Joyce Family Crest, Coat of Arms and Name History

Joyce Origin:

France

Origins of Joyce:

The surname of Joyce is said to have two possible origins, both of them hailing from the country of France. The first possible origin of this surname of Joyce can be found as a patronymic surname, derivinf from the Breton personal given name of “Iodoc,” which itself comes from the word “Juidcaelh,” which can be translated to mean “lord.” This personal given name was said to be introduced into the country of England by the Normans, following the Conquest of 1066. The second possible origin of the surname of Joyce is that it is a locational surname. This means that it was often taken by the Lord or owner of the land from which the name derives. Others who may have take a locational surname are people who have migrated out of the area to seek out work. The easiest way to identify someone who was a stranger at that time was by the name of their birthplace. In the case of the surname of Joyce, this means that it hailed from the French village of Josses sur Mer, which is locate in the area of Calvados, Normandy. This surname of Joyce is also popular within the country of Ireland, where a Welshman introduced it in the yea of 1283.

Variations:

More common variations are: Joice, Choice, Joycey, Joyice, Joyace, Joycee, Jjoyce

England:

The first recorded spelling of the surname of Joyce can be traced to the country of England. One person, who was named as Geoffrey de Jorz was mentioned in the document which was named the Place Names Book of Northumberland, in the year of 1234. This document was ordered, decreed, and written under the reign of one King Henry III of England, who was known throughout the ages, and commonly referred to as one “The Frenchman.” King Henry III of England ruled from the year of 1216 to the year of 1272. Other mentions of the surname of Joyce within the country of England include one George Joyce, who was a parliamentarian officer sent by Oliver Cromwell to seize Charles I from Holmby House in 1646. Those who are known by the surname of Joyce can be found throughout the country of England. Those who bear the surname of Joyce can be found within the areas of Dorset, Sussex, Hampshire, Essex, Lincolnshire, Lancashire and Norfolk. There is also a large population of those who bear the surname of Joyce that reside in the areas in and around the city of London.

Ireland:

Throughout the country of Ireland, there are many people who bear the surname of Joyce. The areas where there is a large population of people who are known by the surname of Joyce are in Galway, Cork, and in Connacht.

Scotland:

In the country of Scotland, there is a sizeable population of people who bear the surname of Joyce. The areas that are highly concentrated with a large number of people who are known by the surname of Joyce can be found within the counties of Lanarkshire, Wigtownshire, Fife, and in Ayrshire county.

United States of America:

Within the United States of America, there are people who carry the surname of Joyce in Maryland, North Carolina, New York, Virginia, Georgia, and Massachusetts.

Here is the population distribution of the last name Joyce: United States 42,404; England 15,057; Nigeria 6,878; Australia 6,521; Ireland 5,525; Uganda 5,414; Brazil 4,404; Canada 4,400; South Africa 3,452; New Zealand 2,177

Notable People:

Major-General Kenyon Ashe Joyce (1879-1960) who was an American who served as the president of the Allied Control Commission Italy in the year 1943

Michael Joyce who was born in the year 1945 and who is a professor of English and an author from America

Natalie Joyce (1902-1992) who was a film actress from America

Alice Joyce (1890-1955) who was an actress from America

David Joyce (1825-1904) who was industrialist from America who was also referred to as a lumber baron

Patrick H. Joyce (1879-1946) who was a railroad executive from America

Brenda Joyce who was born in the year 1915 and who was an actress from America who portrayed Jane in the Tarzan series by Sol Lesser

Robert Dwyer Joyce (1830-1883) who was a poet from Ireland

James Augustine Aloysius Joyce (1882-1941) who was an author from Ireland who is most well-known for his work “Ulysses” which was released in the year 1922 and his other work “A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man” which was released in the year 1916

Blazons & Genealogy Notes

1) (Burton Joyce, co. Nottingham; descended from Robert de Jortz Lord of Burton, co. Nottingham, temp. Henry II.; the last heir, William de Joyce, of Burton Joyce, d. s. p. temp. Henry VI.). Paly of six or and gu; on a bend sa. three water bougets ar.
2) Ar. three torteaux in bend betw. two bendlets gu. Crest—A demi chevalier in armour brandishing a scymitar all ppr.
3) Gu. a chev. betw. three pine leaves slipped ar.
4) (Galway; settled in that co. for many years; originally from Wales. Reg. Ulster’s Office). Ar. an eagle displ. gu. charged on the breast with a bar gemel erm. Crest—A demi wolf ducally gorged ppr.