UK surname
Amiss
An English surname derived from the Old English words meaning "out of place" or "improper".
In the 1881 census there were 199 people recorded with the Amiss surname, ranking it #12,880 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 179, ranked #21,086, down from #12,880 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to St George Tombland, St Peter Mountergate, St John Timberhill, All Saints, St Michael at Thorn, St Ju, London parishes and Hackford (by Reepham). In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Birmingham, Huntingdonshire and Breckland.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Amiss is 277 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 10.1%.
Historical parish links are strongest around St George Tombland, St Peter Mountergate, St John Timberhill, All Saints, St Michael at Thorn, St Ju, London parishes, Hackford (by Reepham), St Paul, St Saviour, St Edmund, St Simon and Jude, St Peter Hungate, St Michael at Plea, St Martin a and Lakenham , Eaton St Andrew, Town Close, St Stephen, St Peter Mancroft, St Giles, St Andrew, St John. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to Birmingham, Huntingdonshire, Breckland and Norwich. 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.
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.
The surname Amiss is of English origin and dates back to the late 16th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "amis," which means "astray" or "wrong." This name was likely given to someone who was perceived as behaving in an inappropriate or unacceptable manner.
The earliest recorded instance of the surname Amiss can be found in the parish records of Gloucestershire, England, in the year 1591. The name is also found in various other counties across England, including Yorkshire, Oxfordshire, and Wiltshire, during the 17th and 18th centuries.
One notable historical figure bearing the surname Amiss was John Amiss, a prominent English merchant and alderman of the city of Bristol in the late 16th century. He played a significant role in the city's trade and politics during that time.
Another individual of note was William Amiss, born in 1664 in Wiltshire, England. He was a renowned clockmaker and is credited with creating some of the finest clocks of the era, many of which are still in existence today.
In the 19th century, a prominent figure with the surname Amiss was Robert Amiss, born in 1826 in Oxfordshire. He was a well-respected educator and author, publishing several books on English grammar and literature.
The name Amiss also has connections to various place names in England, such as the village of Amiss Hill in Gloucestershire, which likely derived its name from the surname.
Throughout history, the surname Amiss has been spelled in various ways, including Amis, Amys, and Ammis, reflecting the variations in pronunciation and spelling practices of the time.
While the surname Amiss may not be as common as some other English surnames, it has a rich history and has been borne by notable individuals across various fields, from merchants and craftsmen to educators and authors.