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![Show Contents]() O'Hoy History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 Ireland
The surname O'Hoy originally appeared in Gaelic as "O hEochaidh" or "Mac Eochaidh," derived from an Irish personal name "Eachaidh," meaning a "horseman." Early Origins of the O'Hoy familyThe surname O'Hoy was first found in Tipperary (Irish: Thiobraid Árann), established in the 13th century in South-central Ireland, in the province of Munster, where they held a family seat from ancient times at Ballymackeogh, and were descended from the MacKeoghs who in turn were descended from their eponymous ancestor Eochaidh O'Kelly one of the ancient Kings of Ui Maine. Early History of the O'Hoy familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our O'Hoy research. Another 137 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1534, 1653, 1725, 1798, 1828 and 1893 are included under the topic Early O'Hoy History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. O'Hoy Spelling VariationsWithin the archives researched, many different spelling variations of the surname O'Hoy were found. These included One reason for the many variations is that scribes and church officials often spelled an individual's name as it sounded. This imprecise method often led to many versions. Hoey, O'Hoey, Hoy, Hue, Kehoe, Keogh, MacKeogh and many more. Early Notables of the O'Hoy familyAnother 43 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early O'Hoy Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the O'Hoy familyThe 19th century saw a great wave of Irish families leaving Ireland for the distant shores of North America and Australia. These families often left their homeland hungry, penniless, and destitute due to the policies of England. Those Irish immigrants that survived the long sea passage initially settled on the eastern seaboard of the continent. Some, however, moved north to a then infant Canada as United Empire Loyalists after ironically serving with the English in the American War of Independence. Others that remained in America later joined the westward migration in search of land. The greatest influx of Irish immigrants, though, came to North America during the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. Thousands left Ireland at this time for North America, and those who arrived were immediately put to work building railroads, coal mines, bridges, and canals. In fact, the foundations of today's powerful nations of the United States and Canada were to a larger degree built by the Irish. Archival documents indicate that members of the O'Hoy family relocated to North American shores quite early: James Hoey who settled in Charles Town [Charleston], South Carolina in 1772; followed by William Hoey in 1803; Charles, Dennis, John, Michael, Thomas and William Hoey, all settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania between 1840 and 1877.
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