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

Ambrose, 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 Ambrose surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ambrose in America

Ambrose is the 2107th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ambrose surname appeared 17,178 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 6 people would have the surname Ambrose.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ambrose to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Ambrose

The surname Ambrose originated in France during the medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Latin name "Ambrosius," which means "immortal" or "divine." The name can be traced back to the 4th century saint, St. Ambrose, who was the Bishop of Milan.

The earliest known records of the name Ambrose as a surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a survey of landowners in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name was recorded as "Ambrose" and "Ambroys," indicating its French origins.

During the Middle Ages, the name Ambrose was particularly popular among the nobility and the clergy. One notable figure was Ambrose of Milan (339-397 AD), a renowned theologian and philosopher who played a significant role in the development of Christian doctrine.

In the 12th century, a prominent bearer of the name was Ambrose of Normandy (1068-1137), a Benedictine monk and historian who wrote the "History of the Norman Kings." His work provided valuable insights into the Norman conquest of England.

Another notable figure was Ambrose Dudley (1528-1590), an English nobleman and courtier who served as the Earl of Warwick during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. He played a pivotal role in the political and religious affairs of the time.

In the realm of literature, Ambrose Philips (1674-1749) was an English poet and playwright who was widely acclaimed for his pastoral poems. His works, such as "The Distressed Mother" and "Pastorals," influenced the literary landscape of the 18th century.

Finally, Ambrose Bierce (1842-1914), an American writer and satirist, is renowned for his contributions to literature. His work, "The Devil's Dictionary," a satirical lexicon of English language, remains a classic in the genre of dark humor.

Throughout history, the surname Ambrose has been associated with individuals from various walks of life, including religious leaders, nobles, writers, and intellectuals. Its enduring presence across different cultures and time periods reflects its rich heritage and historical significance.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ambrose

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

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 Ambrose 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.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Ambrose has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

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 Ambrose was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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