Ames

Ames is an English surname connected with medieval names such as Amice or Amys, ultimately associated with Latin amicus, meaning friend. It is an example of a family name that can preserve an older personal name, including feminine forms, rather than simply adding a common surname ending to a modern first name.

The spelling is also familiar from places such as Ames, Iowa, where it functions as a place name through a surname. As a first name it is usually one syllable, unlike the two-syllable biblical Amos. That distinction matters when comparing the two: their similar appearance does not give them the same origin. Ames offers a compact surname form with a friendship-related history.