Show ContentsEnos History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Enos 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 Enos family

The surname Enos 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 Enos family

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

Enos Spelling Variations

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

Early Notables of the Enos family

Notable amongst the family name at this time was

  • Reverend Walter Enos, ecclesiastic and author (1646)

Enos Ranking

In the United States, the name Enos is the 3,829th most popular surname with an estimated 7,461 people with that name. 2


United States Enos migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Enos Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • William Enos, who arrived in New Haven, Connecticut in 1639 3
  • Daniell Enos, who arrived at the American Plantation in Barbados in 1679
Enos Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • I Enos, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1851 3
  • Anna Enos, aged 35, who landed in New York, NY in 1876 3

Canada Enos migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Enos Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Griswold Enos, who arrived in Canada in 1841

Contemporary Notables of the name Enos (post 1700) +

  • William Berkeley Enos (1895-1976), birth name of Busby Berkeley, highly influential Hollywood movie director and musical choreographer
  • Roswell Enos, American politician, Member of New York State Assembly from Cayuga County, 1825
  • R. K. Enos, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Ohio, 1860
  • Lawrence Enos, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Arizona, 1972
  • Joseph C. Enos, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for Connecticut State House of Representatives from Stonington, 1940
  • Joseph Enos, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Massachusetts, 1956
  • Fred Enos, American politician, U.S. Collector of Customs, 1909
  • Diane Enos, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Arizona, 2008
  • Charles R. Enos, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Colorado, 1936; Member of Republican National Committee from Colorado, 1937-40
  • Benjamin Enos, American politician, Member of New York State Assembly from Madison County, 1834, 1839-40; New York State Treasurer, 1845-46; Appointed 1845
  • ... (Another 5 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

USS Arizona
  • Mr. James R. Enos, American Seaman Second Class working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he survived the sinking 4


Suggested Readings for the name Enos +

  • The Eno and Enos Family in America
  • Descendants of James Eno of Windsor, Conn. by Douglas C. Richardson.

  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. 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)
  4. Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html


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