This surname is a baptismal name ' the son of Amys ' which was derived from the Old French name Aimee. Most of the European surnames were formed in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. The process had started somewhat earlier and had continued in some places into the 19th century, but the norm is that in the tenth and eleventh centuries people did not have surnames, whereas by the fifteenth century most of the population had acquired a second name.The name was brought to England with the Norman Conqueror in 1066. Many of the early names recorded in medieval documents denote noble families but many also indicate migration from the continent during, and in the wake of, the Norman invasion of 1066. There was a constant stream of merchants, workmen and others arriving in England during this time. In 1086 the Record of Great Inquisition of lands of England, their extent, value, ownership and liabilities was made by order of William The Conquerer. It is known as the Domesday book. Early records of the name mention Richard Amias was documented in the year 1185 in Warwickshire and Willard de Amiens was recorded in 1193 in Yorkshire. William filius Amyes, 1273 County Lincolnshire. Amis de Selves of County Kent, was documented during the reign of Edward I (1272-1307). Roger de Amias appears in London in 1276. Later instances of the name include Gregory Amys, registered at Oxford University in the year of 1525. Baptised. Daniel, son of George Aymes, St. Michael, Cornhill, London in 1603. Between the 11th and 15th centuries it became customary for surnames to be assumed in Europe, but they were not commonplace in England or Scotland before the Norman Conquest of 1066. They are to be found in the Domesday Book of 1086. Those of gentler blood assumed surnames at this time, but it was not until the reign of Edward 11. (1327-1377) that it became common practice for all people.