Find out how popular the last name Ambe is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Ambe.

Ambe, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Ambe surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ambe in America

Ambe is the 113155th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ambe surname appeared 155 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Ambe.

The history of the last name Ambe

The surname Ambe has its origins in India, specifically in the western state of Maharashtra. It is believed to have emerged during the medieval period, around the 12th or 13th century. The name is derived from the Marathi word 'Ambā,' which means 'mother goddess' or 'female deity.'

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Ambe can be found in the Bakhars, which are historical chronicles documenting the lives of saints and rulers in the Marathi region. These manuscripts, dating back to the 15th and 16th centuries, mention individuals bearing the surname Ambe.

The Ambe surname was particularly prevalent among the Brahmin communities of Maharashtra, who were known for their devotion to the Mother Goddess, also revered as Ambabai or Amba Devi. It is speculated that some families adopted the surname as a mark of their reverence for the goddess.

During the 16th century, a renowned scholar and poet named Tukaram Ambe (1608-1650) gained prominence in the Varkari tradition of Maharashtra. His compositions, known as Abhangas, are widely revered and have significantly contributed to the Marathi literary canon.

Another notable figure bearing the Ambe surname was Sadashiv Ambe (1730-1810), a prominent Marathi poet and playwright from the Peshwa period. His works, such as the play 'Sita Swayamvar,' have left a lasting impact on Marathi literature.

In the 19th century, Mahadev Govind Ambe (1830-1895) was a distinguished scholar and social reformer who advocated for women's education and worked towards eradicating social evils like child marriage.

The Ambe surname has also been associated with various place names in Maharashtra, such as Ambegaon, Ambernath, and Amboli, which may have contributed to the surname's derivation or vice versa.

Over the centuries, the Ambe surname has been subject to slight variations in spelling, such as Aambe, Aambey, or Aambai, reflecting regional linguistic differences. However, the core meaning and significance of the name remain rooted in the reverence for the Mother Goddess and the cultural traditions of Maharashtra.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ambe

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Ambe.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Ambe was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Ambe was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Ambe, please contact us.

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