This old names first known recorded spellings, as Amber, was that of Margaret Amber who married Richard Wood, on 26 July 1540, at Halifax in Yorkshire. Agnes Amber married William Watherherd on 7 April 1594 at Thorne also in Yorkshire. Henry, the son of Walter Amber was christened at St. Mary Woolnoth, in London on 21 December 1606
The word Amber most probably is derived originally from the ancient word for 'river'- the latin word 'imber' and ancient Sanskrit word 'ambhas' meaning 'water', or often 'the water'.
In 1190 the River Amber in Derbyshire was recorded as the 'Ambre' and this word can be found in many other places meaning 'river', sometimes spelled 'Embre' but very often 'Amber'.
Locally,in Sussex, we have Amberley ['ley'= old english for 'wood'] and Ambersham ['ham'= old English for 'homestead or village'] which although credited to the Old English personal name of "Embre" or either 'Aembre' or 'Ambrones' does seem unlikely as there are a number of 'Ambershams' throughout the country.
The surname may owe its origins to arguably either placenames or old personal names. Personal names could have indicated an involvement with a river, either by trade or proximity.
 

Margo Alley is from Biddeford, Maine, USA and is researching the 'Amber' side of her family history. Her interest began with the discovery of a 'small piece of paper' left by her Grandmother.
" I began this research in 1994 when my grandmother Gertrude [Amber] Alley b. 1900 [she would be a great grandaughter to Miles] passed on and left a tiny scratch of paper with half a dozen names on it. I was so curious to find out who the people listed were and of course I found they were her relatives from long before I was born."
 

Her interest in our website was sparked by the above photo she found listed in the headstones index. This gravestone marker to Thomas Amber who died in 1781 & Sarah Dyer is in the grounds of Midhurst Parish Church and is a direct descendant to her.