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 | 1094 | A slaughter of the Airthir, of their nobles, i.e. including ua Fedacán and Donn son of Óengus, was carried out by the Ulaid. |
| inisfallen | 1095 | Donnchadh Ua hEochada, king of Ulaid, was deposed and banished to Cenél Eógain, and Goll Garbraige took the kingship of Ulaid. |
| inisfallen | 1095 | Foray [was made] by the Cenél Eógain and by Donnchadh Ua hEochada into Ulaid. The Ulaid overtook and defeated them, inflicting a slaughter upon them. |
| lochce | 1095 | The victory of Ard-achadh was gained by the Dal-Araidhe over the Ulidians, in which Gillacomghaill O'Cairill was slain. |
| tigernach | 1095 | Domhnall Ó Fearghail, king of the Forths of Leinster, Donnchadh, king of Ulster, and the son of Donnsléibhe, king of Ulster, were deposed. |
| ulster | 1095 | The defeat of Ard Achaidh was inflicted by the Dál Araide on the Ulaid, and in it fell Gilla Comgaill ua Cairill. |
| lochce | 1096 | Cu-uladh] Ua Celechain, royal heir of Oirghiall, was slain by the Ulidians |
| ulster | 1096 | Cú Ulad ua Ceilecán, i.e. heir designate of Airgialla, was killed by the province of Ireland, i.e. by the Ulaid. |
| lochce | 1099 | A hosting by Domhnall Mac Lachlainn and the men of the North of Erinn, into Ulidia. The Ulidians, however, were before them at Craebh-thelcha, in a camp. Their two cavalry hosts engage. The cavalry host of Ulidia is defeated, and Ua hAmhrain is slain ther |
| ulster | 1099 | An expedition was made by Domnall ua Lochlainn and the North of Ireland over Tuaim into Ulaid; the Ulaid, however, were in camp at Craeb Telcha. Their two forces of horsemen meet, the force of the Ulaid is defeated, and ua hAmráin is killed there. The Ulaid then leave their camp and Cenél Eógain burn it and cut down Craeb Telcha. Two hostages are given to them thereafter, and the successor of Comgall as surety for two other hostages. U1100.2 Donnchad son of Eochaid, king of Ulaid, and a number of the nobles of the Ulaid with him, was captured by Domnall ua Lochlainn, king of Ailech, on the fifth of the Kalends of June 28 May. |
| chroniconscotorum | 1100 | Donnchad ua Eochadha, king of Ulaid, was imprisoned by Domnall grandson of Lochlainn, king of Cenél Eogain. |
| fourmasters | 1100 | Donnchadh Ua hEochadha, King of Ulidia, and some of the chieftains of Ulidia along with him, were taken prisoners by Domhnall, grandson of Lochlainn, King of Oileach, on the fifth of the Calends of June. |
| inisfallen | 1100 | Domnall son of Mac Lochlainn, king of Ailech, imprisoned Donnchadh Ua hEochada, high-king of Ulaid, and the hostages which he (Donnchadh) had taken, were afterwards brought from Ulaid. |
| lochce | 1100 | Donnchadh Ua hEochadha, king of Uladh, and a number of the chieftains of Uladh along with him, were taken prisoners by Domhnall Mac Lachlainn, king of Oilech, on the fifth of the kalends of June. |
| tigernach | 1100 | Donnchadh grandson of Eochaidh, king of Ulster, was guilefully captured by the son of Mac Lochlainn, king of the Kindred of Eoghan. |
| fourmasters | 1101 | Donnchadh Ua hEochadha, King of Ulidia, was liberated from fetters by Domhnall, the grandson of Lochlainn, in exchange for his son and his foster-brother, in the daimhliag of Ard-Macha, through the intercession of the successor of Patrick, and all his con |
| inisfallen | 1101 | The men of Mide and the Gailenga went on a foray against the men of Fernmag, and the men of Fernmag inflicted a great slaughter upon them. And Donnchadh Ua hEochada was released by Ua Lochlainn, and together they devastated Ulaid. |
| lochce | 1101 | Donnchadh Ua hEochadha, king of Uladh, was released from bondage by Domhnall Mac Lachlainn, king of Oilech in exchange for his son and his foster-brother, viz.:—in the stone-church of Ard-Macha he was released, through the intercession of the comarb of Pa |
| ulster | 1101 | An expedition was made by Muirchertach ua Briain and by Leth Moga into Connacht, and over Eas Ruaidh into Tír Eógain, and they razed Ailech and burned and outraged many churches also, including Fathain of Muru and Ard Sratha. They went thereafter over Fertas Camsa and burned Cúl Rathain and committed slaughter there. They afterwards took the hostages of the Ulaid. They went home over Slige Midluachra. |
| ulster | 1101 | Donnchad ua Eochada, king of Ulaid, was released from bonds by Domnall grandson of Lochlainn, king of Ailech, for the sake of his son and his co-fosterling, i.e. in the stone church of Ard Macha, through the intercession of the successor of Patrick and the community of Patrick also, after making mutual oath on the Staff of Jesus and other relics, on the eleventh of the Kalends of January 22 Dec.. |
