Hoy History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

To escape the religious and political discrimination they experienced primarily at the hands of the English, thousands of Irish left their homeland in the 19th century. These migrants typically settled in communities throughout the East Coast of North America, but also joined the wagon trains moving out to the Midwest. Ironically, when the American War of Independence began, many Irish settlers took the side of England, and at the war's conclusion moved north to Canada. These United Empire Loyalists, were granted land along the St. Lawrence River and the Niagara Peninsula. Other Irish immigrants settled in Newfoundland, the Ottawa Valley, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. The greatest influx of Irish immigrants, however, came to North America during the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. Thousands left Ireland at this time for North America and Australia. Many of those numbers, however, did not live through the long sea passage. These Irish settlers to North America were immediately put to work building railroads, coal mines, bridges, and canals. Irish settlers made an inestimable contribution to the building of the New World. Early North American immigration records have revealed a number of people bearing the Irish name Hoy or a variant listed above, including:

Hoy Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

• Ralph Hoy, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1724-1725 2
• Hans Jerrick Hoy, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1727 aboard the ship "William and Sarah" 2
• John Hoy, who was naturalized in Philadelphia in 1760
• William Hoy, who was naturalized in Ohio in 1792

Hoy Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

• David Hoy, who was registered as a British Alien in the US during the war of 1812
• David Hoy, aged 33, who landed in New York in 1812 2
• John Hoy, who arrived in New York, NY in 1816 2
• Sibby Hoy, who arrived in New York, NY in 1817 2
• A. T. Hoy settled in San Francisco, California in 1850
• ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Hoy Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

• Mr. Daniel Hoy, aged 25 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Naomi" departing from the port of Liverpool, England but died on Grosse Isle In August 1847 3
• Miss. Margaret Hoy, aged 5 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Progress" departing from the port of New Ross, Ireland but died on Grosse Isle In July 1847 4
• Miss. Phoeby Hoy, aged 2 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Numa" departing from the port of Sligo, Ireland but died on Grosse Isle In August 1847 4
• Mr. William Hoy, aged 38 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Araminta" departing from the port of Liverpool, England but died on Grosse Isle In July 1847 4
• Ms. Cecily Hoy, aged 22 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Virginius" departing 28th May 1847 from Liverpool, England; the ship arrived on 12th August 1847 but she died on board 5
• ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Hoy Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

• Mr. James Hoy, British Convict who was convicted in Hertford, Hertfordshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Coromandel" on 4th December 1803, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 6
• Mr. John Hoy, British Convict who was convicted in Edinburgh, Scotland for 14 years, transported aboard the "Earl Spencer" in May 1813, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 7
• Thomas Hoy, English convict from Hertfordshire, who was transported aboard the "Arab" on February 22, 1834, settling in Van Diemen's Land, Australia 8
• Mr. John Hoy, British Convict who was convicted in Bermuda for 7 years, transported aboard the "Canton" on 20th September 1839, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 9
• Mr. John Hoy, Scottish convict who was convicted in Glasgow, Scotland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Equestrian" on 27th August 1852, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Island) 10
• ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Hoy Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

• Miss Jessie Hoy, Scottish settler travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "Jura" arriving in Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 23rd September 1858 11
• Thomas Hoy, aged 17, a labourer, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Queen of Nations" in 1874
• William Hoy, aged 27, a farm labourer, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Rooparell" in 1874

• Robert Francis "Bobby" Hoy (1927-2010), American actor, stuntman and director who appeared in more than 67 films
• William Harry Hoy (b. 1955), American film editor, known for his work on 300 (2006), Watchmen (2009) and I, Robot (2004)
• Peter Alexander Hoy (b. 1966), American former Major League Baseball relief pitcher
• Jill Hoy, American visual artist
• William Ellsworth "Dummy" Hoy, American Baseball player
• James P. Hoy, American politician, Representative from Michigan 11th District, 1972 12
• James Hoy Jr., American politician, Postmaster at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1844-45 12
• Frank Hoy, American politician, Member of South Dakota State Senate 12th District, 1923-24 12
• John H. Van Hoy, American Republican politician, Presidential Elector for Virginia, 1972 13
• John Carter Van Hoy (b. 1958), American Republican politician, Geologist; Delegate to Republican National Convention from Virginia, 2004, 2008 13
• ... (Another 20 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)