Hoy Genealogical Records

Hoy Birth & Baptism Records

Baptism Registers of Hoy (1776-1854)

The registers of baptisms for Hoy provide details on parentage and are the primary source for such information before 1855.

Baptism Registers of Orkney (1632-1855)

The registers of baptisms for Orkney provide details on parentage and are the primary source for such information before 1855.

Scotland Statutory Births (1855-2009)

An index to all foreign, domestic, air-borne, consular, High Commission, marine and military births registered by the Scottish government. The index is linked to images of birth registers from 100 or more years ago. They contain a great deal of information, including parent's full names, date and place of birth, date and place of parent's marriage and more.

Baptism Registers of Scotland (1553-1871)

The baptism registers of Scotland provide details of births from to . Entries usually record parents' names (with mother's maiden name) and date of birth and/or baptism.

British Birth and Baptism Records (1400-2010)

A collection of indexes and transcripts of birth and baptism records that cover over 250 million people. Includes digital images of many records.

Hoy Marriage & Divorce Records

Marriage Registers of Hoy (1812-1854)

The registers of marriages for Hoy provide details on marriages and are the primary source for such information before 1855.

Marriage Registers of Orkney (1632-1856)

Index to names and images of the original marriage registers of Orkney. They commonly record the bride and groom's names and their parishes. Occasionally parents' names and witnesses may be recorded.

Scotland Statutory Marriages (1855-2012)

An index to all foreign, domestic and military marriages recorded by the Scottish government. The index is linked to digital images of records more than 75 years old. Details given include date & place of marriage, full names of all parents and more.

Marriage Registers of Scotland (1553-1885)

The marriage registers of Scotland are the primary source for marriage details before civil registration. A full index to names with original images of the registers are available between and .

British Marriage Records (1392-2011)

A collection of indexes and transcripts of marriage records that cover over 160 million people. Includes digital images of many records.

Hoy Death & Burial Records

Burial Registers of Orkney (1666-1854)

The burial registers of Orkney are the primary source for death details before civil registration. A full index to names with original images of the registers are available between and . Entries are usually brief, but may contain occupations, ages, cause of death and location of burial.

Scotland Statutory Deaths (1855-2012)

An index to all foreign, domestic, air-borne, consular, High Commission, marine and military deaths registered by the Scottish government. The index is linked to images of death registers from 50 or more years ago. They contain a great deal of information, including parent's full names, date and place of death, age and more.

Deceased Online (1629-Present)

Images of millions of pages from cemetery and crematoria registers, photographs of memorials, cemetery plans and more. Records can be search by a name index.

Burial Registers of Scotland (1549-1920)

The burial registers of Scotland provide details of deaths from to . Entries usually record no more than the deceased's name; occasionally an age and cause of death are given.

British Death and Burial Records (1379-2014)

A collection of indexes and transcripts of death and burial records that cover over 140 million people. Includes digital images of many records.

Hoy Census & Population Lists

1911 Census of Scotland (1911)

Documents listing households and residents throughout Scotland. The records include family relations, gender, age, occupation, place of birth, employment status, number of years married, number of children living and deceased, nationality, whether an individual could speak Gaelic, number of windows in property and some infirmities.

1901 British Census (1901)

The 1901 census provides details on an individual's age, residence, place of birth, relations and occupation. FindMyPast's index allows searches on for multiple metrics including occupation and residence.

1901 Census of Scotland (1901)

Documents listing households and residents throughout Scotland. The records include family relations, gender, age, occupation, place of birth, employment status, whether an individual could speak Gaelic, number of windows in property and some infirmities.

Scottish Valuation Rolls (1895-1920)

Inventories of all land and buildings in Scotland. They give a description of the property, the name of the owner, tenant & occupier and the rates due on the property.

1891 British Census (1891)

The 1891 census provides details on an individual's age, residence, place of birth, relations and occupation. FindMyPast's index allows searches on for multiple metrics including occupation and residence.

Newspapers Covering Hoy

John o' Groat Journal (1836-1872)

A newspaper publishing local news, shipping intelligence, family notices etc. for Caithness, Sutherland, Orkney & Shetland.

The Daily Herald (1926)

A London newspaper that later became The Sun.

The Sunday Post (1915-1950)

A popular Scottish tabloid.

Daily Herald (1914-1918)

A left-wing, British daily that sold up to 2 million copies a day at its peak.

Daily Mirror (1914-1918)

Digital images, searchable by text, of a British daily tabloid.

Hoy Wills & Probate Records

Scottish Wills & Testaments (1500-1925)

An index to testators and the subject's of other testamentary documents. The index is linked to digital images of the documents. An account is required to search the index.

Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills (PPV) (1384-1858)

A index to testators whose will was proved in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury. They principally cover those who lived in the lower two thirds of Britain, but contain wills for residents of Scotland, Ireland, British India and other countries. A copy of each will may be purchased for digital download.

Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills (Subscription) (1384-1858)

An index and digital images of PCC wills, available on a subscription basis.

British Wills and Probate Records (1163-1999)

A collection of indexes, abstracts, transcripts and digital images of over 5.5 million wills, administrations and other probate records.

British Inheritance Disputes Index (1574-1714)

An index to almost 78,000 wills that were disputed. The index can lead you to documents that may shed a great deal of genealogical information as disputes often arose between siblings and cousins.

Hoy Immigration & Travel Records

Passenger Lists Leaving UK (1890-1960)

A name index connected to original images of passenger lists recording people travelling from Britain to destinations outside Europe. Records may detail a passenger's age or date of birth, residence, occupation, destination and more.

UK Incoming Passenger Lists (1878-1960)

A full index of passenger lists for vessels arriving in the UK linked to original images. Does not include lists from vessels sailing from European ports. Early entries can be brief, but later entries may include dates of births, occupations, home addresses and more. Useful for documenting immigration.

Victoria Assisted & Unassisted Passenger Lists (1839-1923)

An index to and images of documents recording over 1.65 million passengers who arrived in Victoria, Australia, including passengers whose voyage was paid for by others.

17th Century British Emigrants to the U.S. (1600-1700)

Details on thousands of 17th century British immigrants to the U.S., detailing their origins and nature of their immigration.

Migration from North America to Britain & Ireland (1858-1870)

A list of over 40,000 passengers traveling from North America to the British Isles. Details of passengers may include: occupation, nationality, gender, age, martial status, class, destination, and details of the vessel they sailed on.

Hoy Military Records

Prisoners of War of British Army (1939-1945)

A searchable list of over 100,000 British Army POWs. Records contains details on the captured, their military career and where they were held prisoner.

British Prisoners of World War II (1939-1945)

Details on around 165,000 men serving in the British Army, Navy and Air Force who were held as prisoners during WWII.

British Army WWI Medal Rolls (1914-1920)

Index and original images of over 5 million medal index cards for British soldiers It can be searched by individual's name, Coprs, Unit and Regiment. Due to the loss of many WWI service records, this is the most complete source for British WWI soldiers

British Army WWI Service Records (1914-1920)

This rich collection contains contains records for 1.9 million non-commissioned officers and other ranks who fought in WWI. Due to bomb damage in WWI, around 60% of service records were lost. Documents cover: enlistment, medical status, injuries, conduct, awards and discharge. A great deal of genealogical and biographical documentation can be found in these documents, including details on entire families, physical descriptions and place of birth.

Silver War Badges (1914-1920)

An index to nearly 900,000 military personnel who were awarded the Silver War Badge for sustaining injures. Records include rank, regimental number, unit, dates of enlistment and discharge, and reason for discharge.

UK Lunacy Patients Admission Registers (1846-1912)

Digital images, searchable by a name index, of registers recording the admittance and discharge of over 840,000 people to insane asylums.

Register of The Privy Council of Scotland (1545-1632)

The Privicy Council dealt with a wide spectrum of issues pertaining to administration, the economy, politics and social affairs.

Licences of Parole for Female Convicts (1853-1887)

Details on the parole and revocation thereof, of over 4,400 female prisoners.

Perry's Bankrupt Gazette (1828-1867)

A publication giving brief details of bankruptcies, including the names of parties and companies involed.

Scottish Covenanters (1679-1688)

A list of over 81,000 Presbyterian opponents of the Catholic church. Entries may list name, occupation, residence, names of relatives and other details.

Hoy Taxation Records

Scottish Valuation Rolls (1895-1920)

Inventories of all land and buildings in Scotland. They give a description of the property, the name of the owner, tenant & occupier and the rates due on the property.

Tithe Apportionments (1836-1856)

An index to 11,000,000 parcels of land and property, connected to digital images of registers that record their owner, occupier, description, agricultural use, size and rateable value.

Duties Paid for Apprentices' Indentures (1710-1811)

An index linked to original images of registers recording apprenticeship indentures. Details are given on the trade and nature of apprenticeship. Many records list the parents of the apprentice.

Revenues of Excise Settlement & Customs in Scotland (1656)

A report detailing the manner in which customs and excise are dealt with in Scotland.

Hoy Land & Property Records

Scottish Valuation Rolls (1895-1920)

Inventories of all land and buildings in Scotland. They give a description of the property, the name of the owner, tenant & occupier and the rates due on the property.

Landowners of Scotland (1873)

A list of people who owned more than one acre of land in Scotland. Lists a landowner's residence, acreage and estimated gross yearly rental.

Tithe Apportionments (1836-1856)

An index to 11,000,000 parcels of land and property, connected to digital images of registers that record their owner, occupier, description, agricultural use, size and rateable value.

Perthshire Cess, Stent and Valuation Rolls (1650-1899)

A collection of various land valuation documents extending as far back as 1650, but primarily covering the period after 1884. Useful for establishing the ancestry of land owners and their tenants.

UK Poll Books and Electoral Rolls (1538-1893)

Poll books record the names of voters and the direction of their vote. Until 1872 only landholders could vote, so not everyone will be listed. Useful for discerning an ancestor's political leanings and landholdings. The collection is supplemented with other records relating to the vote.

Hoy Directories & Gazetteers

Orkney Almanac & County Directory (1926)

A book containing a trade and residential directory of the isles. It also includes local information, such as statistics, history, officials and more.

Orkney & Shetland Directory (1915)

A listing of the island's leading persons of commerce, trade, professional & public offices. Also contains details on the amenities of the various towns.

ScotlandsPlaces Gazetteer (2010-Present)

A detailed gazetteer of localities, geographic features, buildings and other features in Scotland.

Directory of Engineering, Hardware & Metal Trades (1934)

Breif details of companies engaged in or related to the engineering, metal and motor trades industries. Organised by trade and place.

Slater's Directory of Scottish Counties (1921)

Historical and contemporary descriptions of settlements, detailing their governance, churches, schools etc.; to which is appended lists of residents, with their occupations.

Hoy Cemeteries

Deceased Online (1629-Present)

Images of millions of pages from cemetery and crematoria registers, photographs of memorials, cemetery plans and more. Records can be search by a name index.

Billion Graves (1200-Present)

Photographs and transcriptions of millions of gravestones from cemeteries around the world.

Mausolea and Monuments (1500-Present)

Profiles of several hundred mausolea found in the British Isles.

Scotland Church Monuments (1300-1900)

Photographs and descriptions of Scotland's most illustrious church monuments, often featuring effigies, medieval inscriptions and heraldic devices.

Maritime Memorials (1588-1950)

Several thousand transcribed memorials remembering those connected with the nautical occupations.

Hoy Obituaries

iAnnounce Obituaries (2006-Present)

The UKs largest repository of obituaries, containing millions of searchable notices.

United Kingdom and Ireland Obituary Collection (1882-Present)

A growing collection currently containing over 425,000 abstracts of obituaries with reference to the location of the full obituary.

Quakers Annual Monitor (1847-1848)

A collection of 364 obituaries of Quakers from the British Isles. The volume was published in 1849 and includes obituaries of those who died in late 1847 through 1848.

Musgrave's Obituaries (1421-1800)

This transcribed and searchable work by Sir William Musgrave contains 10,000s of brief obituaries. The work is a reference point for other works containing information on an individual.

British Medical Journal (1849-Present)

A text index and digital images of all editions of a journal containing medical articles and obituaries of medical practitioners.

Hoy Histories & Books

Orkney Church Photographs (1890-Present)

Photographs and images of churches in Orkney.

History of Orkney Library (1683-Present)

A brief history of Orkney's Kirkwall-based library from its official inception in 1683.

Geograph: Photos of the UK and Ireland (2005-Present)

A growing database including millions of photographs of the United Kingdom, Isle of Man and Ireland catalogued by latitude & longitude and OS grid reference.

Britain from Above (1919-1953)

Ariel photographs of the British Isles. Browsable by location.

UK & Ireland Historical Postcards (1885-1950)

Over 19,000 postcards depicting places in the UK & Ireland.

Hoy School & Education Records

Edinburgh University Roll of Honour (1914-1919)

Contains dates and information (and photographs of the fallen where available) for members of Edinburgh University who served and fell during The Great War. Also includes a section on orders, decorations and dispatches.

Oxford University Alumni (1500-1886)

A name index linked to original images of short biographies for over 120,000 Oxford University students. This is a particularly useful source for tracing the ancestry of the landed gentry.

Cambridge University Alumni (1261-1900)

A transcript of a vast scholarly work briefly chronicling the heritage, education and careers of over 150,000 Cambridge University students. This is a particularly useful source for tracing the ancestry of the landed gentry.

Cambridge Alumni Database (1198-1910)

A searchable database containing over 90,000 note-form biographies for students of Cambridge University.

Britain School & University Memorial Rolls (1914-1918)

Details of around 60,000 alumni who fought in WWI.

Hoy Occupation & Business Records

British Trade Union Membership Registers (1870-1999)

An index to and images of registers recording over 3.7 million trade union members.

UK Medical Registers (1859-1959)

Books listing doctors who were licensed to operate in Britain and abroad. Contains doctor's residencies, qualification and date of registration.

Railway Employment Records (1833-1963)

A rich collection of records documenting those who worked for railway companies that were later absorbed by the government. Records include: staff registers, station transfers, pensions, accident records, apprentice records, caution books, and memos. Records may include date of birth, date of death and name of father.

Royal Navy Medical Journals (1817-1857)

Indexed medical journals from British ships containing personal and medical details of patients. The journals list names, ages, rank/status, diseases, illness duration and notes on symptoms and treatment. Contains details on military men as well as people immigrating or being deported to colonies.

British Postal Service Appointment Books (1737-1969)

This collection gives brief details on the appointment of over 1.4 million people who worked for the Post Office. Includes references to corresponding data in the Postmaster General’s minute books and is a starting point for research in the rich archive of the British Postal Museum.

Pedigrees & Family Trees Covering Hoy

Scotland Public Register of Arms (1672-1913)

Digital images of registers recording those who are eligible to bear coats of arms in Scotland. The records can contain genealogical tracts and renderings of the arms.

British & Irish Royal & Noble Genealogies (491-1603)

Extensive and impeccably sourced genealogies for British, Irish & Manx royalty and nobility. Scroll down to 'British Isles' for relevant sections.

FamilySearch Community Trees (6000 BC-Present)

A searchable database of linked genealogies compiled from thousands of reputable and not-so-reputable sources. Contains many details on European gentry & nobility, but covers many countries outside Europe and people from all walks of life.

Debrett's Peerage (1923)

A searchable book, listing pedigrees of titled families and biographies of their members.

Dod's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage of Britian (1902)

A book containing genealogies and biographies of Britain's titled families.

Hoy Royalty, Nobility & Heraldry Records

Scotland Public Register of Arms (1672-1913)

Digital images of registers recording those who are eligible to bear coats of arms in Scotland. The records can contain genealogical tracts and renderings of the arms.

British & Irish Royal & Noble Genealogies (491-1603)

Extensive and impeccably sourced genealogies for British, Irish & Manx royalty and nobility. Scroll down to 'British Isles' for relevant sections.

FamilySearch Community Trees (6000 BC-Present)

A searchable database of linked genealogies compiled from thousands of reputable and not-so-reputable sources. Contains many details on European gentry & nobility, but covers many countries outside Europe and people from all walks of life.

Debrett's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage (1921)

A dictionary of families elevated to the peerage of Great Britain & Ireland. It includes genealogies and biographical details.

Burke's Landed Gentry of Britain & Ireland (1885)

Lineages of Britain and Ireland's untitled landed families; supplemented with biographical sketches.

Hoy Church Records

Old Parish Registers of Hoy (1776-1854)

The old parish registers of Hoy provide details on births, marriages and deaths. They were the primary point of record for such information before 1855.

Old Parish Registers of Orkney (1632-1856)

The baptism registers of Orkney are the primary source for birth details before civil registration. A full index to names with original images of the registers are available between and . Entries usually contain date of birth and/or baptism, parents' names (with mother's maiden name) and occasionally father's occupation and witnesses.

Scotland Parish Registers (1914-2013)

Prior to civil registration in 1855, the parish registers of Scotland are the most common place to turn for details on births, marriages and deaths.

Old Parish Registers of Scotland (1549-1920)

Index to names and images of the original baptism registers of Scotland. They commonly record the date of birth or baptism with parents' names (often including the mother's maiden name).

Scotland Parish Registers (1538-1855)

The parish registers of Scotland are a collection of books documenting baptisms, marriages and burials from 1817 to 1934.

Biographical Directories Covering Hoy

Debrett's Peerage (1923)

A searchable book, listing pedigrees of titled families and biographies of their members.

Dod's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage of Britian (1902)

A book containing genealogies and biographies of Britain's titled families.

Dod's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage of Britian (1885)

A book containing genealogies and biographies of Britain's titled families.

Crockford's Clerical Directories (1868-1914)

Brief biographies of Anglican clergy in the UK.

Jacobites of North East Scotland (1715-1745)

A compendium of biographies of thousands of Scottish Jacobites.

Hoy Maps

Maps of Orkney (1572-1896)

Images of maps covering Orkney.

UK Popular Edition Maps (1919-1926)

Detailed maps covering much of the UK. They depict forests, mountains, larger farms, roads, railroads, towns, and more.

Ordnance Survey 1:10 Maps (1840-1890)

Maps showing settlements, features and some buildings in mainland Britain.

Tithe Apportionments (1836-1856)

An index to 11,000,000 parcels of land and property, connected to digital images of registers that record their owner, occupier, description, agricultural use, size and rateable value.

Parish Maps of Britain (1832)

Maps of parishes in England, Scotland and Wales. They are useful in determining which parish records may be relevant to your research.

Hoy Reference Works

Scotland Research Guide (1538-Present)

A beginner’s guide to researching ancestry in Scotland.

Building History Research Guide (1066-Present)

A comprehensive guide to researching the history of buildings in the British Isles.

Surname Origins (1790-1911)

A service that provides advanced and custom surname maps for the British Isles and the US.

British Family Mottoes (1189-Present)

A dictionary of around 9,000 mottoes for British families who had right to bear arms.

Heraldry Clipart (1189-Present)

A growing collection of heraldic and related clip art that can be used to reconstruct a families' arms. Includes packs for British, German, Austrian, Spanish, Italian, Danish, Polish, Portuguese, French, Swiss and Dutch arms. Images are available in a variety of formats including vectors.

Historical Description

Hoy is a considerable island, being about ten miles long, and six broad: encumbered with many huge rocks, one of which is about a mile perpendicular from the level of the sea. It contains 56 houses, and 244 inhabitants, chiefly employed in rearing sheep. There is a curious relic of antiquity here, called the Dwarfie stone, about 32 feet long, and 16 broad, and seven and a half high, hollowed into apartments.

Some time ago a lead mine was discovered in Hoy, the ore of which contains a larger portion of silver than usual. The extra produce of this island is carried to Kirkwall, to assist in victualling the ships that touch there.

Hoy, from which it is only separated by a spring-tide, has the highest mountains in Orkney, and the deepest vallies: which strike a terror into strangers who have occasion to travel that way. These mountains are covered with heath, affording pasture for sheep, but thinly inhabited by fishers.

The Wart-hill of Hoy is the highest in Orkney, being five hundred and forty yards high; the top covered with a spongy marsh and a loch, near whose top is some matter, which in the months of May, June, and July, at noon shines and sparkles, in an extra ordinary manner, discernible at a great distance, and shined formerly more than now. The vulgar call it an enchanted carbuncle; but Mr. Wallace took it for water falling down a smooth rock, which the sun shone upon, though none could ever find it out.

Among the antiquities observable in Hoy is the Dwarfie Stane, thirty-six feet long, eighteen broad, and nine thick, hollowed by art with a square hole about two feet thick, and a stone proportionable standing before it for a door. Within it is cut out at the south end of it the form of a bed and pillow, capable of holding two persons; at the other end a couch, and in the middle a hearth, with a hole for a chimney above. The marks of the workman's tool appear every where. Some suppose it the residence of a hermit; but vulgar tradition that of a giant and his wife.

Topography of Great Britain (1829) by George Alexander Cooke

Most Common Surnames in Hoy

RankSurnameIncidenceFrequencyPercent of ParentRank in Orkney
1Ritch761:833.93%32
2Mowat751:820.33%15
3Sinclair481:134.80%1
4Thomson411:158.52%7
5Sutherland391:159.15%11
6Manson271:2215.34%47
7Wilson241:259.02%23
8Skinner171:35100.00%253
9Lyon151:4057.69%211
10Thompson141:4316.09%102
10Davidson141:4316.09%102
12Johnstone131:4616.46%108
12Robb131:4661.90%238
12Clouston131:464.51%22
15Linklater111:552.87%14
16Spence101:601.82%2
17Young91:6736.00%216
17McLeod91:6756.25%259
17Bremner91:6715.52%142
17Kirkpatrick91:6718.75%159
21Miller81:752.20%16
21Jack81:7580.00%334
21Leask81:754.21%39
24Nicolson71:867.95%100
25Gordon61:10142.86%273
25Tait61:1013.47%48
25Stout61:1014.26%63
28McKenzie51:1215.68%100
28Munro51:12117.86%205
28Bareham51:121100.00%513
28Knarston51:12135.71%273
32Johnston41:1510.87%8
32Budge41:1512.58%56
32Berston41:15112.50%199
32Corrigal41:15144.44%365
36Moar31:2011.33%31
36Marwick31:2011.22%28
36Harp31:201100.00%623
39Cameron21:30218.18%318
39Flett21:3020.38%4
39Omand21:3022.99%122
42Smith11:6030.25%12
42Johnson11:60325.00%559
42Green11:6037.69%291
42Gibson11:6030.78%71
42Ross11:6031.02%93
42Black11:60325.00%559
42Noble11:60316.67%468
42Henry11:6038.33%307
42Peel11:60311.11%365
42Rich11:60333.33%623
42Murrell11:60314.29%429
42Willison11:603100.00%799
42Groat11:6030.62%51
42Foubister11:6030.54%40
42Meil11:6032.08%159
42Erving11:603100.00%799