Joyce

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

Medieval (Middle English) given name from Old French Josse, name of a seventh century saint Latinized as Jodocus, from Breton Iodoc, diminutive of iudh (“lord”), from Proto-Celtic *yowdos.[1]

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /d͡ʒɔɪs/
  • Audio (Southern England)(file)
    Rhymes: -ɔɪs

Proper noun

Joyce (plural Joyces)

  1. An English and Irish surname originating as a patronymic.
  2. A female given name from the Celtic languages, associated by folk etymology with joy and rejoice.
    • 1860, Mrs Henry Wood (Ellen Wood), East Lynne:
      "It's a curious name," remarked Captain Levison. "Joyce - Joyce! I never heard such a name. Is it a Christian name or a surname?"
      "She was baptised Joyce. It is not so very uncommon. Her name is Joyce Hallijohn. She has been with us several years."
    • 1959, Anne Sexton, The Double Image:
      You call me mother, and I remember my mother again,
      somewhere in greater Boston, dying.
      I remember we named you Joyce
      so we could call you Joy.
  3. An unincorporated community in Clallam County, Washington, United States, named after founder Joseph M. Joyce.

Derived terms

Translations

References
  1. Patrick Hanks and Flavia Hodges: A Dictionary of Surnames. Oxford University Press 1988.

Further reading

Portuguese

Proper noun

Joyce f

  1. a female given name, variant of Joice
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