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 |
|---|---|---|
| tigernach | 1083 | The Meranach, grandson of Eochaidh, king of Ulster, was drowned at Limerick. |
| fourmasters | 1084 | An army was led by Donnsleibhe, King of Ulidia, to Droicheatata, and gave wages to Donnchadh, the son of the Caileach Ua Ruairc. A predatory excursion was made in his Donnsleibhe's absence into Ulidia, by Domhnall Ua Lochlainn, whence he carried off priso |
| lochce | 1084 | A hosting by Donnsleibhe, king of Uladh, as far as Droichet-atha; and he gave pay to the son of the Caillech Ua Ruairc. |
| lochce | 1084 | A predatory expedition by Domhnall Mac Lachlainn, in his Donnsleibhe's absence, into Ulidia, and he carried off a great spoil of cattle. |
| ulster | 1084 | An army was brought by Donnsléibe, king of Ulaid, to Drochat Átha, and he gave stipend to the son of in Cailech ua Ruairc. A raid was made by Domnall ua Lochlainn in his rear in Ulaid, and they carried off a great prey of cattle. |
| fourmasters | 1086 | The battle of Eochaill was gained by the Ulidians over the Airghialla and Ua Ruadhagain, where Cumasgach Ua Laithen, lord of Sil-Duibhthire, and Gillamoninne Ua hEochadha, lord of Clann-Sinaigh, and many others along with them, were slain. |
| ulster | 1086 | The defeat of Eochaille was inflicted by the Ulaid on the Airgialla and on ua Ruadacán, in which fell Cumuscach ua Laithéin, king of Síl Duibtire, and Gilla Moninne ua Eochada, chief of Clann Sínaigh, and many others. |
| ulster | 1087 | A sea expedition by the grandsons of Ragnall and by the son of the king of Ulaid into Man, and in it fell the grandsons of Ragnall. |
| ulster | 1089 | The joint lords of the men of Fernmagh, and a multitude besides, were killed by the Uí Echach and the Ulaid in Sliab Fuaid U1091.3 Donn Sléibe ua Eochada, king of Ulaid, was killed in battle by Lochlann's grandson, king of Ailech, at Belach Goirt in Ibair. |
| chroniconscotorum | 1091 | Donnslébhe ua Eochadha, king of Ulaid, was killed by the Cenél Eogain. |
| inisfallen | 1091 | A battle between the Ulaid and the Cenél Eógain, and Donn Sleibe Ua hEochada, king of Ulaid, was slain therein, and Donnchadh Ua hEochada was afterwards made king. |
| lochce | 1091 | Donnsleibhe Ua hEochadha was slain by the son of Mac Lachlainn, i.e. the king of Oilech, at Bél-ghuirt-an-iobhair, in battle. |
| tigernach | 1091 | Donnsléibhe grandson of Eochaidh, or maybe Dnnchadh son of Donnsléibhe, king of Ulster, was killed by the kindred of Eoghan, along with the greater part of the kindred of Eoghan slain by him.king of Ulaid |
| inisfallen | 1092 | Ruaidrí Ua Conchobuir, king of Connachta, was treacherously blinded by Ua Flaithbertaig, and Muirchertach Ua Briain took the high-kingship of Connachta, and Diarmait Ua Briain was banished to Ulaid. |
| inisfallen | 1093 | A conference between the king of Ailech, i.e. the grandson of Lochlainn Ua Maíl Shechnaill, and Ua hEochada, king of Ulaid, at Dornann Dabaill on the edge of Loch nEchach, and by reason of a common hostility they made a covenant, with many relics includin |
| fourmasters | 1094 | Donnsleibhe Ua hEochadha, King of Ulidia, was slain by the King of Aileach, i.e. Domhnall, the son of Mac Lochlainn, in the battle of Bealach-Guirt-an-iubhair. |
| fourmasters | 1094 | The men of Ireland collected to Dublin, namely, Muircheartach Ua Briain, with Munstermen, the Osraighi, and the Leinstermen; Domhnall, the son of Mac Lochlainn, King of Oileach, with the Cinel-Conaill and Cinel-Eoghain; Domhnall, son of Flann, King of Tea |
| fourmasters | 1094 | Flaithbheartach Ua hAidith, lord of Ui-Eathach-Uladh, was blinded by Donnchadh Ua hEochadha, King of Ulidia. |
| lochce | 1094 | Flaithbhertach Ua hAitheidh, king of Uí-Echach, was blinded by Donnchadh Ua hEochadha, king of Uladh. |
| ulster | 1094 | Flaithbertach ua hAiteidh, king of Uí Echach, was blinded by Donnchad ua hEochada, king of Ulaid. |
