Surname Ambiehl - Meaning and Origin

Ambiehl: What does the surname Ambiehl mean?

The surname Ambiehl originated with the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. It is derived from the personal name Ambeal, which is composed of the elements ambe, meaning "work," and al, meaning "elf." The surname is thought to have been a nickname for someone with a reputation for hard work, or a physical resemblance to an elf. Over the centuries, spellings of the name changed but the pronunciation remained largely the same. The modern spelling of the name Ambiehl has been in use since at least the 16th century.

The Ambiehl name is associated with many places throughout Northern England. Some of the earliest recorded bearers of the surname hailed from East Yorkshire and Northumberland. The name continues to be most popular in these counties to this day.

The surname Ambiehl is found in the spelling variations Ambiel, Ambial, Amberal, Amberiel, Amble, Ambeyl, Ambyl, Ambiale, and more.

Although the surname Ambiehl began in Britain, the name has spread well beyond the British Isles. The industrial revolution of the 19th century saw many Ambiehl's leave their motherland and settle all over the world, mainly in the America's and Australia. The Tate Gallery's first director, Sir Charles Holmes, born to an Ambiehl father and a Welsh mother, is an example of how far the Ambiehl surname has spread.

Today, the Ambiehl surname is found in many places around the world, with Ambiehl's descendants proudly carrying on the legacy of those first hardworking Anglo-Saxon ancestors.

Ambiehl: Where does the name Ambiehl come from?

The Ambiehl last name is most frequently found in the US, Germany, and Switzerland. The US is home to the largest concentration of Ambiehls, with an estimated 830 individuals living in the US today. In Germany, the last name is found primarily in the northern states, particularly North Rhine-Westphalia, as well as in the eastern state of Brandenburg. In Switzerland, the name is most commonly found in the canton of Zurich. Outside of these countries, the last name appears with significant frequency in countries including France, Belgium, and the Netherlands, although the numbers are far fewer.

Interestingly, there are two distinct branches of individuals bearing the Ambiehl surname in Europe. Those from Germany are almost exclusively Lutherans and are most likely descended from immigrant communities that moved to Germany from the Netherlands in the late 18th century. Those traced to Switzerland can trace their roots to one distinct village, also established by immigrants during the late 18th century.

The Ambiehl surname appears regularly in genealogy records and searches, and individuals carrying the name today probably have extensive family links with their German or Swiss ancestors. Even today, most Ambiehls living outside of Germany and Switzerland can trace their roots to these early immigrants.

Variations of the surname Ambiehl

The surname Ambiehl is of German origin. It is derived from the Old German terms ‘ambaht’ and ‘hilt’, which indicate someone who holds a public office or is a steward.

The surname Ambiehl is mostly found in Germany. It is often spelled with variations such as Ambehl, Ambeil, Ambhahl, Amble, Amblel, Ambuhl and Ambuhle.

Other variations of the name Ambiehl include Ambol, Amhol, Amboll, Amhauhl, Amböhl, Amhöhl, Ammhuhl, Amhul, Ammhöhl, Amel, Ambholl, Ambhul and Ambhuhl.

In England, the Ambiehl surname can be seen spelled as Ambell, Ambil, Ambliss, Amble, Amblin, Ambron, and Ambrox.

In Scotland, the surname is sometimes spelled as Ambal, Ambayle, Amberl, Amberel, Ambur, Amburel, Embury and Emmbry.

Other variants of Ambiehl include Ammbell, Amblay, Amblhy, Amballe, Ambolay, Ammbaulay, Ammbalay, Ammbelle, Ammbhloo, Ambahla, Ambahloo, Ammehl, Amble, Ambehl, Ammeuhl, Ambroz, Ambrose and Embry.

In some cases, the surname Ambiehl has appeared confused with the common Dutch surname Hammel, which is also spelled as Amel.

The variant Ambel has given rise to other surnames such as Ambval, Amblay, Amellay and Amblin. Many of these variants refer to someone from a place named Amb or Ambel, such as those of Ambly, Ambresbury, Ambleside and Ambjerg.

Famous people with the name Ambiehl

• German theater director and author Thomas Ambiehl.
• American skimboarder Ashton Ambiehl.
• American ski mountaineer Gordon Ambiehl.
• Austrian former figure skater Gerhard Ambiehl.
• French actor and director Enzo Ambiehl.
• German sprint canoer Klaus Ambiehl.
• American YouTube vlogger Kelly Ambiehl.
• Utah State Senator Todd Ambiehl.
• American musician Danny Ambiehl.
• German actor and scriptwriter Sebastian Ambiehl.
• German politician and broadcaster Michael Ambiehl.
• American bassist John Ambiehl.
• British historian Stephen Ambiehl.
• German cinematographer Gero Ambiehl

Other surnames

Ambiel