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

Ambs, 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 Ambs surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ambs in America

Ambs is the 36788th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ambs surname appeared 607 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 Ambs.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ambs 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 Ambs

The surname Ambs is believed to have originated in the region of Lancashire, England, in the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "amb," which means "ankle" or "bank of a river." This suggests that the name may have been given to someone who lived near the bank of a river or stream.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Ambs can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Lancashire from the 12th century, where a person named Richard de Ambs is mentioned. The use of the prefix "de" in this instance indicates that the name was likely a locational surname, referring to a specific place or area.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in the Assize Rolls of Lancashire, where a certain William Ambs is recorded. This document provides evidence of the surname's continued use and presence in the region during that time period.

The Ambs surname can also be traced back to the village of Ambleside in the Lake District of Cumbria, England. The name of this village is derived from the Old Norse words "á" (river) and "melr" (sandbank), suggesting a connection between the surname and the geographical feature it references.

One notable individual with the surname Ambs was John Ambs, a English clergyman who lived in the 16th century and served as the rector of St. Oswald's Church in Grasmere, Cumbria, from 1581 until his death in 1611.

Another person of historical significance was William Ambs, a London-based merchant and trader who was active in the early 17th century. He is mentioned in several records related to the East India Company and the trade of spices and other goods from the East Indies.

In the 18th century, a man named Thomas Ambs gained recognition as a skilled clockmaker and watchmaker in the city of Liverpool. Several of his timepieces are still preserved in museum collections today.

The Ambs surname also has connections to the village of Ambergate in Derbyshire, England. One notable figure from this area was Sarah Ambs, a philanthropist and social reformer who lived in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. She was instrumental in establishing several schools and charitable organizations in the region.

Finally, it is worth mentioning Richard Ambs, a British soldier who served in the Napoleonic Wars and fought at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. He was awarded several medals for his bravery and service during these campaigns.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ambs

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

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

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

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