Ellis (English)
Where does "Ellis" come from?
The name Ellis has a dual origin, appearing as both an English surname and a Welsh name. In the English tradition, it evolved from the Middle English 'Elis,' which was a derivative of the Old French name 'Elias' or a variant of 'Elizabeth.' Meanwhile, the Welsh version derives from the archaic word 'elus,' meaning 'benevolent' or 'kind,' stemming from the personal name 'Elisedd.'
Full etymology tree
- Ellis (English), 'An English surname originating as a patronymic from Elis, the Middle English form of Elijah.'
- inherited Elis (Middle English)
- inherited Elias (Old French)
- inherited Elice (Middle English)
- inherited Elizabeth (English), 'A female given name from Hebrew, popular since the 16th century.'
- inherited Ἐλισάβετ (Elisábet) (Ancient Greek), 'Elizabeth (mother of John the Baptist)'
- inherited אלישבע (Elîšebaʿ) (Hebrew), 'a female given name, Elisheba or Elisheva'
- inherited Ἐλισάβετ (Elisábet) (Ancient Greek), 'Elizabeth (mother of John the Baptist)'
- inherited Elizabeth (English), 'A female given name from Hebrew, popular since the 16th century.'
- inherited Elisse (Welsh)
- derived elus (Welsh)
- inherited Elisedd (Welsh)
- derived elus (Welsh)
- inherited Elis (Middle English)
Updated June 2026
Etymology data from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · About Miraris