Joyce ( name ) - wikipedia Joyce ( name ) Joyce Pronunciation / ˈdʒɔɪs / JOYSS Gender Male Female Origin Word / name Breton Meaning `` Lord '' The name Joyce is a contemporary given - name used for females and rarely used by males. As a family - name, it derived from the Old French Masculine name Josse, which derived from the Latin name Iudocus, the Latinized form of the Breton name Judoc meaning `` lord ''. The name became rare after the 14th century, but later revived as a female given - name, which derived from the Middle English joise meaning `` rejoice ''. ( 1 ) Contents 1 Name 's origin : Saint Joyce ( Judoc ) 2 As a first name 2.1 Art 2.2 Business 2.3 Film, television, and theater 2.4 Literature and print 2.5 Music 2.6 Politics 2.7 Sports 2.8 Other 3 As a last name 3.1 Business 3.2 Film, television, and theatre 3.3 Literature and print 3.4 Music 3.5 Politics 3.6 Religion 3.7 Sports 3.8 Other 4 Fictional characters 5 See also 6 References Name 's origin : Saint Joyce ( Judoc ) Saint Joyce ( Judoc in Breton, Joost in Dutch and Josse in French ) ( 660 -- 668 ), by Swiss painter, c. 1500 -- 1520. Saint Judoc ( 600 -- 668 ) -- Breton prince and hermit, the son of Judicael, king of Brittany. After his death, his body was claimed to be incorrupt, his beard and hair were trimmed from time to time by his followers ( as was claimed for Saint Cuthbert ). In 902, while the new minster at Winchester was being built, there arrived some refugees from Saint - Josse who brought with them the relics of their founder. Saint Grimbald enshrined them in the new church. Consequently, feasts of Josse were prominently kept at Winchester ; His popularity in England may be deduced from the frequent Christian name Joyce ( for both men and women ) and from the use of his name in oaths by the Wife of Bath in Chaucer 's Canterbury Tales ( `` by God and by Seint Joce '' ). Through the discovery of a rival set of relics at Saint - Josse in 977 the cult of Josse also spread from Northern France to Flanders ( where he is sometimes called Joost ), Germany, Alsace, Switzerland, and Austria, where he is represented on the mausoleum of Maximilian in Innsbruck. As a first name There are several notable individuals with the name Joyce : Joyce Giraud ( born 1975 ), Miss Universe 1998 Joyce Ladner ( born 1943 ), American sociologist and author Joyce Lambert ( 1917 -- 2005 ), botanist and stratigrapher Joyce Marcus, American archaeologist Joyce K. Reynolds, computer science professor Joyce Ann Tyldesely, British archaeologist, academic, and freelance writer Joyce Winifred Vickery ( 1908 -- 1979 ), Australian botanist Art Joyce Ballantyne ( 1918 -- 2006 ), American painter of pin - ups Joyce Wieland ( 1931 -- 1998 ), Canadian experimental filmmaker and mixed media artist Business Joyce Chen ( 1917 -- 1994 ), chef and restaurateur Joyce Hall ( 1891 -- 1982 ), American businessman and founder of Hallmark Cards Joyce Nicholson ( 1919 ), Australian author and businesswoman Film, television, and theater Joyce Blair ( 1932 -- 2006 ), English actress and dancer Dr. Joyce Brothers ( 1927 -- 2013 ), TV personality Joyce Bulifant ( born 1937 ), American actress Joyce Carey ( 1898 -- 1993 ), British actress Joyce Chopra ( born 1938 ), American film director Joyce Coad ( 1917 -- 1987 ), American child actress Joyce Compton ( 1907 -- 1997 ), American actress Joyce DeWitt ( born 1949 ), American actress best known for her role in Three 's Company Joyce Giraud ( born 1975 ), Puerto Rican actress and model Joyce Godenzi ( born 1965 ), beauty queen and actress of Chinese and Australian descent Joyce Grenfell ( 1910 -- 1979 ), English actress, comedian and singer - songwriter Amy Joyce Hastings ( born 1980 ), Irish actress and descendent of the Joyce family of the Tribes of Galway Joyce Hyser ( born 1957 ), American actress Joyce Jacobs ( born 1922 ), British character actress Joyce Jimenez ( born 1978 ), Filipino American actress Joyce MacKenzie ( born 1929 ), American actress Joyce Nizzari ( born 1940 ), American model and actress Joyce Randolph ( born 1925 ), American actress Joyce Redman ( born 1918 ), British actress Joyce Sparer Adler ( 1916 -- 1999 ), American critic, playwright, and teacher Joyce Van Patten ( born 1934 ), American actress Literature and print Joyce Cary ( 1888 -- 1957 ), Irish novelist Joyce Cavalcante ( born 1949 ), Brazilian novelist Joyce Brabner ( born 1952 ), writer of political comics Joyce Dyer, ( born 1947 ), American scholar and writer Joyce Jillson ( 1946 -- 2004 ), American syndicated astrologer, actress and author Joyce Johnson ( born 1935 ), American award - winning author Alfred Joyce Kilmer ( 1886 -- 1918 ), American poet Joyce Lussu ( 1912 -- 1998 ), Italian writer, translator and partisan Joyce Mansour ( 1928 -- 1986 ), British - born Egyptian surrealist poet Joyce Maynard ( born 1953 ), American writer Joyce Carol Oates ( born 1938 ), American novelist Joyce Carol Thomas ( born 1938 ), African American playwright, illustrator and author of children 's books Music Joyce Auguste, Saint Lucian musician and leader of The Hewanorra Voices Joyce Cooling, American smooth jazz guitarist Joyce DiDonato ( born 1969 ), American opera singer Joyce Hatto ( 1928 -- 2006 ), faux English pianist Joyce Kennedy ( singer ), American singer with the funk rock band Mother 's Finest Joyce Moreno ( born 1948 ), Brazilian singer - songwriter, formerly known as Joyce Joyce Sims ( born 1959 ), American singer - songwriter and pianist Joyce Wright ( born 1922 ), English opera singer and actress Joyce Yang ( born 1986 ), Korean pianist Joyce Zhao Hong Qiao ( born 1979 ), Taiwanese actress and member of music group 7 Flowers Politics Joyce Anelay, Baroness Anelay of St Johns, Conservative member of the House of Lords Joyce Banda ( born 1951 ), Malawian Member of Parliament Joyce Beatty ( born 1950 ), member of the Ohio House of Representatives Joyce Butler ( 1910 -- 1992 ), British Labour Co-operative politician Joyce Cusack ( born 1942 ), member of the Florida House of Representatives Joyce Fairbairn ( born 1939 ), Canadian Senator and first woman Leader of the Government in the Senate Joyce Gemayel, wife of former President of Lebanon Amin Gemayel and mother of the assassinated politician Pierre Amine Gemayel Joyce Hens Green ( born 1928 ), American district court judge Joyce Karlin, federal prosecutor, Los Angeles County Superior Court judge, and two - term mayor of Manhattan Beach, California Joyce L. Kennard ( born 1941 ), associate justice of the California Supreme Court Joyce Mojonnier, California Assemblywoman from 1983 to 1991 Joyce Mujuru ( born 1956 ), Zimbabwean politician, co-vice - president of the Zanu - PF party Joyce Quin, Baroness Quin ( born 1944 ), British Labour Party politician Joyce Elaine Roop ( 1952 -- 1995 ), attorney and environmental activist Joyce Savoline, Canadian politician Joyce Steele ( born 1910 ), Australian politician and the first woman elected to the Parliament of South Australia Joyce Trimmer ( born 1927 ), Canadian politician Joyce Watson, Welsh Labour Party politician and Member of the National Assembly for Wales Sports Joyce Barry ( 1919 -- 1999 ), Australian cyclist Joyce Chepchumba ( born 1970 ), Kenyan long - distance runner Joyce King ( born 1927 ), Australian sprinter Joyce Moreno ( footballer ) ( born 1974 ), Panamanian - Spanish footballer Joyce Walker ( born ca. 1961 ), American basketball player ( Harlem Globetrotters ) and coach Joyce Wethered ( 1901 -- 1997 ), British golfer Joyce Ziske ( born 1935 ), American golfer Other Joyce Chiang ( 1970 -- 1999 ), Taiwanese - American murdered in Washington, D.C. Joyce Meyer ( born 1943 ), Christian Evangelical author and speaker Joyce Ohajah, British journalist and news anchor As a last name Joyce was the surname of one of the Tribes of Galway. Business Alan Joyce ( born 1966 ), Qantas CEO David Joyce ( 1825 -- 1904 ), American lumber baron and industrialist Morton Dean Joyce ( 1900 -- 1989 ), of New York City Patrick H. Joyce ( 1879 -- 1946 ), American railroad executive Ron Joyce ( born 1930 ), Canadian billionaire and co-founder of Tim Horton 's donut chain Film, television, and theatre Alice Joyce ( 1890 -- 1955 ), American actress Brenda Joyce ( actress ) ( 1912 -- 2009 ), American actress Elaine Joyce ( born 1945 ), American actress Ella Joyce ( born 1954 ), American actress Emily Joyce ( born 1970 ), British actress Natalie Joyce ( 1902 -- 1992 ), American film actress Peggy Hopkins Joyce ( 1893 -- 1957 ), American actress Yootha Joyce ( 1927 -- 1980 ), English actress Literature and print Brenda Joyce ( author ), American author Graham Joyce, English science fiction writer James Joyce ( 1882 -- 1941 ), Irish novelist Michael Joyce ( born 1945 ), American author and professor of English Patrick Weston Joyce ( 1827 -- 1914 ), Irish author and brother of Robert Dwyer Joyce Robert Dwyer Joyce ( 1830 -- 1883 ), Irish poet Stanislaus Joyce ( 1884 -- 1955 ), illustrator Music Archibald Joyce, English composer ( 1873 -- 1963 ) Don Joyce ( musician ) ( 1994 -- 2015 ), member of the experimental music group Negativland Eileen Joyce ( 1912 -- 1991 ), Australian pianist Mike Joyce ( born 1963 ), British drummer with The Smiths Politics Barnaby Joyce ( born 1967 ), Australian politician Brian A. Joyce ( born 1962 ), Democratic Senator from Massachusetts Charles Herbert Joyce ( 1830 -- 1916 ), U.S. Representative from Vermont Eric Joyce ( born 1960 ), British politician and member of Parliament George Joyce ( 1618 -- 1670 ? ), agitator in the English Civil War Janet J. Joyce ( 1940 - 2015 ), Illinois state senator Jeremiah E. Joyce ( born 1943 ), Illinois state senator Jerome J. Joyce ( born 1939 ), Illinois state senator John Joyce ( politician ) ( 1839 -- 1899 ), New Zealand politician Kevin Joyce ( politician ), Illinois State Representative Steven Joyce ( born 1963 ), New Zealand politician William Joyce ( 1906 -- 1946 ), British Nazi propagandist ( known as `` Lord Haw - haw '' ) Religion Gilbert Cunningham Joyce ( 1866 -- 1942 ), educator and Bishop of Monmouth Isaac Wilson Joyce ( 1836 -- 1905 ), American bishop in the Methodist Episcopal Church Jeremiah Joyce ( 1763 -- 1816 ), Unitarian minister and writer Sports Alan Joyce ( born 1942 ), Australian footballer Bill Joyce ( 1887 -- ? ), Scottish footballer Bill Joyce ( baseball ) ( 1865 -- 1941 ), American baseball player Bob Joyce ( born 1966 ), Canadian ice hockey player Cecelia Joyce ( born 1983 ), Irish cricketer Don Joyce ( American football ) ( born 1929 ), American football player Dominick Joyce ( born 1981 ), Irish cricketer Ed Joyce ( born 1978 ), Irish cricketer Gus Joyce ( born 1974 ), Irish cricketer Isobel Joyce ( born 1983 ), Irish cricketer Jim Joyce ( born 1955 ), Major League Baseball umpire Joan Joyce ( born 1940 ), softball icon, among other sports Joe Joyce ( born 1961 ), English footballer John Joyce ( footballer ) ( 1877 -- 1956 ), English goalkeeper, known as `` Tiny '' Kaelan Joyce ( born 1982 ), Gibraltarian amateur boxer Kara Lynn Joyce ( born 1985 ), American swimmer Leilani Joyce ( born 1974 ), professional squash player from New Zealand Luke Joyce ( born 1987 ), American soccer player for Carlisle United F.C. Mark Joyce ( born 1983 ), English snooker player Matt Joyce ( 1972 ), American football player Matt Joyce ( 1984 ), Major League Baseball outfielder Michael Joyce ( tennis player ) ( born 1973 ), American tennis player Pádraic Joyce ( born 1977 ) Irish Gaelic football player for County Galway Regina Joyce ( born 1957 ), Irish long - distance runner Sean William Joyce ( born 1967 ), English footballer Warren Joyce ( born 1965 ), English footballer Other Gerald Joyce ( born 1956 ), American scientist Kerry Joyce, American interior designer Lucia Joyce ( 1907 -- 1982 ), ballet dancer and daughter of writer James Joyce Maolra Seoighe ( Myles Joyce ), Irishman executed by British authorities Nan Joyce ( born 1940 ), Irish Travellers ' right activist Philip Michael Joyce ( 1920 -- 1942 ), U.S. Navy ensign for whom the U.S. destroyer escort USS Joyce ( DE-317 ) is named Rosemary Joyce, American anthropologist Thomas Athol Joyce ( 1878 − 1942 ), British anthropologist Seoighe Inish Bearachain, Irish rowing champions Fictional characters Joyce Barry, character in The Prisoner Joyce Benson, character in the 1970s comedy Angie Joyce Byers, character in Stranger Things Joyce Davenport, character in Hill Street Blues Joyce Kinney, character in Family Guy Joyce Summers, character in Buffy the Vampire Slayer Gilda Joyce, character in the Gilda Joyce mystery novels See also Joyce Country, a region of counties Galway in Ireland in which the Joyce family name is common. All pages beginning with `` Joyce '' This page or section lists people that share the same given name. If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change that link to point directly to the intended article. This page lists people with the surname Joyce. If an internal link intending to refer to a specific person led you to this page, you may wish to change that link by adding the person 's given name ( s ) to the link. References Jump up ^ David Hugh Farmer. Oxford Dictionary of the Saints. Oxford : Clarendon Press : 1978, 1979, 1980. Pp. 225 -- 226. Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Joyce_(name)&oldid=815871788 '' Categories : Given names Surnames English unisex given names English - language unisex given names Hidden categories : All set index articles Talk Contents About Wikipedia Brezhoneg Čeština Italiano Nederlands Norsk Svenska Edit links This page was last edited on 17 December 2017, at 19 : 15. 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Question: where does the last name joyce come from
Answer: from the Old French Masculine name Josse, which derived from the Latin name Iudocus, the Latinized form of the Breton name Judoc meaning "lord"