Surname Amoss - Meaning and Origin

Amoss: What does the surname Amoss mean?

The last name Amoss is of German origin and is thought to be a variant of the German surname Amose or Amoß. Its literal meaning dates back to the Middle Ages, when it was the name of a kind of stew or soup, derived from the French word "amourette" which translates to "little love".

The surname Amoss is thought to have originated in the Alemannic area in southern Germany and is an old-fashioned, noble surname. Historically, the Alemanni were a confederation of Germanic tribes with a unified tribal culture, whose main territory covered much of what is now southern Germany, France, Switzerland, and parts of Austria and Italy.

Historically, the Amoss surname was a hereditary title held by a specific family or a class of lords, and was originally a sign of nobility. The last name Amoss is typically found in the parts of Europe where Germanic tribes once settled or in countries of Germanic migration, most notably, the United States and other areas in the Americas.

Today, the Amoss surname is generally associated with people of Germanic origin. In modern day, there is no real usage of the surname Amoss, except as a signifier of German heritage. Its legacy is still seen through the generations of Germanic Americans who are descended from the original Amoss families.

Amoss: Where does the name Amoss come from?

The last name Amoss is most common in the United States today. According to the 2020 U.S. Census Bureau, it ranks 47,059th in frequency nationwide. The highest concentrations are in Texas, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland, and Virginia.

The Amoss surname is believed to be of French or German origin, with some sources suggesting it dates back to the Middle Ages. It is thought to have derived from the French word 'amasser', which means 'to gather'.

The oldest known reference to the surname can be found in the early 15th century, when a Thomas Amouse was recorded in the tax rolls of the exchequer in England. It is thought to have first appeared in the United States in the 1700s when an Abraham Amoss, originally from Germany, arrived in Pennsylvania. Throughout the 19th century, the Amoss family spread across the United States and today, the Amoss name can be found throughout the country in large numbers.

The Amoss family have been prominent in various American fields, including politics, business, film, sports, and the military. Robert Amoss, for instance, served as a Union army officer during the American Civil War, and married into the prominent Kennedy family. Prohibition-era gangster John Amoss became renowned for his illicit activities in the 1920s and 30s. Similarly, another Amoss family member, Connor Amoss, became the CEO of United Technologies.

In contemporary times, the Amoss surname remains common across the United States and is held by many modern-day members of the Amoss family.

Variations of the surname Amoss

The surname Amoss is of French origin. Variants and spellings of the name include Amo, Amos, Amoss, Amoz, Ammose, Anmoz, Anmois, Amose and Amonce.

The name may have derived from Old French Amans meaning “man of love” and from the Latin, Amatus meaning “beloved”. It is also said to be derived from a medieval personal name, Amo, Amatus, or from the Hebrew given name Amos meaning “borne by God”.

In America, the Amoss surname is most common in the states of North Carolina, Mississippi, and Louisiana; however, the name is present in other states as well. Outside of the United States, Amoss and its various spellings and variants may be found mainly in France and in other areas of Europe.

The name has many variant surnames, which include Amore, Amoros, Amoroso, Amorello, Amosso, Amosed, Ameso, and Amonweb. Other common variants of the name are: Anmoz, Amossy, Amosey and Amonce.

Other variations of the name in other languages may include: Amoz in French, Ammose in German, Amosse in Italian, Amoseck in Polish, Amoseiev in Russian, Amosova in Slovak, Amoseo in Spanish, and Amoosse in Swedish.

Famous people with the name Amoss

• Norie Amoss: American actress.
• Patrick Amoss: German businessman and entrepreneur.
• John Amoss: Grammy award-winning producer, engineer, and songwriter.
• Jack Amoss: American actress.
• Kiarra Amoss: Australian Olympic soccer player.
• AJ Amoss: American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer.
• Robert Amoss: American Civil War Medal of Honor recipient.
• Susan Amoss: Former 10-year Chief of Staff and Policy Advisor to two US Congressmen.
• Frank Amoss: American film director, producer and screenwriter.
• Josh Amoss: American comic book artist.
• Thorsten Amoss: German electronic musician and DJ.
• Marshall Amoss: American movie, television and stage actor.
• Gary Amoss: American boxer of the 1980s and 1990s.
• Michael Amoss: English professional cricketer.
• David Amoss: Hollywood multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and producer.
• Mark Amoss: American writer, producer and director.
• Chris Amoss: French DJ, producer and label owner.
• Kate Amoss: English fine artist.
• Marilyn Amoss: American retired tennis player.
• Robert Amoss: American ventriloquist and musician.

Other surnames

AmosAmoseAmosonAmosson