Annis
A surname usually derived from the medieval female name Agnes, though some bearers may instead come from local place-names or other related forms.
The #7,497 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 69,506 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Most historical surname dictionaries treat Annis as a medieval form of Agnes, a very common female given name in England. Agnes ultimately comes from Greek hagnē, meaning 'pure' or 'chaste,' carried into English through Latin and French. In surname use, Annis could therefore arise as a matronymic, meaning 'son or descendant of Agnes.'
History
Bardsley explicitly notes Annis as a popular English form of Agnes from the Middle Ages. Lower also lists it under female Christian names, supporting that explanation. Barbara-style surname dictionaries also connect related forms such as Anness and Annison with the same base name, though some similar spellings may be influenced by place-names in particular cases.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Because it comes from a woman’s given name, Annis is one of the surnames that may preserve a mother’s name rather than a father’s.
From the historical record
“Norraandie, 1825. ANNIS. See Female Christian Names. ANSELME. Anselm, a well-known per- sonal name. It is sometimes corrupted to Ancell and Ansell. ANSLOW. A township in co. StaflTord. ANSON. Such names as An-son, Nel- son, Bet-son, &c., have been regarded as a sort of mctron}Tiiics, and therefore consi- dered…”
— Patronymica Britannica: a dictionary of the family names of the United Kingdom