The surname Ambra has an anthroponymic origin of matronymic character, linked to the feminine name Ambra. According to E. De Felice, this name was formed in the Late Middle Ages from the term ambra (from the Arabic ‘anbar), in allusion to amber, a material prized for its beauty, its value and its fragrance. In this sense, the surname would have arisen from a woman's name, following a practice common in the formation of medieval surnames.

As for its diffusion, E. De Felice notes that the surname is present mainly in southern Italy, especially in the Neapolitan area.

For his part, E. Rossoni proposes a complementary interpretation, suggesting that the name could derive from the Greek Ambar ("light") or directly from the Arabic term anbar, meaning "luminous". This reading reinforces the positive symbolic value of the name, associated with light, beauty and purity.

V. Blunda agrees on the Arabic origin of this surname: it derives from the etymon anbar, meaning "ambergris", an aromatic substance highly valued in medieval Mediterranean trade, probably a nickname linked to its trade or to personal qualities.