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Show ContentsHoyer History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
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Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

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The ancestors of the Hoyer family lived among the ancient Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. Hoyer was a name given to a person who was well-known as the heir to a title, fortune, or estate. The name is thought to be derived from the Old French eir, which is itself derived from the Latin heres, meaning "heir." 1 2 3

Two other sources elude to the Norman influence of the name: "Eyre: is a place-name in Normandy," 4 and the name is "from Le Heir, Heres. William and Wyrnarc Heres occur in Normandy 1198 (Magni Rotuli Scaccarii Normanniae)." 5

Early Origins of the Hoyer family

The surname Hoyer was first found in Derbyshire, where the ancestral home of the main branch of the Hoyer family is thought to be located. Early written records of the name Hoyer have been found in many counties, notably Derbyshire, Wiltshire, and Shropshire.

The Feet of Fines for Essex for 1208 includes an entry for Ralph le Eir and later, Robertus Heres was listed in the Curia Regis Rolls for Cambridgeshire in 1220. In Cambridgeshire, we found Robert leyre in the Feet of Fines for 1245 and in Gloucestershire, Richard le Heyer was listed in the Hundredorum Rolls for 1274. In Yorkshire, early records show Adam le Hayre at Wakefield in 1275 and a few years later, Robert le Heir was listed at Eynsham, Oxfordshire in 1281. 6

In the early legends of the Eyre family, it was recounted that a Knight named Eyre who fought with Richard the Lionheart at the Battle of Ascalon during the Crusades lost a leg while defending his King, which is why the family still bears a booted leg in its crest. 2

Another source, mentions that the traditional origin of the name was in circumstance of a Norman knight having at the Battle of Hastings succoured (helped) duke William of Normandy and given him air when he was in danger of suffocation. 7

"The Eyres appear as witnesses to charters in the Peak of Derbyshire in the remotest period to which private charters ascend. The first of the name known is William le Eyre, of Hope, in the reign of Henry III." 8

The chapel in Great Longstone, Derbyshire contains monuments to the "family of Eyre, earls of Newburgh." 9

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 include entries for: Henry le Eyer, Oxfordshire; Adam le Eyr, Cambridgeshire; and William le Eyre, Cambridgeshire. 1

Early History of the Hoyer family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hoyer research. Another 112 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1216, 1582, 1585, 1628, 1635, 1638, 1657, 1659, 1660, 1661, 1662, 1665, 1666, 1670, 1678, 1680, 1689, 1693, 1695, 1698, 1700, 1701, 1705, 1712, 1715, 1729, 1735 and 1768 are included under the topic Early Hoyer History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hoyer Spelling Variations

Hoyer has been spelled many different ways. Before English spelling became standardized over the last few hundred years, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. As the English language changed in the Middle Ages, absorbing pieces of Latin and French, as well as other languages, the spelling of people's names also changed considerably, even over a single lifetime. Many variations of the name Hoyer have been found, including Eyre, Eyer, Eyers, Eayres, Eyres, Ayer, Ayers,Heyer, Ayr, Air, Aires, Hyer, Hayer, Hoyer and many more.

Early Notables of the Hoyer family

Notables of the family at this time include John Ayer (1582-1657), an English settler to Massachusetts sailing aboard the ship James in 1635, settling in Ipswich, Haverhill, and Salisbury, born in Salisbury, Wiltshire. Henry Eyre (1628-1678), was an English lawyer and politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1659 and 1678; Sir Giles Eyre (c. 1635-1695), was an English politician and judge, Member of Parliament for Downton (1660-1661), and Salisbury in 1689. Sir Samuel Eyre (1638-1698), was an English judge; and his son, Sir Robert Eyre (1666-1735), an English lawyer, Solicitor-General and Chief Justice of the Common Pleas. John Ayres (fl. 1680-1700)...
Another 162 words (12 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Hoyer Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hoyer Ranking

In the United States, the name Hoyer is the 10,216th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 10

Ireland Migration of the Hoyer family to Ireland

Some of the Hoyer family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 119 words (8 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

United States Hoyer migration to the United States +

In an attempt to escape the chaos experienced in England, many English families boarded overcrowded and diseased ships sailing for the shores of North America and other British colonies. Those families hardy enough, and lucky enough, to make the passage intact were rewarded with land and a social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families became important contributors to the young colonies in which they settled. Early immigration and passenger lists have documented some of the first Hoyers to arrive on North American shores:

Hoyer Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Franc Carl Hoyer, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1738 11
  • Wilhelm Hoyer, who landed in America in 1783 11
Hoyer Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Conr Hoyer, who landed in North America in 1832-1849 11
  • Mr. Christopher Hoyer, aged 47, German who arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1846 aboard the ship "Andaira Valley"
  • Mrs. Auguste S. Hoyer, aged 48, German who arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1846 aboard the ship "Andaira Valley"
  • Mr. Anton Hoyer, aged 19, German who arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1846 aboard the ship "Andaira Valley"
  • Mr. Johannes Hoyer, aged 17, German who arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1846 aboard the ship "Andaira Valley"
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Hoyer (post 1700) +

  • Steny Hamilton Hoyer (b. 1939), American Democratic Party politician, Member of Maryland State Senate District 4-C, 1967-78; Candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Maryland, 1978; U.S. Representative from Maryland 5th District, 1981- 12
  • Samuel M. Hoyer, American Democratic Party politician, Mayor of Altoona, Pennsylvania, 1893-96, 1902-05, 1908-11; Candidate for Presidential Elector for Pennsylvania, 1908 12
  • Joseph S. Hoyer, American Democratic Party politician, Mayor of Reading, Pennsylvania, 1863-65 12
  • Isaac Hoyer, American politician, Member of Pennsylvania State House of Representatives from Montgomery County, 1879-82 12
  • Gregory Hoyer, American Democratic Party politician, Member, Rules Committee, Democratic National Convention, 2008 12
  • Eric G. Hoyer (1898-1990), American politician, Mayor of Minneapolis, Minnesota, 1948-57 12
  • C. W. Hoyer, American politician, Delegate to Iowa convention to ratify 21st amendment from Ida County, 1933 12
  • John Hoyer Updike (1932-2009), one of the greatest and most prolific writers in modern American literature, two-time Pulitzer Prize winner
Arrow Air Flight 1285
  • Mr. Robert S Hoyer (1959-1985), American Specialist 4th Class from Pasadena, Maryland, USA who died in the Arrow Air Flight 1285 crash 13
Bismarck
  • Heinz Hoyer (1921-1941), German Matrosengefreiter who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he died in the sinking 14
  • Heinz Hoyer (1921-1941), German Matrose II who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he died in the sinking 14

The Hoyer Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Virtus sola invicta
Motto Translation: Virtue alone is invincible.
  1. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  2. Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
  3. Dixon, Bernard Homer, Surnames. London: John Wilson and son, 1857. Print
  4. Baring-Gould S., Family Names and their Story. London: Seeley, Service & Co. Limited, 1913. Print
  5. The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
  6. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  7. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  8. Shirley, Evelyn Philip, The Noble and Gentle Men of England; The Arms and Descents. Westminster: John Bower Nichols and Sons, 1866, Print.
  9. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  10. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  11. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  12. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 27) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  13. American War Memorials - Flight 1285. (Retrieved 2016, August 24) . Retrieved from http://www.uswarmemorials.org/html/monument_details.php?SiteID=317&MemID=550
  14. Bismarck & Tirpitz Class - Crew List Bismarck. (Retrieved 2018, February 06). Retrieved from https://www.bismarck-class.dk/bismarck/crew/bismarck_crew.html#crew_details
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