Find out how popular the last name Amos is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Amos.

Amos, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Amos surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Amos in America

Amos is the 1517th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Amos surname appeared 23,621 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 8 people would have the surname Amos.

We can also compare 2010 data for Amos to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Amos

The surname Amos finds its origins in England, with roots tracing back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Hebrew personal name "Amos," which means "burden" or "burden-bearer." The name's earliest recorded instances can be found in medieval English records and documents, often associated with individuals of Jewish descent who lived in England during that time period.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the surname Amos dates back to the 13th century, when a certain William Amos was mentioned in the Hundred Rolls of Bedfordshire in 1273. These rolls were a census-like record of landowners and their holdings, providing valuable insights into the distribution and prevalence of surnames across England at the time.

The surname Amos also appears in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Returns of 1379, further cementing its presence in medieval England. This tax record contains entries for individuals named Johannes Amos and Robertus Amos, indicating that the name was in use across different regions of the country.

Throughout the centuries, the surname Amos has been associated with several notable individuals. One such figure was John Amos (1689-1760), an English naval officer and hydrographer who played a significant role in the mapping and surveying of coastal regions during his time in the Royal Navy. Another prominent individual was Sheldon Amos (1835-1886), a distinguished English lawyer and legal scholar who served as a professor of jurisprudence at University College London.

In the realm of literature, the surname Amos is associated with Tori Amos (born 1963), an American singer-songwriter and pianist known for her critically acclaimed albums and unique musical style. While not directly related to the English surname's origins, her stage name has contributed to the name's recognition in modern times.

Other notable individuals with the surname Amos include John Amos (born 1939), an American actor best known for his roles in TV shows like "Good Times" and "The West Wing," and Wally Amos (born 1936), an American entrepreneur and creator of the famous "Famous Amos" chocolate chip cookie brand.

Throughout its history, the surname Amos has undergone various spelling variations, such as Amos, Amoss, Amusse, and Amis, reflecting the fluidity of surname spellings in earlier periods. While its origins can be traced back to medieval England, the name has since spread globally, carried by individuals of diverse backgrounds and nationalities.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Amos

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Amos.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Amos was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Amos has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Amos was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Amos, please contact us.

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