Wakinyan Del Sol (House of Ennist)

The surname Ennist is a variant of the more common name Ennis. Its origins and history are primarily rooted in Ireland, with secondary origins in Cornwall and Scotland. Ennis History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Ennis

What does the name Ennis mean?

The Atlantic Ocean to the north and west and the English Channel to the south borders Cornwall, the homeland to the Ennis family name. Even though the usage of surnames was common during the Middle Ages, all English people were known only by a single name in early times. The manner in which hereditary surnames arose is interesting. Local surnames are derived from where the original bearer lived, was born, or held land. The Ennis family originally lived in Cornwall, at the village of Ennis. The place-name is Gaelic in origin, and derives from an Anglicization of the personal name Angus.

Early Origins of the Ennis family

The surname Ennis was first found in Cornwall where “the manors of Pettigrew and Nampitty, [in the parish of Gerrans] were the property of Francis Enys, Esq. in whose family they have been for a considerable time.” 1

“It is generally understood that Enys, [in the parish of St. Gluvias] which is now the seat of Francis Enys, Esq. has been in this family ever since the days of Edward I. ; for so high this family can be traced. In the Cornish play, brought into Oxford in 1450, and of which the manuscript is still preserved in the Bodleian Library, Enys and some other lands are given as a reward to the builder of the universe. Its situation is about two miles from Penryn, on the right hand side of the road leading to Truro. In the Magna Britannia for 1720, notice is taken of its celebrated gardens. They still preserve their beauty, and the grounds are enlivened with the diversified prospects which they command.” 1

Ennis Spelling Variations

Cornish surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. The frequent changes in surnames are due to the fact that the Old and Middle English languages lacked definite spelling rules. The official court languages, which were Latin and French, were also influential on the spelling of a surname. Since the spelling of surnames was rarely consistent in medieval times, and scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded rather than adhering to any specific spelling rules, it was common to find the same individual referred to with different spellings of their surname in the ancient chronicles. Moreover, a large number of foreign names were brought into England, which accelerated and accentuated the alterations to the spelling of various surnames. Lastly, spelling variations often resulted from the linguistic differences between the people of Cornwall and the rest of England. The Cornish spoke a unique Brythonic Celtic language which was first recorded in written documents during the 10th century. However, they became increasingly Anglicized, and Cornish became extinct as a spoken language in 1777, although it has been revived by Cornish patriots in the modern era. The name has been spelled Ennis, Ennys, Enys, Eynes and others.