This interesting name is of Irish origin and is the Anglicization of the Gaelic "O' hEochaidh", which is a developed form of the Old German pre 8th Century "Hugo", meaning heart, mind or spirit. Other surnames developed from "O' hEochaidh" include: (Mac)Keogh, Kehoe, O' Hoey, Haughey, Haugh, Hough and Hoy. Hoy is sometimes considered to be a variant of Haughey, and it is very common in Ulster. The first recording of the surname in Ireland is of one Elizabeth, daughter of Leuise and Martha Hoy, on February 8th 1646 at Holy Trinity (Christchurch), Cork.
An interesting name bearer was one Thomas Hoy (1659 - 1718), who was a physician and author and was made a fellow of St. John's College, Oxford, in 1675. He published essay's on Ovid's "De Arte Amandi" and Musaeus's "Hero and Leander" in 1682, and on the poem "Agathodes" in 1683. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Edward Hoye, which was dated February 10th 1563, St. Dionis, Backchurch, London, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1, "Good Queen Bess", 1558 - 1603. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.
Research into the possible origins of hoy leads us to learn more about those who bear this surname. Adhering to what we know about the way surnames originated, it is possible to offer a realistic explanation of the origins of hoy.
There is a considerable probability that hoy has crossed the borders of its place of origin to establish itself, to a greater or lesser extent, in other parts of the world. With all the information we have today, it can be said that the countries where hoy is most abundant are the following.
The deeds, the way of life, the places they lived, the family relationships they had, the jobs they held by those who were the first to be named hoy are found in every look back in the history of this lineage. In the following lines, you will find everything we have been able to gather about the surname hoy.
It is common for genealogy and surname enthusiasts to provide us with information of special value, so the data we offer about the origins of hoy could be modified.
We assume that there have been significant contributions to humanity made by individuals with the surname hoy, even though not all have been documented to our present day. If you or someone you know bears the surname hoy, you could potentially build illustrious lineages through your efforts and virtues.
The bibliography collects information related to the surname hoy, which allows us to learn more about its meaning. Accessing the archives of the town or towns where your ancestors were born and lived is, of course, a good way to trace the origins of hoy.
These sources are essential for initiating the understanding of hoy, and at the same time, of surnames in general.