Joice

Joice is the Brazilian form of the name Joyce. While in English-speaking countries Joyce is used for both genders but predominantly feminine, Joice in Brazil is primarily a feminine given name.

Etymology and History

Like its root form Joyce, Joice ultimately derives from the medieval masculine name Josse, which came from the Latinized Iudocus. This, in turn, was a Latinized form of the Breton name Judoc, meaning "lord." The name was borne by a 7th-century Breton saint, and Breton settlers introduced it to England after the Norman Conquest. It became rare after the 14th century but was later revived as a feminine name, perhaps influenced by the Middle English word joise "to rejoice."

Notable Bearers

Notable people named Joice include:

• Joice Heth (c. 1756–1836), African-American woman exhibited by P.T. Barnum
• Joice NanKivell Loch (1887–1982), Australian author, journalist and humanitarian worker
• Joice Maduaka (born 1973), British sprinter
• Joice Mujuru (born 1955), Zimbabwean revolutionary and politician

Related Names

Other variants and forms include the English Joice itself, as well as the Medieval English Joisse and Jocosa. The surname Joyce also exists, as notably borne by Irish novelist James Joyce (1882–1941).

• Meaning: "lord" (ultimately from Breton Judoc)
• Origin: Brazilian Portuguese form of English Joyce, with Breton roots
• Type: Given name
• Usage Regions: Brazil, also occurring in English-speaking countries as a variant