Willard Ames was born about 1842, in Pennsylvania, United States as the son of Allen Ames. He lived in Pierpont, Pierpont Township, Ashtabula, Ohio, United States in 1850 and Michigan, United States in 1870. He died in 1870, at the age of 29.
English (of Norman origin): from the Old French personal name Amis or from the feminine form, Amice. The Old French word amis, is from Latin amicus ‘friend’, which was used in Late Latin as a term for a man of the lower classes, in particular a slave. There were also derivatives of this as personal names, in particular masculine Amicius and feminine Amicia. Both were in use as personal names in England and may have contributed to the surname.
German: perhaps a nickname for an active person, from an ancient Germanic word related to Old High German amazzig ‘busy’.
Dutch: possibly a patronymic from Ame a common personal name in Holland and Friesland, an abbreviated form of an ancient Germanic personal name, perhaps beginning with amel ‘strong’.
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