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 | 1102 | The son of Mac Lochlainn with the Cenél Eógain went into Ulaid, and their camp was attacked when unguarded, and the king of Carraig Brachide, namely, Ua Maíl Fhábaill, and the son of Conrach, son of Eógan, and many others were slain. |
| lochce | 1102 | Sord-Choluim-Chille was burned. Donnchadh, son of Echri Ua hAitheidh, royal heir of Uí-Echach, was slain by the Ulidians, in the fifth month after he had profaned the community of Patrick. |
| lochce | 1102 | A hosting by the Cenel-Eoghain to Magh-Cobha. The Ulidians proceeded on that night to the camp, and slew Sitrec Ua Maelfhabhuill, king of Carraig-Brachaidhe and Sitrec, son of Conrach, son of Eoghan, et alii. |
| ulster | 1102 | Donnchadh son of Echrí ua Aitidh, heir designate of Uí Echach, was killed by the Ulaid, i.e. in the fifth month after outraging Patrick. |
| ulster | 1102 | An expedition was made by the Cenél Eógain to Magh Coba. The Ulaid went at night into the encampment and killed Sitriuc ua Maelfabhaill, king of Carraic Brachaidhe, and Sitriuc son of Conrí son of Eogan and others. |
| chroniconscotorum | 1103 | Magnus king of Lochlann and the Innse, a man who attempted to conquer Ireland, was killed on a raid in Ulaid. |
| inisfallen | 1103 | Magnus, king of the foreigners, was slain when taken unawares by the Ulaid. |
| lochce | 1103 | A great war between the Cenel-Eoghain and the Ulidians, when Muirchertach O'Briain came with the men of Mumha, and Laighen, and Osraighe, and with the nobles of Connacht, and with the men of Midhe, together with their kings, to Magh-Cobha, to assist the U |
| lochce | 1103 | Maghnus, King of Lochlann, was slain on a predatory expedition in Ulidia. |
| tigernach | 1103 | Maghnus, king of Norway and the Isles, a man who attempted to beleaguer Ireland, was killed in Ulster. |
| ulster | 1103 | A great war between the Cenél Eógain and the Ulaid, and Muirchertach ua Briain came with the men of Mumu and Laigin and Osraige and with the nobles of Connacht and the men of Mide with their kings to Mag Coba to assist the Ulaid. They all went to the plain of Ard Macha, i.e. to Cell na Conraire, and were a week beleaguering Ard Macha; Domnall ua Lochlainn with the north of Ireland was for that time in Uí Bresail Macha facing them. Since the men of Mumu were weary, Muirchertach went to Aenach Macha and to Emain and round to Ard Macha, and left eight ounces of gold on the altar and promised eight score cows, and returned again to Magh Coba, i.e. not having obtained what he sought, and left the province of Laigin there and some of the men of Mumu. He himself went on a raid into Dál Araide, and left there dead Donnchad son of Tairdelbach and the son of Ua Conchobuir, king of Ciarraige, and ua Beoáin and other nobles. Domnall ua Lochlainn went with the north of Ireland into Mag Coba to attack the Laigin; the Laigin, however, and the Osraige and the men of Mumu and the foreigners met them just as they were, and give battle, i.e. on Wednesday the Nones 5th of August, the twenty-ninth of the moon, on the day after coming to Ard Macha. Leth Moga, however, was defeated, and slaughter inflicted on them: i.e., slaughter on the Laigin, including Muirchertach son of Gilla Mocholmóc and the two grandsons of Lorcán and Muirchertach grandson of Gormán, and others; a slaughter of the Uí Cheinnselaigh, including the two sons of Mael Mórda, and ua Riain, king of Uí Drona, and others; a slaughter of the Osraige, including Gilla Pátraic Ruad, king of Osraige, and the royal family of Osraige also; a slaughter of the foreigners of Áth Cliath, including Torstain son of Eric and Pól son of Amaind and Beollan Armunn and others; a slaughter of the men of Mumu including the two ua Bric, two heirs designate of the Déisi; and ua Failbe, heir designate of Corco Duibne, and a tributary-king of the Laigin, i.e. Ua Muiredaigh; the king of Ciarraige, with his son; and many others whom for the sake of concision we have passed over. The Cenél Eógain with the north of Ireland returned home with great slaughter and many valuables, including the royal tent and a camlinne and many other valuables. |
| ulster | 1103 | Magnus, king of Lochlann, was killed on a raid in Ulaid. |
| lochce | 1104 | A hosting by Domhnall Mac Lachlainn to Magh-Cobha, when he obtained the hostages of Ulidia; and he proceeded to Temhair, and burned a large part of Uí-Laeghaire, but gave protection to some of them however. |
| ulster | 1104 | A defeat was inflicted by the Ulaid on the Dál Araide, and in it fell Dubcenn ua Damán in a counter-attack. |
| ulster | 1104 | An army was brought by Domnall ua Lochlainn to Mag Coba, and he took the hostages of the Ulaid, and went to Temair and burnt a great part of Uí Loegaire, and gave them protection. |
| chroniconscotorum | 1107 | Conchobor Cisénach ua Eochadha, king of Ulaid, was killed. |
| fourmasters | 1107 | Conchobhar (i.e. Conchobhar Cisenanch), son of Donnsleibhe, royal heir of Ulidia, was killed by the men of Fearnmhagh. |
| inisfallen | 1107 | Conchobar Cisénach, son of Donn Sleibe Ua hEochada, was slain. |
| lochce | 1107 | Conchobhar, grandson of Donnsleibhe, royal heir of Uladh, was slain by the men of Fernmhagh. |
| tigernach | 1107 | Conchobhar Cisenach grandson of Eochaid, king of Ulster, was killed.king of Ulster. |
