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Although the surname Joyce may automatically be associated with author James Joyce, the name has an ancient past, with both Irish and Norman antecedents.
Derived from the Brehon personal name Iodoc, which is a diminutive of iudh meaning lord, the name was adopted by the Normans in the form Josse. While some scholars believe that the name developed from the French Joie, which means joy, a multitude of names developed in Ireland and England from Josse, including Joce, Joass, and Joyce.
Despite its international origins Joyce is regarded as a true Irish name and is more common in Ireland than in any other country.