Dictionary of Family Names

AMOS, AMOSS.   A baptismal name meaning "the son of Amys."   Without doubt a variant, and one more instance of the great popularity of Amice.   The name of the Old Test. prophet was unknown in the 13th century.   There is not a single trace of its existence.   Amos, like Amias or Amyas, represents popular forms of the Norman-French Aimée, or Amys, now generally known as Amy; v. Ames.   I do not suppose there were any Amos's previous to the Reformation.   This variant has arisen since the Bible, in the vulgar tongue, became familiar to the people.   It is simply imitative.