NameCensus.

UK surname

Amis

A French surname derived from the Old French word "ami" meaning friend or companion.

In the 1881 census there were 378 people recorded with the Amis surname, ranking it #8,288 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 537, ranked #9,475, down from #8,288 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Tynemouth (Chirton, Preston, Murton, Whitley, Monkseaton), Earsdon (Earsdon) and Potter Heigham. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Norfolk, Wirral and North Tyneside.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Amis is 574 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 42.1%.

1881 census count

378

Ranked #8,288

Modern count

537

2016, ranked #9,475

Peak year

1998

574 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Amis had 378 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,288 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 537 in 2016, ranked #9,475.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 529 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Amis surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Amis surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Amis 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 283 #7,996
1861 historical 240 #10,226
1881 historical 378 #8,288
1891 historical 347 #9,894
1901 historical 441 #8,830
1911 historical 529 #7,509
1997 modern 564 #8,501
1998 modern 574 #8,631
1999 modern 549 #8,996
2000 modern 558 #8,841
2001 modern 558 #8,709
2002 modern 559 #8,861
2003 modern 546 #8,884
2004 modern 528 #9,144
2005 modern 513 #9,276
2006 modern 508 #9,369
2007 modern 517 #9,331
2008 modern 501 #9,618
2009 modern 530 #9,432
2010 modern 534 #9,581
2011 modern 545 #9,345
2012 modern 521 #9,589
2013 modern 552 #9,308
2014 modern 556 #9,298
2015 modern 536 #9,517
2016 modern 537 #9,475

Geography

Back to top

Where Amis' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Tynemouth (Chirton, Preston, Murton, Whitley, Monkseaton), Earsdon (Earsdon), Potter Heigham and Hellesdon, St Mary in the Marsh, St Clement, St Martin at Oak, St Mary at Coslany, St Michael at Cos. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Norfolk, Wirral and North Tyneside. 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 London parishes London 3
2 Tynemouth (Chirton, Preston, Murton, Whitley, Monkseaton), Earsdon (Earsdon) Northumberland
3 Potter Heigham Norfolk
4 Hellesdon, St Mary in the Marsh, St Clement, St Martin at Oak, St Mary at Coslany, St Michael at Cos Norfolk
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Norfolk 014 North Norfolk
2 North Norfolk 006 North Norfolk
3 North Norfolk 003 North Norfolk
4 Wirral 024 Wirral
5 North Tyneside 013 North Tyneside

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Amis

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Amis

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Amis, 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 Amis surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Amis 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Amis is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Amis is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Amis falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Amis is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Amis

The surname Amis originated in France, with its earliest recorded instances dating back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Old French word "ami," meaning "friend," which itself comes from the Latin word "amicus."

During the Middle Ages, the name Amis was likely used as a nickname or descriptive surname for someone who was considered friendly or amiable. The first known bearer of this surname was Radulfus Amis, mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire in 1176.

Variations of the spelling, such as Amys and Amyes, can be found in historical records from various regions of France, including Normandy and Brittany. The surname was likely introduced to England after the Norman Conquest of 1066, as many French names became established in Britain during this period.

One notable early bearer of the name was Sir John Amys, a knight who fought in the Hundred Years' War and participated in the Battle of Agincourt in 1415. Another was William Amys, a merchant and mayor of Southampton in the late 15th century.

In the 16th century, the Amis surname appeared in the records of the English College of Arms, indicating its recognition as a coat of arms-bearing family. One such bearer was Thomas Amis, a gentleman from Lincolnshire who lived during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

The name Amis has been associated with various place names in England, such as Amis Farm in Gloucestershire and Amis Hill in Wiltshire, suggesting that some bearers of the surname may have derived their name from these locations.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the Amis name continued to be found in various parts of England, as well as in American colonial records. Notable bearers include Jacob Amis, who settled in Virginia in the late 17th century, and Moses Amis, a Quaker minister and early settler in North Carolina in the 1730s.

Other historical figures with the surname Amis include John Amis (1759-1846), an English dissenting minister and writer, and Thomas Amis (1699-1768), an English clergyman and author who served as rector of several parishes in Lincolnshire.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Amis families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Amis 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. Norfolk leads with 241 Amis' recorded in 1881 and an index of 42.62x.

County Total Index
Norfolk 241 42.62x
Middlesex 39 1.06x
Surrey 21 1.17x
Suffolk 19 4.24x
Kent 12 0.96x
Northumberland 8 1.46x
Hampshire 7 0.93x
Essex 6 0.83x
Warwickshire 6 0.65x
Herefordshire 5 3.32x
Cheshire 3 0.37x
Durham 3 0.27x
Northamptonshire 3 0.87x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.45x
Leicestershire 1 0.25x
Sussex 1 0.16x
Yorkshire 1 0.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Great Yarmouth in Norfolk leads with 58 Amis' recorded in 1881 and an index of 123.83x.

Place Total Index
Great Yarmouth 58 123.83x
Potter Heigham 34 6538.46x
Cromer 28 1393.03x
Heigham 13 42.83x
Hackney London 12 5.82x
Bradwell 10 1428.57x
Croydon 9 9.05x
Chirton 8 64.62x
St Pancras London 8 2.70x
Whitechapel London 8 22.07x
Ash Next Ridley 7 875.00x
Surlingham 7 1147.54x
Ventnor 7 97.63x
Waxham 7 3684.21x
Worstead 7 721.65x
Aldborough 6 1363.64x
Birmingham 6 1.94x
Camberwell 6 2.55x
Norwich St Clement 6 91.60x
Reedham 6 555.56x
Diss 5 103.09x
Hemsby 5 609.76x
Sutton 5 1041.67x
Winterton 5 505.05x
Belton 4 506.33x
Brilley 4 800.00x
Leyton 4 32.00x
Rotherhithe 4 8.80x
St George Hanover Square 4 6.17x
Sustead 4 2666.67x
Arthingworth 3 1304.35x
Birkenhead 3 4.64x
Buxton 3 428.57x
Filby 3 405.41x
Itteringham 3 731.71x
Lakenham 3 37.36x
Ormesby St Margaret W 3 211.27x
Ringsfield 3 833.33x
Stranton 3 8.15x
Deal 2 18.69x
East Dereham 2 28.01x
Finchley 2 14.18x
Great Ryburgh 2 229.89x
Lambeth 2 0.62x
Metton 2 1666.67x
Norwich St George Colegate 2 97.09x
South Ockendon 2 133.33x
Swanton Morley 2 229.89x
Attleborough 1 34.97x
Aylesbury 1 10.15x
Aylsham 1 29.67x
Bodham 1 263.16x
Burlingham St Andrew 1 454.55x
Campsea Ash 1 208.33x
Cawston 1 72.46x
Chelsea London 1 0.90x
Clippesby 1 666.67x
Deptford St Paul 1 1.03x
East Hoathly 1 92.59x
Erpingham 1 217.39x
Gorleston 1 8.79x
Hereford St John 1 58.14x
Islington London 1 0.28x
Kingstonupon Hull 1 34.25x
Little Barningham 1 384.62x
Marsham 1 142.86x
Milton In Gravesend 1 5.31x
Mundesley 1 212.77x
Newton St Faith 1 232.56x
Norwich St Helen 1 142.86x
Norwich St Peter 1 26.95x
Norwich St Peter Mancroft 1 35.21x
Norwich St Saviour 1 50.51x
Roughton 1 181.82x
St George In East London 1 2.89x
St Luke London 1 1.70x
Swanton Abbott 1 156.25x
Teddington London 1 12.00x
Wickhampton 1 526.32x
Woolwich 1 2.16x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 18
Elizabeth 14
Eliza 13
Sarah 11
Alice 9
Ann 8
Maria 7
Emily 6
Emma 6
Harriet 6
Jane 6
Martha 5
Anna 4
Charlotte 4
Edith 4
Frances 4
Clara 3
Ellen 3
Harriett 3
Laura 3
Louisa 3
Annie 2
Bessie 2
Fanny 2
Florence 2
Francis 2
Hannah 2
Nellie 2
Pamela 2
Susanna 2
Susannah 2
Betsey 1
Blanche 1
Blietha 1
Caroline 1
Catherine 1
Elizebeth 1
Elizth. 1
Eunice 1
Evelyn 1
Harriot 1
Helena 1
Katie 1
Li...acey 1
Lilian 1
Lizze 1
Lydia 1
Margaret 1
Marian 1
Winniford 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 18
Henry 17
James 16
John 15
Charles 14
Robert 12
George 11
Samuel 7
Alfred 6
Edward 6
Joseph 5
Arthur 4
Thomas 4
Abraham 3
Albert 3
Richard 3
Walter 3
Ernest 2
Frank 2
Frederic 2
Frederick 2
Fredrick 2
Harry 2
Henery 2
Jonas 2
Josiah 2
Benjamin 1
Boardman 1
Earnest 1
Ebenezer 1
Edgar 1
Fredric 1
Herbert 1
Horace 1
Isaac 1
Lambert 1
Lewis 1
Rubin 1
Thos.Mays 1

FAQ

Amis surname: questions and answers

How common was the Amis surname in 1881?

In 1881, 378 people were recorded with the Amis surname. That placed it at #8,288 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Amis surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 537 in 2016. That gives Amis a modern rank of #9,475.

What does the Amis surname mean?

A French surname derived from the Old French word "ami" meaning friend or companion.

What does the Amis map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Amis 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.