Find out how popular the last name Hoey is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Hoey.

Hoey, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Hoey surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Hoey in America

Hoey is the 8163rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Hoey surname appeared 4,062 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Hoey.

We can also compare 2010 data for Hoey to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name 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.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Hoey

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Hoey.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Hoey was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Hoey has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Hoey was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Hoey, please contact us.

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