Surname Hoey - Meaning and Origin

Hoey: What does the surname Hoey mean?

The last name Hoey is an Irish surname, derived from Gaelic origins. It is derived from the Old Gaelic words “O hEoighe”, which translates into “descendant of Eoighe”. The ancestor Eoighe is derived from the Old Irish “O Eidhe”, in turn derived from the Old Irish “ea”, meaning unique or strange. Hoey is a very old name, believed to have been established in the province of Ulster since at least the 12th century.

Although today Hoey is most common in the Province of Ulster in Northern Ireland, it is spread throughout Ireland and in many other parts of the world, especially the United Kingdom, North America, and Australia.

The Hoey name is often associated with hard work and loyalty, along with the strong perseverance to overcome adversity and hard times. Hoey’s are known to be naturally compassionate and generous individuals and have a great affinity for the Iowa community and Irish culture.

In recent years, the Hoey name can be found as the surname of notable people such as U.S. Senator Pat Hoey from North Carolina and musician Mel Hoey from Northern Ireland.

Hoey: Where does the name Hoey come from?

The last name Hoey is a relatively uncommon, but globally distributed, last name. It originated in Ireland and is a variant of the Irish name Ó hEochaidh, which is derived from a Gaelic word meaning ‘descendant of Eochaidh’.

Today, the Hoey surname is most commonly found in Ireland, the United Kingdom, and the United States. In the United States, the Hoey name is primarily concentrated in the southeast, with approximately 1,500 families having the name. Pennsylvania, New York, and New Jersey are the states where it is most commonly found, but it can also be seen scattered throughout the country.

The Hoey surname can also be found in parts of Australia and Canada, primarily in areas with large Irish-descended populations. This also holds true for the United States; many of the Hoeys in America can trace their ancestry back to Irish inhabitants who immigrated centuries ago.

Overall, the last name Hoey is a relatively uncommon name, but it is still widely distributed across several countries. Although the name itself is ancient, it is comforting to see that the Hoey surname is still present today.

Variations of the surname Hoey

Hoey is one of the many surnames of Irish and Scottish origin. It is derived from the Gaelic surname Ó hEochaidh, which in turn is derived from the Old Irish male given name "Eochaidh", meaning "horseman".

The variants, spellings and other surnames that share the same origin as Hoey include:

- Hoey

- Hoa

- Hewe

- Hewi

- Hewie

- Hewey

- Hoy

- Hoye

- Hoyt

- Hoys

- Hwie

- Joie

- Jouy

- O'Hoey.

The variants of the surname Hoey bear a strong resemblance to many other Gaelic names such as those used by the Gaelic-speaking region of Scotland known as the Highlands. The Highlands region sees the prevalence of surnames such as O'Hara, O'Kelly, O'Neill, and MacDonald which are all references to patronymic names or, in other words, names that are derived from the father or the grandfather of the bearer. The same can be said of the surname Hoey.

In Scotland, the name Hoey is thought to be related to the Clan Gunn, who have a reputation as the 'Old Highlanders', meaning they predate even the 12th-century Vikings who invaded the country.

The other surnames used in Scotland and Ireland are variations of the old Irish and Highland clans such as MacDuibh, Moyer, and Doogan, and all of these names have the same roots as the name Hoey. The same surnames are also common in the United States, Canada, Australia, and other former colonial territories.

Famous people with the name Hoey

• Pat Hoey: an American actor and voice actor, best known for his work on animated series such as King of the Hill and Rugrats.
• James Hoey: a Scottish sculptor.
• Angelique Hoey: an American actress known for her roles in films such as The Innkeepers and House of the Witch.
• Matthew Hoey: an American basketball player.
• Harry Hoey: a Canadian ice hockey player.
• Shelby Hoey: a Canadian diversified sportsperson.
• Gareth Hoey: an Irish professional footballer.
• Jamie Hoey: an English former professional cricketer.
• Willie Hoey: a British Labour Party politician who served as Member of Parliament (MP) for Ireland from 1945 to 1956.
• Michael Hoey: a Northern Irish professional golfer.
• Warren Hoey: an Irish actor and film producer known for his roles in the Irish films What Richard Did and The Young Offenders.
• John Hoey: an American journalist and author.
• Brian Hoey: a British journalist, author and broadcaster.
• Thomas Hoey: an American skateboarder and artist.
• Paul Hoey: a Canadian musician, singer, and songwriter.
• Jimmy Hoey: a former Major League Baseball player.
• Seamus Hoey: an Irish Gaelic footballer.
• Chris Hoey: an American professional snowboarder.
• Siobhán Hoey: an Irish actor, best known for her role in The Clinic.
• Gary Hoey: an American rock guitarist.

Other surnames

HoebelHoecheHoechsterHoeckelHoeckerHoecknerHoedemacherHoedemackerHoedemakerHoedemakersHoefHoefchenHoefeHoefelHoefeleHoefeleinHoefelerHoefelmannHoefelsHoefemannHoefenerHoeferHoeferlinHoefermannHoefersHoefertHoeffchenHoeffeHoeffelHoeffelmann