Loyew arose on the site of an ancient settlement of the Dregoviches within the Principality of Chernigov. The settlement was situated on the route from the Varangians to the Greeks. The first mention of Loyew goes back to 1505 and it was known as Loyewa Hara (Loyew Hill). The name is probably derived from the Abkhaz-Adyghe surname Loo.[citation needed]
The town is known for the Battle of Loyew of July 31, 1649, during the Khmelnytsky Uprising. After the division of the Rzecz Pospolita in 1793, it became a part of the Russian Empire. According to the results of the census held in 1897 the town had 4,667 inhabitants, among them 2150 Jews. There were 251 farms, 9 mills, 24 shops, 1 school, 1 post-office, 2 orthodox churches, 1 catholic church and 1 synagogue.
the former merchant house, 19th century
In December 1926, Loyew was included in the Byelorussian SSR and became the center of Loyew District. In 1938, it was granted the status of a city. In 1941–1943, the city lost nearly 1,500 inhabitants. In 1962-1966 it was placed in Rechytsa District.
In the city there are building materials and dairy factories, a pedagogical school and musical school, a house of culture, and some libraries. There is The Church of the Holy Trinity in Loyew.
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