Enos
A biblical surname from the Hebrew name Enosh, meaning “mortal” or “frail man.”
The #4,392 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 38,131 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Enos is a surname taken from the biblical personal name Enos, a form of Hebrew Enosh. In older etymological writers, it is glossed as meaning “fallen man,” “frail man,” or “mortal,” reflecting the traditional understanding of the Hebrew root. The surname is therefore a classic example of a name adopted from Scripture rather than from an occupation or place.
History
As a surname, Enos arose in English-speaking areas from use of the biblical given name, especially in communities where Old Testament names were popular. It is found in British records and later in the United States, though it has never been a very common surname. Related spellings and forms in historical records may include Eno and occasional variant spellings influenced by local pronunciation or clerical spelling.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
The same biblical root also gave English the older personal name Enos, long used in Puritan and other Bible-reading naming traditions.
From the historical record
“SETH, " Substituted by ;" ENOS, " Frail Man ;" CANAAN, ' ' Lamenting ; ' ' MAHALALEEL, " The blessed God ;" JARED, " Shall come down ;" ENOCH, "Teaching;" 6 ESSAY ON THE ORIGIN AND”
— An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names