A surname of Welsh origin, also referring to Ellis Island, the famous immigration station in New York Harbor. Can be used as a given name for either gender.
From Welsh 'Elisedd' meaning 'kindly' or 'benevolent,' or possibly from the Hebrew name Elijah via the Greek Elias. The surname became prominent through Ellis Island's role in American immigration.
Ellis Island processed over 12 million immigrants between 1892 and 1954, making it America's gateway to the world - the surname Ellis became synonymous with the American dream itself. Interestingly, many immigrants' names were never actually changed at Ellis Island, contrary to popular mythology!
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