Joly

Joly is a surname of French origin derived from the Old French adjective joli, meaning charming or pretty. It most likely began as a nickname for a person regarded as pleasant in appearance or demeanor and later became a hereditary family name.

Geographically, the name is most common in France and in Francophone regions, including Belgium, Switzerland, and Canada, especially Quebec, with dispersion to other parts of Europe and the Americas through migration.

Variants and related names include Jolie, Jolivet, and Jolicoeur, among others. While these names share a root in the same French word, they are distinct family lines with separate genealogies.

Several individuals bearing the surname Joly have been noted in public life across politics, science, the arts, and sports, reflecting the name's broad distribution. Historical records attest to its regular use in medieval and early modern France and in communities formed by French-speaking emigrants.