NameCensus.

UK surname

Amber

An English habitational surname derived from a place name, originally denoting someone from Amber in Norfolk or Amber in Derbyshire.

In the 1881 census there were 92 people recorded with the Amber surname, ranking it #20,709 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 254, ranked #16,632, up from #20,709 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Powys, Neath Port Talbot and Thanet.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Amber is 254 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 176.1%.

1881 census count

92

Ranked #20,709

Modern count

254

2016, ranked #16,632

Peak year

2016

254 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Amber had 92 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #20,709 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 254 in 2016, ranked #16,632.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 99 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Amber surname distribution map

The map shows where the Amber surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Amber surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Amber over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 71 #20,875
1861 historical 99 #21,294
1881 historical 92 #20,709
1891 historical 86 #25,951
1901 historical 89 #24,154
1911 historical 85 #24,322
1997 modern 135 #22,499
1998 modern 140 #22,615
1999 modern 145 #22,305
2000 modern 145 #22,259
2001 modern 138 #22,647
2002 modern 143 #22,595
2003 modern 156 #21,115
2004 modern 157 #21,168
2005 modern 156 #21,221
2006 modern 163 #20,789
2007 modern 171 #20,387
2008 modern 181 #19,875
2009 modern 205 #18,722
2010 modern 215 #18,551
2011 modern 215 #18,379
2012 modern 236 #17,187
2013 modern 242 #17,158
2014 modern 250 #16,905
2015 modern 245 #17,040
2016 modern 254 #16,632

Geography

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Where Ambers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Powys, Neath Port Talbot, Thanet, Basildon and Camden. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Powys 021 Powys
2 Neath Port Talbot 020 Neath Port Talbot
3 Thanet 001 Thanet
4 Basildon 016 Basildon
5 Camden 027 Camden

Forenames

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First names often paired with Amber

These lists show first names that appear often with the Amber surname in historical and recent records.

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Amber

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Amber, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Established Multi-Ethnic Communities

Nationally, the Amber surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Amber household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Parents and young children in this Group are drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds in broadly similar proportions. Employment is typically in elementary occupations, though workers in professional, intermediate or skilled trades occupations are also present. The residential landscape is dominated by terraced housing, although semi-detached houses and flats are also present. This Group is found in London and in many provincial towns and cities throughout the U.K.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Amber is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Amber is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Amber falls in decile 2 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Amber is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
Other Ethnic Group

This describes the area pattern most associated with Amber, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Amber

The surname AMBER is believed to have originated in England, deriving from the Old English word "amar" or "ambar," meaning a yellowish-brown color. This color name likely referred to someone with a tanned or ruddy complexion or potentially someone who lived near an amber-colored river or stream.

The earliest recorded instances of the AMBER surname can be traced back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears in various spellings such as "Ambr," "Ambre," and "Aumbr." These entries are primarily found in the counties of Oxfordshire, Berkshire, and Gloucestershire, suggesting that the name may have originated in these regions.

In the 13th century, records show an "Alicia Aumbr" residing in Oxfordshire, while a "Roger Aumbr" is mentioned in the Hundred Rolls of Huntingdonshire in 1273. The surname's spelling continued to evolve over the centuries, with variations like "Aumbre," "Ambor," and eventually settling on the modern form of "AMBER."

Notable historical figures with the AMBER surname include Sir Anthony Amber (1594-1669), an English politician and Member of Parliament during the English Civil War era. Another prominent figure was John Amber (1688-1743), an English clergyman and author who wrote several religious works.

In Scotland, the AMBER surname can be traced back to the 16th century, with records showing a John Amber born in Aberdeenshire in 1567. Another Scotsman, James Amber (1776-1858), achieved recognition as a renowned architect and designed several notable buildings in Edinburgh.

Across the Atlantic, one of the earliest recorded instances of the AMBER surname in America was that of Robert Amber, who arrived in Virginia in 1635. Later, in the 18th century, Samuel Amber (1725-1803) was a prominent landowner and merchant in colonial Pennsylvania.

Other notable individuals with the AMBER surname include the English novelist and playwright Evelyn Amber (1882-1957), known for her works exploring social issues, and the American painter and sculptor Audrey Amber (1924-2011), whose works were exhibited in various galleries across the United States.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Amber families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Amber surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 21 Ambers recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.29x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 21 2.29x
Surrey 18 4.03x
Wiltshire 16 19.74x
Yorkshire 13 1.43x
Lancashire 5 0.46x
Essex 4 2.21x
Hampshire 4 2.13x
Herefordshire 3 7.98x
Kent 3 0.96x
Carmarthenshire 2 5.18x
Royal Navy 2 18.32x
Gloucestershire 1 0.56x
Lanarkshire 1 0.34x
Lincolnshire 1 0.68x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Newington in Surrey leads with 8 Ambers recorded in 1881 and an index of 23.63x.

Place Total Index
Newington 8 23.63x
Hillingdon 7 239.73x
St Pancras London 7 9.49x
Devizes St James 6 555.56x
Leeds 6 11.70x
Camberwell 5 8.54x
Croydon 4 16.13x
Eccleshill 4 1666.67x
North Newnton 4 3333.33x
Clayton 3 135.14x
Poplar London 3 17.34x
Portsea 3 8.15x
Ross 3 200.00x
Bettws 2 363.64x
Bingley 2 34.54x
Bishops Cannings 2 666.67x
Devizes St Mary 2 243.90x
East Ham 2 59.52x
Orpington 2 208.33x
St George Hanover Square 2 12.38x
West Lavington 2 512.82x
White Roothing 2 1538.46x
Bradford 1 4.55x
Clifton 1 11.00x
Everton 1 2.88x
Gillingham 1 15.50x
Govan Church 1 2500.00x
Great Grimsby 1 10.75x
Hampstead London 1 7.00x
Hunslet 1 7.06x
Islington London 1 1.13x
Mitcham 1 35.46x
Romsey Extra 1 89.29x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Amber surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 5
Edith 3
Eliza 3
Ellen 3
Sarah 3
Elizabeth 2
Emily 2
Emma 2
Martha 2
Agnes 1
Amy 1
Anna 1
Annie 1
Caroline 1
Flora 1
Florence 1
Florie 1
Frances 1
Grace 1
Lilly 1
Marsh 1
Matha 1
Matilda 1
Nina 1
Rebecca 1
Rosina 1
Ruth 1
Sophia 1
Souisa 1
Susan 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Amber surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
William 6
Charles 3
Frederick 3
George 3
James 3
Robert 2
Thomas 2
Alexander 1
Alfred 1
Arthur 1
Benjamin 1
David 1
Earnest 1
Frank 1
Henry 1
Herbert 1
Isaac 1
Jno. 1
John 1
Joseph 1
Lambert 1
Mombarat 1
Montague 1
Noah 1
Raymod 1
Samuel 1
Smuel 1
Wanvers 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Amber surname: questions and answers

How common was the Amber surname in 1881?

In 1881, 92 people were recorded with the Amber surname. That placed it at #20,709 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Amber surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 254 in 2016. That gives Amber a modern rank of #16,632.

What does the Amber surname mean?

An English habitational surname derived from a place name, originally denoting someone from Amber in Norfolk or Amber in Derbyshire.

What does the Amber map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Amber bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.