Ennis History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

Etymology of Ennis

What does the name Ennis mean?

The Atlantic Ocean to the north and west and the English Channel to the south borders Cornwall, the homeland to the Ennis family name. Even though the usage of surnames was common during the Middle Ages, all English people were known only by a single name in early times. The manner in which hereditary surnames arose is interesting. Local surnames are derived from where the original bearer lived, was born, or held land. The Ennis family originally lived in Cornwall, at the village of Ennis. The place-name is Gaelic in origin, and derives from an Anglicization of the personal name Angus.

Early Origins of the Ennis family

The surname Ennis was first found in Cornwall where "the manors of Pettigrew and Nampitty, [in the parish of Gerrans] were the property of Francis Enys, Esq. in whose family they have been for a considerable time." 1

"It is generally understood that Enys, [in the parish of St. Gluvias] which is now the seat of Francis Enys, Esq. has been in this family ever since the days of Edward I. ; for so high this family can be traced. In the Cornish play, brought into Oxford in 1450, and of which the manuscript is still preserved in the Bodleian Library, Enys and some other lands are given as a reward to the builder of the universe. Its situation is about two miles from Penryn, on the right hand side of the road leading to Truro. In the Magna Britannia for 1720, notice is taken of its celebrated gardens. They still preserve their beauty, and the grounds are enlivened with the diversified prospects which they command." 1

Early History of the Ennis family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ennis research. Another 186 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1312, 1611, 1620, 1651, 1660, 1697 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Ennis History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ennis Spelling Variations

Cornish surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. The frequent changes in surnames are due to the fact that the Old and Middle English languages lacked definite spelling rules. The official court languages, which were Latin and French, were also influential on the spelling of a surname. Since the spelling of surnames was rarely consistent in medieval times, and scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded rather than adhering to any specific spelling rules, it was common to find the same individual referred to with different spellings of their surname in the ancient chronicles. Moreover, a large number of foreign names were brought into England, which accelerated and accentuated the alterations to the spelling of various surnames. Lastly, spelling variations often resulted from the linguistic differences between the people of Cornwall and the rest of England. The Cornish spoke a unique Brythonic Celtic language which was first recorded in written documents during the 10th century. However, they became increasingly Anglicized, and Cornish became extinct as a spoken language in 1777, although it has been revived by Cornish patriots in the modern era. The name has been spelled Ennis, Ennys, Enys, Eynes and others.

Early Notables of the Ennis family

More information is included under the topic Early Ennis Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ennis Ranking

In the United States, the name Ennis is the 2,148^th most popular surname with an estimated 14,922 people with that name. 2 However, in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Ennis is ranked the 780^th most popular surname with an estimated 53 people with that name. 3

Migration of the Ennis family to Ireland

Some of the Ennis family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 81 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ennis migration to the United States +

Early North American immigration records have revealed a number of people bearing the name Ennis or a variant listed above:

Ennis Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

James Ennis, who made his home in Virginia in 1650
James Ennis, who arrived in Virginia in 1650 4
William Ennis, who landed in Maryland in 1650 4
Alexander Ennis, who arrived in Boston in 1651 as one of the Scotch prisoners deported by Cromwell
Alexander Ennis, who arrived in New England in 1651-1652 4
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Ennis Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

John Ennis, who landed in Boston, Massachusetts in 1716 4
Richard Ennis, another bonded passenger, who arrived in Maryland in 1723
George Ennis, who was a bonded passenger, arriving in America in 1766

Ennis Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Michael Lewis Ennis, aged 32, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1812 4
Mark Ennis, who arrived in New York, NY in 1815 4
George Ennis, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1816 4
Gregory Ennis, who landed in Boston, Massachusetts in 1816 4
Thomas Ennis, who arrived in New York, NY in 1817 4
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Ennis migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Ennis Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Nicholas Ennis, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1824
John Ennis, aged 30, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Bartley" in 1833
Miss. Catherine Ennis, aged 17 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "John Jardine" departing from the port of Liverpool, England but died on Grosse Isle in July 1847 5
Miss. Ellen Ennis who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Jane Avery" departing 9th May 1847 from Dublin, Ireland; the ship arrived on 25th June 1847 but she died on board 6
J M Ennis, who landed in Victoria, British Columbia in 1862

Ennis migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Ennis Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. James Ennis, (b. 1800), aged 27, Irish convict who was convicted in County Meath, Ireland for 7 years for felony, transported aboard the â€œCountess of Harcourtâ€œ on 14th February 1827, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1827 7
Mr. James Ennis, (b. 1800), aged 27, Irish convict who was convicted in County Meath, Ireland for 7 years for felony, transported aboard the "Countess of Harcourt" on 28th June 1827, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1827 aboard the ship 8
Mr. Matthew Ennis, (b. 1805), aged 34, Irish labourer who was convicted in Kildare, Ireland for life for highway robbery, transported aboard the "Blenheim" on 19th May 1839, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 9
Mrs. Margaret Ennis, Irish convict who was convicted in County Offaly (Kings County), Ireland for 7 years for receiving stolen goods, transported aboard the "Blackfriar" on 24th January 1851, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 10
Miss Elizabeth Ennis, (b. 1830), aged 22, Cornish domestic servant departing from Plymouth on 29th August 1852 aboard the ship "Bombay" arriving in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia on 14th December 1852 11
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Ennis migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Ennis Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Miss Margaret Ennis, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Katherine Stewart Forbes" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 9th March 1852 12
Mr. William Ennis, (b. 1847), aged 18, British labourer travelling from London aboard the ship 'Mermaid' arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 1st January 1866 12
Miss Catherine Ennis, (b. 1841), aged 24, British tailoress travelling from London aboard the ship 'Mermaid' arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 1st January 1866 12
Miss Annie Ennis, (b. 1856), aged 26, Scottish settler travelling from Scotland (possible Greenock) aboard the ship "Wellington" arriving in Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 8th March 1883, heading for Invercargill 13
Miss Bridget Ennis, (b. 1860), aged 22, Scottish settler travelling from Scotland (possible Greenock) aboard the ship "Wellington" arriving in Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 8th March 1883, heading for Invercargill 13

Contemporary Notables of the name Ennis (post 1700) +

Ethel Llewellyn Ennis (1932-2019), American jazz musician, known as the "First Lady of Jazz"
Major-General Riley Finley Ennis (1897-1963), American Deputy Commanding General 6th Army (1955-1957) 14
J. Howard Ennis, American politician, Member of Georgia State House of Representatives from Baldwin County, 1923-24
Mrs. J. H. Ennis, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Georgia, 1940
Howard T. Ennis, American politician, Representative from Delaware at-large, 1920
Howard Ennis, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Delaware, 1956
Edgar William Ennis Jr., American politician, U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia, 1988-93
David H. Ennis, American Republican politician, Member of Delaware State House of Representatives 6th District; Elected 1998
Clifford J. Ennis, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from New York, 1952; Chair of Orleans County Democratic Party, 1955
Charles W. Ennis, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from New Jersey, 1912, 1920; Chair of Morris County Republican Party, 1920-21
... (Another 14 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Ennis family +

Frank Rock Slide

Mr. Sam Ennis, Canadian resident of Frank, Alberta who survived the Frank Rock Slide on 29th April 1903 15
Mrs. Lucy Ennis, Canadian resident of Frank, Alberta who survived the Frank Rock Slide on 29th April 1903 15
Mr. Delbert Ennis, Canadian resident of Frank, Alberta who survived the Frank Rock Slide on 29th April 1903 15
Mr. James Ennis, Canadian resident of Frank, Alberta who survived the Frank Rock Slide on 29th April 1903 15
Mr. Arthur Ennis, Canadian resident of Frank, Alberta who survived the Frank Rock Slide on 29th April 1903 15
... (Another 2 entries are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Halifax Explosion

Miss Ethel Ennis (1901-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 16

RMS Lusitania

Mr. John Ennis, English Greaser from Liverpool, England, who worked aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking 17

RMS Titanic

Mr. Walter Ennis (d. 1912), aged 35, English Turkish Bath Attendant from Southport, Lancashire who worked aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 18

The Ennis Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Virtute et valore
Motto Translation: By virtue and valour.

Sources +

Hutchins, Fortescue, The History of Cornwall, from the Earliest Records and Traditions to the Present Time. London: William Penaluna, 1824. Print
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 27)
Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 74)
Convict Records of Australia. Retrieved 19th April 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/countess-of-harcourt
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 19th April 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/countess-of-harcourt
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 15th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/blenheim
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 13th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/blackfriar
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_australia_victoria.pdf
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2012, February 29) Riley Ennis. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Ennis/Riley_Finley/USA.html
Calgary Herald news article retrieved 11th August 2021. Retrieved from https://smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital/calgaryherald/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Calgary_Herald_Thu__Apr_30__1903_-copy-scaled.jpg
Halifax Explosion Book of Remembrance | Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. (Retrieved 2014, June 23) . Retrieved from https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion/halifax-explosion-book-remembrance
Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 10) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/
Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html