Ambler Family History

English (Yorkshire):: (of Norman origin): occupational name from Middle English amayler amelour (Old French esmailleur) ‘enameller’ with intrusive b to give a(u)mbelour.

Perhaps an occupational name from a shortened form of an unrecorded Middle English amblerer ‘dealer in amblers or saddle horses’. Nickname perhaps derived from Middle English ambler ‘walker steady-paced horse or mule’ (ultimately from Latin ambulare ‘to walk’) probably applied to someone with a steady easy-going temperament.

Possibly even a facetious nickname for a walker or fuller. The Middle English verb is also recorded from the 14th century onward in the sense ‘to ride an ambling horse’ so the surname might have denoted someone who rode such a horse.

Because of its gentle pace it was generally preferred by women.