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 | 1107 | Conchobor son of Donn Sléibe, heir designate of Ulaid, was killed by the men of Fernmag. |
| fourmasters | 1108 | A house was taken by Ua Mathghamhna and Ua Maelruanaidh upon Goll Garbhraighe, King of Ulidia, i.e. Eochaidh, son of Donnsleibhe Ua hEochadha; and he was beheaded by them. |
| inisfallen | 1108 | Goll Garbraige, king of Ulaid, was treacherously slain by Ua Mathgamna. |
| lochce | 1108 | A house was taken by Ua Mathghamhna and Ua Maelruanaidh over Goll Garbraighe, i.e. the king of Uladh, i.e. Eochaidh, son of Donnsleibhe Ua hEochadha, and he was beheaded by them. |
| tigernach | 1108 | A raid by the Ulaid into Uí Méith, and they rifled it all save a little. |
| tigernach | 1108 | Goll Garbraidhe Ó hEochadha, king of Ulster, was killed by Ó Mathghamhna.king of Ulster. |
| ulster | 1108 | A house was stormed by Ua Mathgamna and ua Mael Ruanaid against Goll Garbraidhe, i.e. Eochaid son of Donn Sléibe ua Eochadha, i.e. the king of Ulaid, and he was beheaded by them. |
| lochce | 1109 | A hosting by Domhnall Mac Lachlainn accompanied by the men of the North of Erinn, to Sliabh-Fuaid; but Ceallach, comarb of Patrick, made a year's peace between O'Briain and Mac Lachlainn; and the men of the North of Erinn, together with the Cenel-Conaill |
| ulster | 1109 | An army was brought by Domnall grandson of Lochlainn also, with the north of Ireland, to Sliab Fuait, and Cellach, successor of Patrick, made a year's peace between ua Briain and ua Lochlainn, and the north of Ireland went after that to Mag ua mBresail against the Ulaid who were in Mag Coba, and the Ulaid gave them the three hostages they themselves chose. |
| ulster | 1110 | The Ulaid plundered Mucnám completely. |
| fourmasters | 1111 | A meeting between Domhnall Mac Lochlainn and Donnchadh Ua hEochadha, and they made peace and friendship with each other; and the Ulidians delivered hostages to Domhnall, for paying him his own demand. |
| inisfallen | 1111 | The Ulaid [went] on a hosting into Cenél Eógain and cut down the trees of Tulach Óc. And the son of Mac Lochlainn [was] in Ulaid, and he plundered it as far as Droichet na Feirsi, and hostages were afterwards obtained from the Ulaid. |
| lochce | 1111 | A hosting by the Ulidians to Telach-óg, when they cut down its sacred trees. |
| lochce | 1111 | A predatory excursion by Niall Mac Lachlainn, who carried off three thousand cows in revenge for them. |
| lochce | 1111 | A convention between Domhnall Mac Lachlainn and Donnchadh Ua hEochadha, when they made a full peace; and the Ulidians gave hostages to Domhnall, for the payment of his own demand. |
| ulster | 1111 | An expedition was made by the Ulaid to Telach Óc, and they cut down its sacred trees. A raid was made by Niall ua Lochlainn, and carried off a thousand or three thousand cows in revenge for them. |
| ulster | 1111 | Lightning burned Dún dá Lethglas, both ráith and trian. |
| ulster | 1111 | A meeting was held between Domnall ua Lochlainn and Donnchad ua Eochada at the Cuan, and they made full peace and the Ulaid gave Domnall ua Lochlainn hostages for his own tribute. |
| fourmasters | 1113 | An army was led by Domhnall Ua Lochlainn, with the chiefs of Cinel-Eoghain, Cinel-Conaill, and Airghialla, to Gleann-Righe; and they banished Donnchadh from the kingdom of Ulidia, and they divided Ulidia between Ua Mathghamhna and the son of Ua Duinnsleib |
| fourmasters | 1113 | An army was led by Muircheartach Ua Briain, with the men of Munster, Leinster, and Connaught, to Magh-Cobha, to aid Donnchadh. Another army, composed of the forces before mentioned, was marched by Domhnall Ua Lochlainn to Magh-Cobha, to relieve the Ulidia |
