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Show ContentsEnnis History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
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Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

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The name Ennis is derived from the Gaelic "hAonghuis," a variant of "hAonghusa," which became O'Hennessy. Thus bearers of this name come from the same stock as the O'Hennesy Septs of Moyfenrath barony in Meath, and Philipstown barony in County Offaly. These Gaelic names mean 'the son of Angus,' and this distinguished Irish sept traces its origin back to King Laeghaire Lorc who reigned in 593 A.D.

Early Origins of the Ennis family

The surname Ennis was first found in County Kildare and the adjoining areas in Meath and Offaly, where bearers of the name have been found since the 16th century, when Irish names were being Anglicized.

"Ennis was formerly O'Hennis, which is Ó hAonghuis in Irish. In both those areas we find Ennis, then written Enos, Ennous (to mention only two of the many variants) very frequently in sixteenth century records." 1

Early History of the Ennis family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ennis research. Another 224 words (16 lines of text) covering the years 1550, 1642, 1646, 1650, 1659 and 1685 are included under the topic Early Ennis History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ennis Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Ennis, Enos, O'Hennis, Hennis, Ennos, Ennes and many more.

Early Notables of the Ennis family

Notable amongst the family name at this time was

  • John Ennis, a lt. colonel in the Irish army of the Catholic James II of England (1685-88)

Ennis Ranking

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

United States Ennis migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

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.)

Canada 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

Australia 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 “Countess of Harcourt“ 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.)

New Zealand 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.)
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

Suggested Readings for the name Ennis +

  • The Name's the Same: The Ennis Family Genealogy by Ellie Mayer.
  • The Root Family of Bolivar, New York: A History of the Descendants of Abel Root, Sr., Who Settled Bolivar in Allegany County, New York: Related Families, Cook, Ennis, Holland, Hulbert, Johnson, Nichols, Nulsen, Richardson, Weatherell, Withey by William Paquette.
  1. MacLysaght, Edward, Supplement to Irish Families. Baltimore: Genealogical Book Company, 1964. Print.
  2. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  3. 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)
  4. 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)
  5. 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)
  6. 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)
  7. Convict Records of Australia. Retrieved 19th April 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/countess-of-harcourt
  8. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 19th April 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/countess-of-harcourt
  9. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 15th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/blenheim
  10. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 13th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/blackfriar
  11. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_australia_victoria.pdf
  12. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  13. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  14. Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2012, February 29) Riley Ennis. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Ennis/Riley_Finley/USA.html
  15. 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
  16. 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
  17. Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 10) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/
  18. Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html
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