The Joyce Diaspora
Welcome to Tribe Joyce. Hopefully you have landed here because you have an interest in Joyce Family History. Please have a look around – most of the new content is contained on the Blog pages which contain references to Joyce’s that I have found on line and include obituaries, news articles and links to other Joyce related sites. Where the events described have a date it is that date that is displayed and thus contributes to the Joyce timeline. If you find articles please send me the link and I’ll make sure that it’s entered. All of the posts are searchable.
I am after contributions so please feel free to email information to me or post a request into one of the forums.
The progenitor of the Joyce’s of County Galway was Thomas de Jorse who sailed from Wales in the reign of Edward I, and arrived with his fleet at Thomond in Munster. There he married Onorah O’Brien, daughter of the chief of that district; and from there, put to sea, arriving in the western part of Connaught, where he acquired considerable tracts of territory. While on the voyage, his wife gave birth to a son, whom he named Mac Mara, son of the sea. This son extended his father’s acquisitions, and from him descended the sept of the Joyces, a race of men remarkable for their extraordinary stature, who, for centuries past inhabited the mountainous district, in Iar Connaught, called from them, Duthaidh Sheodhoigh, or Joyce country, now forming the barony of Ross, in the County of Galway.
This website will hopefully become a repository for the wider Joyce Tribe which has spread around the world. I want you to contribute by sending me biographies of your Joyces for upload onto the blog.
Related names are Joyes, Josse, Joy, and de Jorse.
Outstanding sight for sore eyes. Dating the events shown seems appropriate given confusion surrounding the founding by Joyces of Rosserk Abbey/Friary in Tyrawley in 1300s or 1400s. Presumably this ewas first settlement of Joyces before going to Ross and then Galway.
Laurie,
Your website helps revive my intent to find connections to my Joyce’s. Will send a GED com later today, I’m off to the local seniors residence to facilitate a student/seniors life writing project.
Debra
What a great idea Laurie, finally pulling together all the threads of this family tapestry so battered by time and tides. I might add to your introductory paragraph that in my experience many, many of the Joyces I’ve met over the years are teachers and writers. Even those of us without a university education are fascinated with books, it seems, almost as if it were somehow innate.
I would one day have said that the literary side reflects the Irish in us Sean but as my YDNA journey continues I am starting to learn that we also carry Welsh, Norman and Viking blood, all of which gives us the wanderlust to search for knowledge, to see what’s over the next hill, or across the next ocean. Thanks for leaving the comment and my apologies for not responding earlier. Please send me some information about your family so that I can add it to the site.
Laurie
Hoping that we can determine who & when various Joyces 1st arrived in US. From literature I’ve read, it appears Maryland Joyce Project website provides clue. If not mistaken this website suggests it was mid 1600s. This family tree is very extensive and may rival Galway Joyces of Merview family tree that was researched by Gordon St. George Mark in his 1992, 1994, 1995, and 1999 works published in the Irish Genealogist. Branch of this tree in Australia seemed extensive and possibly highlighted by Barney Joyce, OBE. Other branches in Europe and US.
Galway seems to be the key locale for many Joyces to find ancestry. I suspect that William Joyce and then Henry Joyce, Mayor of Galway, in 1500s are important to learn more about. Mark’s research into Merview Joyces starts with Marcus Joyce as founder of this branch in 1600s with no mention of his ancestry. Arthur Joyce’s reserach into his tree is most facinating with mention of Seprimus Joyce being from Galway then Englaand. The more trees the better so hopeful you will get more contributions to your wonderful work. Thanks for all that you have done!
Dennis Anthony Joyce
Laurie
Current issue of “The Irish Genealogist” has mention of only 2 Joyces. P. 240 Joyce in Basque, Spain 1733. P. 258 in 1857, James Joyce, farmer from Mullentine, Armagh. I’m reminded of Walter Joyce of Bordeaux, France who was a Merview Joyce. Not sure if he is Merview Joyce but Gill in Portugal has some 2,000 descendants there from a website dealing with Joyces.
Dennis Anthony Joyce
My Joyces were from Drumon/Drumin area County Down Ireland. ( Ballymacallan near Banbridge )
My gtgtgtgrandmother Isabella JOYCE and ?G ***** ARMSTRONG were the parents of gtgtrandad Valentine ARMSTRONG born ca 1810 and died aged 49 = 1859 August at Glasgow Scotland(TB) he appears on the Glasgow Scotland Census from 1841. Thankfully the Scottish records are pretty excellent ( similar to French ones for lots of info)Valentine Armstrong married Hannah MILLER in 1847 October 17th Glasgow, Scotland. 3 children Hannah died 1854 July of TB and the 2nd son John ARMSTRONG aged 2 also died. Baby William ARMSTRONG born Januaryish 1851 survived as did my gtgranny Isabella. My gtgrandmother Isabella Mary ARMSTRONG born 1848 died 1917 March Montreal PQ Canada. Married John MCDEVETTE aka MCDAID 1867 October 23 Glasgow Scotland. 11 Children. Isabella immigrated to Montreal Quebec Canada 1908.Widowed in Belfast N Ireland 1893 March 20. Valentine’s mother Isabella JOYCE was widowed and married 2ndly John HOUSTON of which there was atleast 1 child Elizabeth HOUSTON born ca 1826 and she married 1stly: John McLean 2ndly: a William Butler DUFF AT Glasgow Scotland abt 1856.
Widower Valantine ARMSTRONG married 2ndly a widow : Mary HEYLAND nee HIGHLAND in 1856 December Glasgow Scotland She was deceased at his 1859 Death. No children from that union.
My source of info comes from Birth/Marriage/Death Records/ Census Records
Hi Valentine – not sure if this link is related to yours or not http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,466893.0.html – Isabella Joyce and Graham Armstrong who may have been from County Down. The dates could match your family.
My name is Lakia and a collegue provided this website .It is extremely good timing.I am 38 years old and growing up.I was always asked what was aside from African American .I have a medium complexion with fine hair .My reply was always African American .My father name was Clifton Joyce and I know little about him .I am curious to know my family history to provide closure as this has been in my mind for months now.My father passed away 20 years ago in a car accident and my mom does not know his full family history.I hope I will be able to put the pieces of my puzzle of life finally together.
Thanks
Lakia
HI and welcome Lakia – one option for you would be to have your DNA tested, or if you have a brother get his done. In either case lodging the results with myFTDNA.com may assist in finding links directly with other Joyce’s. I mention that company because that is where I had mine done but you could alos use 23andme.com or Ancestry.com as well. The National Geographic Geno 2.0 test is arguably the most comprehensive and results from there can be uploaded free of charge to myFTDNA.com.
There are also researchers who can help trace families by using those DNA results.
And of course there are the traditional family history searches to do. Generally your father’s death and birth certificates will contain some information pointing to his families origins and naming his parents and from there you can start working your way backwards.
One thing I will say is that in my experience the more places you distribute your request the more chance you have of finding family.
Hi Laurie
I appreciate the information and will use the resoruces you provided to start this journey.I appreciate your prompt response on this matter .I had no idea which direction I should go and this is extremely helpful.I will keep you posted.
Happy Holidays to you and your family!
Alexander Joyce b 1720 was the father of Alexander Joyce b 1741, he was the father of James Joyce who was the father of Clinton Joyce who was the father of Alice Vianna Joyce who was my great grandmother. My sisters and I are researching the Joyce family line. James Joyce was born in Virginia, Clinton Joyce was born in Georgia, he moved his family to Texas and he died in Bell County in 1883.
Welcome Mary – not sure if you’ve looked at the blog pages of this website but I’m posting information as I find it according to a date in the associated information – eg if it’s an obituary it will be posted on the date of the death, if it’s an engagement or wedding notification it will be on that date. I welcome any information you may wish to contribute and I’ll post that in the hope that it will assist you in connecting with other people researching the same line.
Thanks for commenting
Laurie
HI laurie iam a Joyce from the Australian branch of the tree .My ancestors migrated from Streamstown Ireland to Queensland Australia in the late 1800 .Unfortunatley i am the last surving male in this line of the family out here ; my father just passed away on the 08/03/13 and i only had daughters .All the members of this family excell at sports .,My grandfather was a Austalian cycling champion ,played rugby till the age of 45 ,a more than capable heavy weight boxer.,my father played representative rugby league ,also a brilliant snooker and pool player, i my self played league ,baseball and australian football.would love to here from other Joyce family members
Hi Eddie and welcome to Tribejoyce. If you’ve had a look around you may have seen that I am encouraging Joyce’s to get their DNA tested in the hope that we can identify specific markers related to our family.
Do you know where your Joyces are from? I can trace mine to County Galway but we need many more people to test in order to determine whether or not we can really link ourselves back to those Welsh Norman origins that the history books say we originated from. If you’d like some more information feel free to ask and I’m happy to send some stuff through.
Cheers
Laurie
laurie@tribejoyce.com
Laurie my great, great grandfather who immigrated to Australia in 1876 was from Streamstown Galway Ireland he was born around1839 ,he also spent part of his life on the island Inishbofin of the coast of G alway .He was married twice his first wife Ellen joyce , unsure what happened but when he came out to Australia he married Bridget Mulkerrin who had accompanied him plus three of his younger sons from the previous marriage to australia .C ould you send the information on the Dna testing , thanks keep in touch
regards Ed Joyce
Hi Laurie and all, my Joyce forebear was a Matthew Joyce from Co. Cork, he moved to Aus in 1837 and married Margaret Reed, transported to Aus. in 1837, their son, John, married Abigail Havard in Sydney in 1874, their daughter, Sarah, married Charles Gentry in Sydney in 1902, their daughter, Ethel, was my grand-mother.
Hi Lance – apologies for the delay in getting this comment approved, feel free to send me through whatever information and detail that you have on your family and I’ll add it to the site.
Cheers
Laurie
My research indicates that Patrick Joyce (abt 1808) emigrated with his family to Kentucky abt 1856 and from Kentucky to the Allamakee County, Iowa, USA before 1860. looking for members of Joyce Clan. Thanks
I was recently looking up information to show my new fiance about my family when I came across this site. My grandfather is Ivan Joyce SR. I was grateful to find this as this is what they said about my grandpa the day of his funeral. I found out things I never knew of my grandpa that day and I’m very glad that I can look back at this site now in the future to show his grandchildren what a great man their great grandfather was as well as the unique family history I have now discovered we must be a part of. Thank you for adding this website for all of of Joyces to know where we come from and the greatness all of of remaining Joyces should try to live up to and continue on our great name and the history which comes with it. I try daily to make my family proud and this just makes me want to try even harder.
Thanks
Jesse Joyce
Hi Jesse
I am hoping that this will become a reference for Joyce families from everywhere. I would be grateful to receive any information you have and will publish it on the site with your permission.
Cheers
Laurie Joyce