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 | 1113 | The slaying of Donnchad, son of Eochaid, by the Ulaid. |
| lochce | 1113 | A hosting by Domhnall Mac Lachlainn, with the nobles of Cenel-Conaill and Cenel-Eoghain, and the Airghialla, to Glenn-Righe; and they expelled Donnchadh from the sovereignty of Uladh, and divided Uladh between Ua Mathghamhna and the sons of Donnsleibhe; b |
| lochce | 1113 | A hosting by Muirchertach Ua Briain, with the men of Mumha, and the Lagenians and Connachtmen, to Magh-Cobha, to aid Donnchadh. |
| lochce | 1113 | Another hosting by Domhnall Mac Lachlainn, with the men of Cenel-Conall and of Cenel-Eoghain, and the Airghialla, to Magh-Cobha likewise, to aid the Ulidians; and there was a danger of battle between them, until the comarb of Patrick separated them under |
| lochce | 1113 | Donnchadh Ua hEochadha was blinded by Eochaidh Ua Mathghamhna and the Ulidians |
| ulster | 1113 | An army was brought by Domnall ua Lochlainn with the Cenél Eógain and the Cenél Conaill and the Airgialla to Glenn Rige, and they drove Donnchad from the kingship of the Ulaid and divided Ulaid between ua Mathgamna and the sons of Donn Sléibe, reserving Dál Amide and Uí Echach however to himself. An army was brought by Muirchertach ua Briain with the men of Mumu and the Laigin and the Connachta to Mag Coba to help Donnchad. An army was brought also by Domnall ua Lochlainn with the aforesaid armies to Magh Coba also to help the Ulaid, and there was a likelihood of a battle between them until Cellach, successor of Patrick, separated them in a semblance of peace. Donnchad ua Eochada, however, was blinded by Eochaid ua Mathgamna and the Ulaid. |
| chroniconscotorum | 1114 | Donnchad ua Eochadha, king of Ulaid, was blinded by ua Mathgamna, and the kingship passed to ua Mathgamma. |
| fourmasters | 1114 | Aedh, son of Donnchadh Ua hEochadha, royal heir of Ulidia, died. |
| lochce | 1114 | Aedh, son of Donnchadh Ua hEochadha, royal heir of Uladh, mortuus est. |
| tigernach | 1114 | Donnchadh Ó heochadha, king of Ulster, was blinded by Ó Mathghamhna, who took the kingship to himself. |
| ulster | 1114 | An army was brought by Domnall ua Lochlainn to Rath Cennaigh, and Eochaid ua Mathgamna with the Ulaid came into his house, and Donnchad ua Loingsigh with the Dál Araide and Aed ua Ruairc with the men of Bréifne and Murchad ua Mael Sechlainn with the men of Mide. They went thereafter together over Áth Luain to Dún Leodha, and Tairdelbach ua Conchobuir with the Connachta, and Niall ua Lochlainn, his own son, with the Cenél Conaill, joined his assembly. They all went thereafter to Telach ua nDedaigh in Dál Cais, and they and the men of Mumu made a year's truce. Domnall ua Lochlainn returned home through Connacht. |
| ulster | 1114 | Aed son of Donnchad ua Eochada, heir designate of Ulaid, Donnchad ua Loingsigh, king of Dál Araide, Ua Canannán, i.e. Ruaidrí, heir designate of Cenél Conaill, Muirchertach ua Lochlainn, heir designate of Ailech, were unjustly killed. |
| inisfallen | 1118 | The son of Gilla Odar Ua Duibenaig was slain by Domnall Ua Títh, and that same Domnall banished his father, i.e. Dodan Birach(?); and Ua Mathgamna, king of Ulaid, was banished by the son of Donn Sléibe, and the. Ulaid were put to flight(?) by the men of F |
| ulster | 1118 | The defeat of Cenn Daire was inflicted on the Uí Echach of Ulaid by Murchad ua Ruadacán, and slaughter was inflicted on them. |
| inisfallen | 1121 | The Ulaid took a great prey from the son of Mac Lochlainn. A great slaughter [was inflicted] on them, and the prey was turned back. |
| chroniconscotorum | 1122 | Aed son of Donnslébhe ua Eochadha, king of Ulaid, was killed by ua Mathgamna in a battle. |
| inisfallen | 1122 | The Cenél Eógain took great preys from the Ulaid at the same time. |
| tigernach | 1122 | Aodh son of Donnsléibhe Ó hEochadha, king of Ulster, was killed in battle by Ó Mathghamhna. |
| mccarthy | 1126 | A.D. 1126. A battle between Eochaidh Ó Mathghamhna, king of Ulaidh, and Aodh Mac Duinn Shléibhe, the other king of Ulaidh, in which they were both killed, with slaughter of the Ulaidh. |
| chroniconscotorum | 1127 | A battle between two kings of Ulaid in which fell Aed ua Mathgamna and Niall son of Donnslébhe ua Eochadha. |
