NameCensus.

UK surname

Hoey

Derived from the Irish Ó hEochaidh, meaning "descendant of Eochaidh," a personal name meaning "horseman" or "horse rider."

In the 1881 census there were 511 people recorded with the Hoey surname, ranking it #6,667 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,891, ranked #3,364, up from #6,667 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Silkstone, Govan Combination and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wishaw North, Craigneuk Wishaw and Oban North.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hoey is 1,955 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 270.1%.

1881 census count

511

Ranked #6,667

Modern count

1,891

2016, ranked #3,364

Peak year

2010

1,955 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hoey had 511 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,667 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,891 in 2016, ranked #3,364.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 784 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Hoey surname distribution map

The map shows where the Hoey surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Hoey surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hoey over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 231 #9,334
1861 historical 318 #7,999
1881 historical 511 #6,667
1891 historical 528 #7,101
1901 historical 784 #5,737
1911 historical 516 #7,651
1997 modern 1,759 #3,403
1998 modern 1,789 #3,463
1999 modern 1,797 #3,485
2000 modern 1,761 #3,536
2001 modern 1,728 #3,523
2002 modern 1,776 #3,511
2003 modern 1,790 #3,408
2004 modern 1,810 #3,377
2005 modern 1,792 #3,382
2006 modern 1,813 #3,349
2007 modern 1,829 #3,353
2008 modern 1,834 #3,377
2009 modern 1,879 #3,382
2010 modern 1,955 #3,334
2011 modern 1,916 #3,353
2012 modern 1,872 #3,370
2013 modern 1,899 #3,383
2014 modern 1,921 #3,363
2015 modern 1,899 #3,365
2016 modern 1,891 #3,364

Geography

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Where Hoeys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Silkstone, Govan Combination, Gateshead, Manchester and Liverpool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wishaw North, Craigneuk Wishaw, Oban North, Hartlepool and Wirral. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Silkstone Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 Gateshead Durham
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Liverpool Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wishaw North North Lanarkshire
2 Craigneuk Wishaw North Lanarkshire
3 Oban North Argyll and Bute
4 Hartlepool 014 Hartlepool
5 Wirral 008 Wirral

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hoey

These lists show first names that appear often with the Hoey surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hoey

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Hoey, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Hoey surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Hoey household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Hoey is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Hoey is most concentrated in decile 9 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Hoey falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Hoey is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

This describes the area pattern most associated with Hoey, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Hoey

The surname "HOEY" originated in Ireland, with its earliest records dating back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Gaelic word "O'Duibhidhir," which means "descendant of the dark one," referring to an individual's dark complexion or hair color.

The name is believed to have originated in County Donegal, where it was predominantly found in the baronies of Raphoe and Kilmacrenan. The Hoey family was part of the Cenél Conaill, a powerful dynasty that ruled over much of northwestern Ulster during the Middle Ages.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Annals of Ulster, a chronicle of medieval Irish history. In 1180, a man named Muiredach O'Duibhidhir is mentioned as a notable figure in the region.

As the name evolved over time, it took on various spellings, such as Hoye, Hoy, Howie, and eventually settled on the more modern form of Hoey. The name appears in numerous historical records, including the 1659 Census of Ireland, where several Hoey families are listed in County Donegal.

Notable individuals with the surname Hoey include:

1. Edmund Hoey (1853-1937), an Irish-born Australian politician who served as a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly. 2. Michael Hoey (1854-1920), an Irish-born American prelate who served as the Bishop of Cleveland from 1912 until his death. 3. Dalton Hoey (1897-1976), an Australian rules football player and coach who played for the Carlton Football Club in the Victorian Football League. 4. Jane M. Hoey (1892-1968), an American librarian and author who served as the director of the Public Library in Detroit from 1924 to 1957. 5. Brendan Hoey (born 1970), an Irish professional golfer who has competed on various tours, including the European Tour and the PGA Tour.

The surname Hoey has its roots firmly planted in the rich history of Ireland, with a lineage that can be traced back to the 12th century. While its origins may have been humble, the name has been carried by individuals who have made significant contributions in various fields throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hoey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hoey surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lancashire leads with 165 Hoeys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.78x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 165 2.78x
Lanarkshire 80 4.95x
Durham 52 3.50x
Yorkshire 42 0.85x
Sussex 26 3.09x
Surrey 19 0.78x
Renfrewshire 17 4.39x
Cheshire 15 1.36x
Middlesex 15 0.30x
Midlothian 10 1.49x
Northumberland 10 1.35x
Derbyshire 8 1.02x
Devon 8 0.77x
Staffordshire 8 0.47x
Ayrshire 7 1.87x
Fife 6 2.03x
Hampshire 5 0.49x
Kent 5 0.29x
Warwickshire 5 0.40x
Angus 3 0.65x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.33x
Gloucestershire 1 0.10x
Monmouthshire 1 0.28x
Norfolk 1 0.13x
Royal Navy 1 1.68x
Somerset 1 0.12x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Liverpool in Lancashire leads with 37 Hoeys recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.28x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 37 10.28x
Barony 28 6.85x
Govan 26 6.51x
Kirkdale 23 23.07x
Everton 18 9.53x
Southwick 17 120.82x
Manchester 16 6.00x
Bishopwearmouth 13 10.19x
Dalziel 12 69.04x
Salford 11 6.31x
Bootle Cum Linacre 10 21.25x
Hulme 9 7.27x
South Malling 9 720.00x
Brighton 8 4.71x
Huddersfield 8 11.10x
Litchurch 8 25.42x
Longbenton 8 25.42x
Warley 8 55.94x
Bradford 7 5.84x
Edinburgh Canongate 7 41.10x
Glasgow 7 2.44x
Hartlepool 7 33.14x
Lower Bebington 7 106.87x
Renfrew 7 54.77x
Ulverston 7 40.56x
Walton On Hill 7 21.81x
Abbey 6 10.16x
Dundonald 6 43.54x
Heckmondwike 6 37.69x
Pendlebury 6 47.96x
Plymouth St Andrew 6 7.49x
Cannock 5 17.00x
Dunfermline 5 11.00x
Escomb 5 73.21x
Lillington 5 308.64x
Minster In Sheppey 5 17.71x
Wardleworth 5 14.76x
Wimbledon 5 18.30x
Carluke 4 27.27x
Cliffe 4 140.85x
Harton 4 68.14x
Middle Greenock 4 37.88x
Rotherhithe 4 6.48x
Bermondsey 3 2.02x
Camberwell 3 0.94x
Hackney London 3 1.07x
Kensington London 3 1.08x
Lewes All Sts 3 89.55x
Linthorpe 3 10.16x
Lochee 3 72.64x
Newton 3 175.44x
Stoke Upon Trent 3 1.68x
Sunderland 3 11.43x
Barnsley 2 3.92x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 2 0.74x
Goole 2 24.13x
Halifax 2 2.75x
Hamilton 2 4.44x
Holdenhurst 2 7.45x
Islington London 2 0.41x
Macclesfield 2 4.08x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 2 4.51x
St George Hanover Square 2 2.27x
Sutton In Macclesfield 2 17.48x
Toxteth Park 2 1.00x
Widnes 2 4.68x
Wigan 2 2.41x
Battersea 1 0.54x
Brindle 1 49.02x
Crumpsall 1 7.16x
Culmstock 1 68.03x
Edmonton 1 2.49x
Hurstpierpoint 1 21.32x
Oldham 1 0.52x
Pilkington 1 4.44x
Saline 1 60.98x
St Martin In Fields 1 3.34x
Stockton On Tees 1 1.40x
Withington 1 5.24x
Woking 1 6.82x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Hoey surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 38
Elizabeth 18
Ellen 11
Margaret 10
Sarah 9
Ann 7
Bridget 5
Catherine 5
Jane 5
Agnes 4
Anne 4
Eliza 4
Elizth. 4
Emily 4
Annie 3
Emma 3
Fanny 3
Hannah 3
Rose 3
Caroline 2
Charlotte 2
Esther 2
Florence 2
Frances 2
Harriet 2
Kate 2
Louisa 2
Lucy 2
Maria 2
Naomi 2
Theresa 2
Alice 1
Anastasia 1
Cathe. 1
Daisey 1
Elisabeth 1
Eliz. 1
Francis 1
Gertrude 1
Isabella 1
Isabelle 1
Jessie 1
Lisa 1
M.A. 1
Magt. 1
Margt. 1
Margt.Ann 1
Martha 1
Matilda 1
Thirza 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Hoey surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
John 31
James 24
Thomas 19
George 12
William 10
Peter 7
Frederick 6
Patrick 6
Alfred 5
Edward 5
Joseph 5
Martin 5
Michael 4
Thos. 4
Francis 3
Phillip 3
Richard 3
Samuel 3
Arthur 2
Henry 2
Mathew 2
Matthew 2
Richd. 2
Albert 1
Christopher 1
Clinton 1
Denis 1
Ernest 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Geo. 1
Geo.Albain 1
Herbert 1
Hy.Jas. 1
J. 1
Jeremiah 1
Jno. 1
Laurence 1
Lawrence 1
Nicholas 1
Owen 1
Pat 1
Patk. 1
R.James 1
Richardson 1
Stephen 1
Walter 1
Wilfred 1
Wm. 1
Wynne 1

FAQ

Hoey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hoey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 511 people were recorded with the Hoey surname. That placed it at #6,667 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hoey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,891 in 2016. That gives Hoey a modern rank of #3,364.

What does the Hoey surname mean?

Derived from the Irish Ó hEochaidh, meaning "descendant of Eochaidh," a personal name meaning "horseman" or "horse rider."

What does the Hoey map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Hoey bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.