Joyce History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms 

Origins Available: 
  Ireland 


The surname Joyce is derived from the personal names Josse or Goce. The name Joyce is derived from the Latin word "gaudere" and is cognate in origin with the words joy and joyous. The personal names Josse and Goce were made popular by St. Josse the Hermit, who refused the sovereignty of Brittany. Joyce was used primarily as a female personal name, although some of the earlier instances were masculine. The Gaelic form of the surname Joyce is Seoigh.

Early Origins of the Joyce family

The surname Joyce was first found in Glamorganshire (Welsh: Sir Forgannwg), a region of South Wales, anciently part of the Welsh kingdom of Glywysing.

However, the Welsh origin is very much overshadowed by the Irish predominance of the name in later years. In Ireland, the family was "of Welsh origin which became completely hibernicized; their territory was called Joyce's country. They also became one of the 'Tribes Of Galway' " 1

Perhaps an exploration of one of the earliest entries for the name will assist. Thomas Jorz or Joyce, also called Thomas the Englishman (d. 1310), was an English "cardinal, is said to have been born of a good family in London, although he was perhaps, as has been sometimes suggested, a Welshman by descent. He was one of six brothers, who all entered the Dominican order. Two of them, Walter and Roland, were successively Archbishops of Armagh [Ireland]. " 2

Walter Jorz or Jorse (fl. 1306), "Archbishop of Armagh, was a Dominican of Oxford. Like Thomas Jorz [q. v.], his brother, he is doubtfully said to have been a disciple of Albertus Magnus, and a fellow-student with Thomas Aquinas." 2

Early History of the Joyce family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Joyce research. Another 102 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1086, 1172, 1487 and 1647 are included under the topic Early Joyce History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Joyce Spelling Variations

Medieval scribes and church officials spelled the names as they sounded, so a name was often spelled many different ways during the lifetime of a single person. The investigation of the origin of the name Joyce revealed many spelling variations including Joyce, Joyes, Joy, Joice and others.

Early Notables of the Joyce family

Notable amongst the family up to this time was

Joyce World Ranking

In the United States, the name Joyce is the 748th most popular surname with an estimated 39,792 people with that name. 3 However, in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Joyce is ranked the 523rd most popular surname with an estimated 88 people with that name. 4 And in Australia, the name Joyce is the 451st popular surname with an estimated 8,363 people with that name. 5 New Zealand ranks Joyce as 244th with 2,437 people. 6 The United Kingdom ranks Joyce as 455th with 14,319 people. 7


Joyce migration to the United States +

During the middle of the 19th century, Irish families often experienced extreme poverty and racial discrimination in their own homeland under English rule. Record numbers died of disease and starvation and many others, deciding against such a fate, boarded ships bound for North America. The largest influx of Irish settlers occurred with Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. Unfortunately, many of those Irish that arrived in Canada or the United States still experienced economic and racial discrimination. Although often maligned, these Irish people were essential to the rapid development of these countries because they provided the cheap labor required for the many canals, roads, railways, and other projects required for strong national infrastructures. Eventually the Irish went on to make contributions in the less backbreaking and more intellectual arenas of commerce, education, and the arts. Research early immigration and passenger lists revealed many early immigrants bearing the name Joyce:

Joyce Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
Joyce Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Joyce migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Joyce Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
Joyce Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Joyce migration to Australia +

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

Joyce Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Joyce 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:

Joyce Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Contemporary Notables of the name Joyce (post 1700) +


The Joyce Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Mors aut honorabilis vita
Motto Translation: Death, or life with honour.
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