NameCensus.

UK surname

Joice

A variant spelling of the surname Joyce, perhaps originating as a nickname for one with a cheerful disposition.

In the 1881 census there were 604 people recorded with the Joice surname, ranking it #5,801 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 212, ranked #18,843, down from #5,801 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, London parishes and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Breckland, Newcastle upon Tyne and North Norfolk.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Joice is 800 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 64.9%.

1881 census count

604

Ranked #5,801

Modern count

212

2016, ranked #18,843

Peak year

1851

800 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Joice had 604 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,801 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 212 in 2016, ranked #18,843.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 800 in 1851.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Joice surname distribution map

The map shows where the Joice surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Joice surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Joice over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 800 #3,344
1861 historical 742 #3,675
1881 historical 604 #5,801
1891 historical 402 #8,842
1901 historical 352 #10,394
1911 historical 229 #13,712
1997 modern 201 #17,564
1998 modern 206 #17,796
1999 modern 200 #18,237
2000 modern 190 #18,806
2001 modern 186 #18,773
2002 modern 191 #18,817
2003 modern 186 #18,928
2004 modern 194 #18,566
2005 modern 186 #18,985
2006 modern 185 #19,204
2007 modern 191 #19,031
2008 modern 193 #19,077
2009 modern 200 #19,028
2010 modern 202 #19,322
2011 modern 216 #18,321
2012 modern 206 #18,837
2013 modern 214 #18,671
2014 modern 211 #19,002
2015 modern 221 #18,289
2016 modern 212 #18,843

Geography

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Where Joices are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, London parishes, Gateshead, Auckland St Andrew and St Pancras. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Breckland, Newcastle upon Tyne, North Norfolk and Northumberland. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 London parishes London 1
3 Gateshead Durham
4 Auckland St Andrew Durham
5 St Pancras London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Breckland 002 Breckland
2 Newcastle upon Tyne 011 Newcastle upon Tyne
3 North Norfolk 009 North Norfolk
4 Northumberland 017 Northumberland
5 Newcastle upon Tyne 015 Newcastle upon Tyne

Forenames

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First names often paired with Joice

These lists show first names that appear often with the Joice surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Joice

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Joice, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Joice surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Joice household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Joice is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Joice is most concentrated in decile 8 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Joice falls in decile 5 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Joice is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Joice, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Joice

The surname JOICE has its origins in England, derived from the Old French name "Joise" or "Joice," which was a diminutive form of the name Joseph. This surname emerged in the 12th century and was initially concentrated in the counties of Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the JOICE surname can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Nottinghamshire in 1198, where a Roger Joice is mentioned. Additionally, the surname appears in the Hundred Rolls of Lincolnshire in 1273, referencing a John Joys.

The JOICE surname is closely linked to several place names in England, such as Joyce's Green in Buckinghamshire and Joyce's Bank in Herefordshire. These place names are believed to be derived from the JOICE surname, indicating the presence of families bearing this name in those regions.

Notable individuals with the JOICE surname throughout history include John Joice (c. 1495-1555), a member of the English Parliament during the reign of Queen Mary I. Another prominent figure was William Joice (1614-1678), a Puritan minister and author from New England.

In the literary world, James Joice (1816-1888) was an Irish-born Australian writer and journalist who published several books and newspaper articles in the 19th century. Thomas Joice (1842-1923) was a British architect responsible for designing notable buildings in London and other parts of England.

Furthermore, the JOICE surname has been associated with notable figures in the military, such as Major General John Joice (1876-1964), a British Army officer who served in World War I and World War II. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order and the Military Cross for his distinguished service.

While the JOICE surname may have evolved and spread to different parts of the world, its origins can be traced back to the medieval period in England, where it emerged as a diminutive form of the name Joseph and became closely tied to various place names and historical figures.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Joice families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Joice surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Durham leads with 181 Joices recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.31x.

County Total Index
Durham 181 10.31x
Lancashire 50 0.71x
Middlesex 48 0.81x
Norfolk 43 4.74x
Northumberland 33 3.76x
Lanarkshire 23 1.21x
Staffordshire 23 1.15x
Yorkshire 23 0.39x
Surrey 18 0.63x
Northamptonshire 13 2.34x
Essex 12 1.03x
Derbyshire 11 1.19x
Lincolnshire 10 1.06x
Devon 9 0.73x
Leicestershire 9 1.38x
Warwickshire 9 0.60x
Hampshire 8 0.66x
West Lothian 8 9.00x
Midlothian 7 0.89x
Dorset 6 1.55x
Flintshire 5 3.15x
Renfrewshire 5 1.09x
Sussex 5 0.50x
Ayrshire 4 0.91x
Gloucestershire 4 0.35x
Huntingdonshire 4 3.41x
Kent 4 0.20x
Berkshire 3 0.68x
Cheshire 3 0.23x
Dunbartonshire 3 1.89x
Perthshire 3 1.13x
Worcestershire 3 0.39x
Hertfordshire 2 0.49x
Isle of Man 2 1.83x
Oxfordshire 2 0.55x
Rutland 2 4.62x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.42x
Cornwall 1 0.15x
Glamorgan 1 0.10x
Inverness-shire 1 0.57x
Ross-shire 1 0.62x
Somerset 1 0.11x
Suffolk 1 0.14x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hedworth Monkton Jarrow in Durham leads with 54 Joices recorded in 1881 and an index of 71.02x.

Place Total Index
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 54 71.02x
Govan 17 3.60x
Manchester 12 3.81x
Middridge 11 632.18x
Northampton Priory St 11 33.02x
St Pancras London 11 2.32x
Bishop Auckland 10 42.46x
Ringstead 10 1075.27x
Shadforth 10 293.26x
Benfieldside 9 77.92x
Liverpool 9 2.12x
Shildon 9 63.78x
Winlaton 9 53.44x
Bishopwearmouth 8 5.31x
Haswell 8 63.59x
Leeds 8 2.42x
Barton Upon Irwell 7 13.28x
Bawdeswell 7 777.78x
East Dereham 7 61.08x
Gateshead 7 5.33x
Glossop Dale 7 16.18x
Uphall 7 71.65x
Willenhall 7 18.76x
Birkdale 6 33.86x
Elswick 6 8.56x
Guist 6 759.49x
Hammersmith London 6 4.13x
Newton 6 225.56x
Okeford Fitzpaine 6 483.87x
South Shields 6 38.36x
Wednesbury 6 12.05x
Witton Gilbert 6 86.58x
Aston 5 1.22x
Blaby 5 190.11x
Croydon 5 3.13x
Easington 5 196.08x
Eggesford 5 1351.35x
Flint 5 55.49x
Ruskington 5 207.47x
Shoreditch London 5 1.95x
St George In East London 5 9.01x
Tweedmouth 5 45.66x
Twyford 5 4166.67x
Walsall Borough 5 32.34x
Widdrington 5 238.10x
Abbey 4 5.73x
Barton Stacey 4 357.14x
Bristol St Augustine 4 21.41x
Crook Billy Row 4 17.79x
Glasgow 4 1.18x
Great Baddow 4 96.62x
Hampstead London 4 4.35x
Heworth 4 11.56x
Kilmarnock 4 7.61x
Leicester St Margaret 4 2.51x
Pulham St Mary Virgin 4 240.96x
Putney 4 14.87x
Westoe 4 4.02x
Barton Under Needwood 3 82.87x
Birmingham 3 0.60x
Boroughbridge 3 153.06x
Dawdon 3 13.90x
Dumbarton 3 13.59x
Eccleston In Prescot 3 8.53x
Elvet 3 23.68x
Hackney London 3 0.91x
Islington London 3 0.52x
Lambeth 3 0.58x
Sawtry St Judith 3 697.67x
Wallsend 3 10.77x
Welford 3 157.89x
Barony 2 0.41x
Brightside Bierlow 2 1.74x
Fulham London 2 2.34x
Hanwell 2 19.12x
Hound 2 24.36x
North Shields 2 11.42x
Shenfield 2 66.23x
Sunderland 2 6.45x
Wembworthy 2 229.89x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Joice surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 55
Elizabeth 17
Margaret 15
Ann 13
Sarah 13
Catherine 11
Annie 10
Bridget 10
Alice 8
Eliza 7
Ellen 7
Hannah 6
Jane 6
Anne 4
Emma 4
Fanny 4
Kate 4
Betsy 3
Caroline 3
Edith 3
Frances 3
Maria 3
Agnes 2
Christina 2
Esther 2
Florence 2
Henrietta 2
Julia 2
Marg. 2
Margret 2
Rosina 2
Susan 2
Barbra 1
Catrine 1
Charlotte 1
Elizth. 1
Ellenor 1
Emily 1
Ethel 1
Evelyn 1
Janie 1
Jemima 1
Jesse 1
Jessie 1
Jeulay 1
Katharine 1
Kathleen 1
Lizzie 1
Louisa 1
Winny 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Joice surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
John 40
Thomas 33
William 28
James 19
Patrick 19
George 15
Henry 13
Michael 11
Edward 8
Charles 7
Martin 7
Joseph 6
Alfred 5
Frank 5
Wm. 5
Walter 4
Edwin 3
Frederick 3
Richard 3
Robert 3
Stephen 3
Arthur 2
David 2
Herbert 2
Matthew 2
Michl. 2
Mick 2
Smart 2
Bertram 1
Charlie 1
Eli 1
Elijah 1
Festy 1
Fred 1
Freddy 1
Fredrick 1
Harold 1
Jas. 1
Jno. 1
Jonathan 1
Jothan 1
Laurence 1
Levi 1
Mary 1
Michial 1
Nichol 1
Owen 1
Pat 1
Peter 1
Raymond 1

FAQ

Joice surname: questions and answers

How common was the Joice surname in 1881?

In 1881, 604 people were recorded with the Joice surname. That placed it at #5,801 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Joice surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 212 in 2016. That gives Joice a modern rank of #18,843.

What does the Joice surname mean?

A variant spelling of the surname Joyce, perhaps originating as a nickname for one with a cheerful disposition.

What does the Joice map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Joice bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.