they took the hostages of Ulaid from the king of Ailech by force. |
| inisfallen | 1007 | Death of Matudán, king of Ulaid |
| ulster | 1007 | Mael Ruanaid son of Ardgar was killed by Matudán son of Domnall. |
| ulster | 1007 | Matudán son of Domnall, king of Ulaid, was killed by the ‘Torc’ in Brigit's church in the middle of Dún dá Lethglas. |
| ulster | 1007 | Flaithbertach ua Néill led an expedition into Ulaid, took seven pledges from the Ulaid, and killed the king of Leth Cathail, i.e. Cú Ulad son of Aengus. |
| ulster | 1007 | Brian led an expedition to Cenél Eógain, i.e. to Dún Droma, beside Ard Macha, and took away ua Críchidéin, successor of Finnén of Mag Bile, who was a pledge in Cenél Eógain on behalf of the Ulaid. |
| ulster | 1007 | The 'Torc,' king of Ulaid, was killed through the power of God and Patrick by Muiredach son of Matudán, in revenge for his father. |
