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- Origin: English
- Usage: English & French
- Meaning: uncertain
- Gender: masculine
- Pronunciation: ENG uh-MYE-es; AME-ee-us; FR (AH-mee-AHS); FR Can (AH-mee-AH)
The name is of uncertain origin or meaning, but first appeared in use in 16th-century England, usually spelled Amyas. It is speculated to be a modern form of the Anglo-Norman male name, Amis, which is a masculine form of Amice (friend). Another theory links it to an Anglo-Norman surname meaning “from Amiens.”
In literature, Amyas appears as the name of a minor character in Edmund Spenser’s The Faerie Queen (1590). It also appears in Mark Twain’s A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court (1889), Charles Kingsley 1855 novel, Westward Ho! and in Agatha Christie’s Five Little Pigs (1942).
It was borne by Sir. Amyas Brampfylde (1560-1626), a British member of Parliament & English diplomat, Amias Paulet (1532-1588). In more recent times, it has been borne by British Air Marshal, Amyas Borton (1886-1969), New Zealand architecht, Amyas Connell (1901-1980) & is currently borne by Sir Amyas Morse (b. 1949), Comptroller and Auditor General of the National Audit Office.
Recently, Amias appeared in the U.S. Top 1000 Most Popular Male Names, coming in as the 819th most popular male name.
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