'Joyce' originates from Breton, specifically the name 'Iudoc' (Latinized as 'Judocus'), where the name meant 'lord'.

'Joyce' changed from the Old French/Latin names 'Josse'/'Judocus' (derived from Breton 'Iudoc') and entered Middle English as forms like 'Joice'/'Joyce', eventually becoming the modern English name 'Joyce'.

Initially it was a male personal name meaning 'lord'; over time it became an English surname and later more commonly a female given name; it is also associated with the writer James Joyce.