Surname Joice - Meaning and Origin

Joice: What does the surname Joice mean?

The last name Joice is of Irish origin, derived from the personal name "Joyce." The surname was originally Mac Iosef in Irish, which translates to "son of Joseph." So, the name Joice effectively means "of Joseph." It was first associated with a Welshman, Thomas de Jorse or Joyce, in the 13th Century who came to Ireland during the Anglo-Norman invasions. His descendants adopted the surname Joice, and it became one of the most prominent names in Galway, Ireland. The family was recognized as one of the "Tribes of Galway," a collection of families who dominated the political, commercial, and social life of the city from the late Middle Ages until the 19th century. Despite its Irish origin, the surname Joice is widespread, found in many countries around the world today due to migration and diaspora. It's important to note that like many surnames, spelling variations such as Joyce, Joyes, Goys, Joys, and Joce can occur, which are all essentially derivatives of the original name.

Joice: Where does the name Joice come from?

The surname Joice is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic "Mac Seóid," which translates to "son of the firebrand," a nickname that was presumably given to someone fiery and passionate. It was later anglicized to Joyce. The Joyce family was one of the famous "Tribes of Galway," fourteen merchant families who dominated the political, commercial, and social life of the city of Galway in western Ireland from the 13th to 17th centuries. They had a reputation for their sophistication, cultural education, and international connections. Various expansions and migrations over centuries have spread descendants and the surname worldwide.

Today, the surname Joyce and its variant Joice are still most commonly found in Ireland. However, it is also prevalent in other English-speaking countries like the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia due to emigration during and post Irish Potato Famine in 19th century. Furthermore, it's noteworthy to mention that due to intermarriage and cultural blending, the surname has found its way into numerous ethnic communities and therefore can be found among many different racial groups today.

Variations of the surname Joice

The surname Joice has a wide range of variants and spellings that have evolved due to regional dialects, phonetic spellings, and translation between languages. Variants and spellings include Joyce, Joys, Joyse, Joisce, Josse, Joss, Joysse, Josce, Joce, and Joyes.

In some cases, surnames with similar origins have evolved into entirely different names, further diversifying the range of possible spellings. For example, the Irish Gaelic form of the surname is Seoigh, and it's often anglicized as Joyce.

Variations of the surname changed over the centuries based on region and cultural influences. For instance, the French version of Joyce is Joyeux, the Italian is Gioia, and in Spanish, it often appears as Gozo.

As far as surname origin is concerned, it's important to note that surnames could be based on a variety of factors such as occupation, location, or a nickname. Hence, surnames of the same origin may not necessarily have similar spelling. However, related surnames to Joyce, based on patronymic reference, may include Joyson, Joysun, Joicesson, or Jocet.

Famous people with the name Joice

• Charli Damelio: American dancer and internet personality
• Shane Joice: Australian rules footballer
• Edward Joice: British actor
• Brad Joice: Canadian professional ice hockey player
• Paul Joice: American radio broadcaster and former Major League Baseball pitcher
• Beatrice Joice: British lawyer
• Maria Joice: American Olympic figure skater
• Linda Joice: American politician
• Josh Joice: Former British track and field athlete
• Lawrence Joice: Australian cricketer
• Margaret Joice: Australian actress
• Robin Joice: British rugby player
• Charles Joice: American architect
• Matthew Joice: British author and journalist
• Gary Joice: American track and field hurdler
• Jill Joice: Australian swimmer
• Brazier Joice: American entrepreneur
• Amy Joice: Canadian actress
• Tony Joice: British tennis player
• Jessica Joice: American artist

Other surnames

JoiceyJoicy