Joyce

English

Alternative forms

• (surname): Choyce

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.

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

• Burton Joyce (from de Jorz)

Related terms

• Jocelyn

Translations

an English and Irish patronymic surname

• Armenian: Ջոյս (J̌oys)
• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 喬伊斯／乔伊斯 (Qiáoyīsī)

• Portuguese: Joice (pt) f
• Russian: Джойс (Džojs)

Further reading

• Saint Josse on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

Portuguese

Proper noun

Joyce f

1. a female given name, variant of Joice