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Show ContentsJoy History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
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Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

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The name Joy came to England with the ancestors of the Joy family in the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Joy family lived in Herefordshire. Their name, however, derives from the family's place of residence prior to the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, De Gai, Normandy. 1

Others sources claim the name is a nickname for ' the jay,' a chatterer, a smartly dressed person. 2 3 4

Early Origins of the Joy family

The surname Joy was first found in Herefordshire at Heath, with Jay, a township, in the parish of Leintwardine, union of Ludlow, hundred of Wigmore. 5 This small township had only 55 inhabitants in the late 1800s and comprises the hamlets of Heath and Jay. 6 7

One of the first records of the family was Gilber Jai (Gai) who was listed in the Pipe Rolls for Lincolnshire in 1202. A few years later, Tandy de Jay was listed in the Assize Rolls for Shropshire in 1221 and Walter le Jay was found in the Assize Rolls for Somerset in 1225. 8

In Somerset, William le Jay was listed there 1 Edward III (during the first year of King Edward III's reign.) 9

"Brian de Jay was the last Master of the English Knights Templars. He was the only Englishman of note slain at the battle of Falkirk in 1298 and his fellow Master of the Order in Scotland, fighting along with Jay, was also killed." 10

Early History of the Joy family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Joy research. Another 105 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1495, 1511, 1529, 1530, 1534, 1553, 1630, 1697, 1699, 1722, 1734 and 1790 are included under the topic Early Joy History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Joy Spelling Variations

Multitudes of spelling variations are a hallmark of Anglo Norman names. Most of these names evolved in the 11th and 12th century, in the time after the Normans introduced their own Norman French language into a country where Old and Middle English had no spelling rules and the languages of the court were French and Latin. To make matters worse, medieval scribes spelled words according to sound, so names frequently appeared differently in the various documents in which they were recorded. The name was spelled Jay, Jaye, Jayes and others.

Early Notables of the Joy family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

  • George Joye (also Joy and Jaye) (c. 1495 - 1553), a 16th-century Bible translator who produced the first printed translation of several books of the Old Testament into English (1530-1534), as well as...
  • Francis Joy (1697?-1790), was a printer, papermaker, and journalist, born at Belfast about 1697. "His family claims descent from Captain Thomas Joy, a follower of Arthur Chichester, Lord Chichester of...
  • William Joy (d. 1734), 'the English Samson,' was born at St. Lawrence, near Ramsgate, and seems to have first attracted public attention about 1699, when he commenced a regular course of performances...
  • George Joye (d. 1553), was a Protestant controversialist, who was occasionally known as Clarke, Geach, Gee, and Jaye, a native of Bedfordshire. 11

Joy World Ranking

In the United States, the name Joy is the 2,509th most popular surname with an estimated 12,435 people with that name. 12 However, in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Joy is ranked the 476th most popular surname with an estimated 99 people with that name. 13 And in New Zealand, the name Joy is the 723rd popular surname with an estimated 989 people with that name. 14

United States Joy migration to the United States +

Because of this political and religious unrest within English society, many people decided to immigrate to the colonies. Families left for Ireland, North America, and Australia in enormous numbers, traveling at high cost in extremely inhospitable conditions. The New World in particular was a desirable destination, but the long voyage caused many to arrive sick and starving. Those who made it, though, were welcomed by opportunities far greater than they had known at home in England. Many of these families went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Joy or a variant listed above:

Joy Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Asher Joy, who arrived in Virginia in 1635 15
  • Thomas Joy, who landed in Boston, Massachusetts in 1635 15
  • William Joy, who arrived in Virginia in 1652 15
  • Rich Joy, who arrived in Virginia in 1658 15
  • Mary Joy, who arrived in Virginia in 1658 15
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Joy Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Eliza Joy, who arrived in Virginia in 1702 15
Joy Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Eleanor Fitzpatrick Joy, aged 22, who landed in Massachusetts in 1813 15
  • John Joy, aged 23, who landed in America in 1822 15
  • Michael Joy, who landed in New York in 1826 15
  • Peter Joy, who arrived in Charleston, South Carolina in 1827 15
  • Reuben M Joy, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1849 15
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Joy migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Joy Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Garrett Joy, aged 25 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Sir Henry Pottinger" departing 29th May 1847 from Cork, Ireland; the ship arrived on 7th August 1847 but he died on board 16

Australia Joy migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Joy Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. James Joy, English convict who was convicted in Gloucester, Gloucestershire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Aurora" on 18th June 1835, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 17
  • Mr. Richard Joy, English convict who was convicted in Devon, England for life, transported aboard the "Aurora" on 18th June 1835, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 17
  • Mr. Thomas Joy, British Convict who was convicted in Montreal, Quebec, Canada for 14 years, transported aboard the "Cressy" on 28th April 1843, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 18
  • Mr. Thomas Joy, English convict who was convicted in Devon, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Equestrian" on 30th June 1845, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Island) 19
  • Charles Joy, aged 42, who arrived in South Australia in 1849 aboard the ship "Ascendant" 20
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Joy migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Joy Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mr. J. Boxer Joy, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "William Watson" arriving in New Plymouth, Taranaki, North Island, New Zealand on 30th December 1857 21
  • Mrs. Sarah Joy, (b. 1835), aged 34, English settler from Bedfordshire, England who arrived in Lyttelton, New Zealand aboard the ship "Caroline Coventry" in 1869 22
  • Mr. William Jason Joy, (b. 1869), aged 6 months, English settler from Bedfordshire, England who arrived in Lyttelton, New Zealand aboard the ship "Caroline Coventry" in 1869 22
  • Abel Joy, (b. 1836), aged 33, English ploughman from Bedfordshire, England who arrived in Lyttelton, New Zealand aboard the ship "Caroline Coventry" in 1869 22
  • Mr. James Joy, (b. 1848), aged 25, Cornish labourer departing on 18th June 1873 aboard the ship "St. Leonards" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 26th September 1873 23
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Joy (post 1700) +

  • Homer Joy (1945-2012), American songwriter, best known for his song Streets of Bakersfield
  • Leatrice Joy (1893-1985), American actress
  • Mike Joy (b. 1949), American TV sports announcer
  • William Nelson Joy (b. 1954), American computer scientist
  • Megan Joy (b. 1985), American singer-songwriter
  • Ian Paul Joy (b. 1981), American soccer player
  • Benjamin Joy, American politician, Member of New York State Assembly from Tompkins County 1st District, 1854 24
  • Mrs. Ben Joy, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Arizona, 1960 24
  • August Joy, American Republican politician, Candidate for Connecticut State House of Representatives from Newtown, 1932 24
  • Angus T. Joy, American Republican politician, Candidate for Connecticut State House of Representatives from Newtown, 1930 24
  • ... (Another 28 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Monongah Mine
  • Mr. Antonio Joy (b. 1882), Italian coal miner who was in mine 8 at the Monongah mine on 6th December 1907 when it exploded and collapsed; he died 25
  • Mr. Frank Joy (b. 1851), Italian coal miner who was in mine 8 at the Monongah mine on 6th December 1907 when it exploded and collapsed; he died 25
  • Mr. Peter Joy (b. 1875), Italian coal miner who was at the Monongah mine on 6th December 1907 when it exploded and collapsed; he died 25
SS Newfoundland
  • Mr. Michael Joy (1891-1914), Newfoundlander from Harbour Main, who on the 30th March 1914 he was part of the Seal Crew of the "SS Newfoundland" leaving the ship to intercept the Stephano which took him to the hunting grounds, he disembarked to begin sealing, but was caught in a thickening storm, attempting to return to the Newfoundland he and the 132 crew made camp for two days the sealers were stranded on the ice in a blizzard attempting to return to the ship, he died during this time

Suggested Readings for the name Joy +

  • Ancestry of the Jameson, Gilbert, Joy, Skinner, and Related Families by Bradner Petersen.
  • Thomas Joy and His Descendants by James Richard Joy.
  1. The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
  2. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  3. Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
  4. Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
  5. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  6. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  7. Barber, Henry, British Family Names London: Elliot Stock, 62 Paternoster Row, 1894. Print.
  8. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  9. Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
  10. Cleveland, Dutchess of The Battle Abbey Roll with some Account of the Norman Lineages. London: John Murray, Abermarle Street, 1889. Print. Volume 2 of 3
  11. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
  12. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  13. The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
  14. "Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
  15. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  16. Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 81)
  17. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 20th August 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/aurora
  18. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 21st May 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/cressy
  19. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 9th May 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/equestrian
  20. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) The ASCENDANT 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849Ascendant.htm
  21. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  22. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 5th November 2010). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  23. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, April 30). Emigrants to Auckland 1872-80 [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/new_zealand_assisted.pdf
  24. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 20) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  25. Monongah Mining Disaster retrieved on 8th August 2021. (Retrieved fromhttps://usminedisasters.miningquiz.com/saxsewell/monongah.htm).

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