Surname Ensor - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'E'
Ensor: What does the surname Ensor mean?
The last name Ensor is believed to have originally come from England. The name is derived from the Old English personal name ‘Ænsare’, a combination of two elements; the Old English ‘æn’ which roughly translates to 'one' and the Old Norse ‘sær’ which translates to ‘sea’, making 'Ensor' a translation of 'one by the sea'. It is most likely that the original form of the name was used to denote someone who lived near the sea.
The name Ensor first appeared in print in the late 1400s. It is believed that descendants of the original family carrying the name migrated to other countries over the centuries and the name has become widespread. In the United States, the name began appearing predominantly in the 19th century with a vast number of Ensors arriving in America from England, Ireland and Scandinavia during the Great Migration period.
The name Ensor is also common in Belgium, where it was likely introduced by Dutch and French-speaking immigrants. It has also been found in Scotland, most likely also due to migration from other countries. Although the name is often used today as both a first and last name, the family name of Ensor is widely known throughout the English-speaking world.
Order DNA origin analysisEnsor: Where does the name Ensor come from?
The last name Ensor is most commonly associated with the United States today, as it is an Americanized spelling of the German family surname, Enders. The Enders family originally hailed from Bavaria. The earliest records of the family in the U.S. show them settling in Pennsylvania in the late 1700s.
Since then, residential records show the name Ensor has spread throughout the entire country. It is most notable in the Midwestern states such as Ohio, Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, and Nebraska, as well as states in the Northeast (Pennsylvania and New York). It is also relatively common in the South, particularly in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina.
The Ensor family is known to this day for their entrepreneurial spirit, as many have opened businesses or been involved with governmental or private organizations. Some ENSORS have also been involved in education, such as founding colleges and universities.
Overall, the last name Ensor is widely recognized throughout the United States, though it may still be most common in Midwestern and Northeastern states. The Ensor family has left its mark on American history and culture.
Variations of the surname Ensor
The surname Ensor is derived from the Anglo-Saxon personal name Anselm. Variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin include Ansell, Ansells, Ansellson, Ansel, Ansellson, Anselleson, Anseson, Anselles, Anslie, Ansleigh, Anzerl, Anserl and Anselme.
Anselm and its variants likely originate from the Germanic elements "ans", meaning "god" and "helm", meaning "helmet" or "protection". Consequently, the name likely meant "Godly protection." Anselm was popularized by St. Anselm, an 11th century archbishop of Canterbury.
Furthermore, in the Middle Ages, when most people were illiterate, surnames were often created from a father's first name by adding either an 's' or an 'son'. As a result, Anselm and its variants gave rise to the surnames Ansells, Ansellson, Ansel, Ansellson, Anselleson, Anseson, Anselles, Anslie and Ansleigh.
Likewise, surname variants based on dialectical spelling created spellings such as Anzerl, Anserl and Anselme.
Overall, the surnames Ensor, Ansell, Ansells, Ansellson, Ansel, Ansellson, Anselleson, Anseson, Anselles, Anslie, Ansleigh, Anzerl, Anserl and Anselme are all derived from the Germanic personal name Anselm.
Famous people with the name Ensor
- James Ensor (1860-1949): was a Belgian painter and printmaker, fellow of Symbolism movement. He also served as a leading figure in the early days of the 20th-century avant-garde.
- Sarah Ensor (1893-1982): was an American artist and educator. She is best known for her children's books and is credited with furthering the influence of children's literature in the United States.
- John Ensor (1908-2004): a British electrical engineer and naturalist, he was an authority on the natural history, classification and habits of many kinds of animals, particularly molluscs.
- William Ensor (1925-1996): an American painter and lithographer, considered a major participant in the abstract expressionism art movement in the 1950s.
- Harry Ensor (1887-1965): an Australian entrepreneur and philanthropist, he founded the hardware company, Ensor Hardware in 1903.
- Lance Ensor (1902-1973): a British physician and consultant anaesthetist, he was credited as a pioneer in developing anaesthesia training and education.
- Jill Ensor (1954–2014): a British paediatrician and neonatologist, she was the director of the British Paediatric Association’s Paediatric Audit and Surveillance Unit.
- Richard Ensor (1953-present): a British businessman and philanthropist, he is the current Chairman of the House of Ensor. He began his career in the banking industry and later founded a venture capital firm.
- Hugo Ensor (1952-present): a British painter, he is best known for his vibrant abstracts and landscapes inspired by nature.
- Martin Ensor (1985-present): an American film director, he is best known for his contemporary horror films.