Noyes

Noyes is a surname of Welsh origin, derived from the Welsh word 'ynys' meaning 'island'. The 'N' prefix is a remnant of the definite article 'yn' or 'y' (the), which often became attached to place names in Welsh. Thus, 'Ynys' became 'Ynys' and later, through Anglicization, 'Noyes'. The name would have originally been given to someone who lived on or near an island.

Over time, this geographical surname became a given name, though it remains far more common as a surname. Its usage as a first name is quite rare and often reflects a family surname being passed down, or a desire for a distinctive, historical-sounding name.