AMPER HISTORY
By Ton Amper on Wednesday, June 26, 2013 at 1:44pm
According to Google, Amper is a Jewish surname. During the dispersal of the jews, they spread all over Europe, mostly in Spain. Some were in Poland, Bulgaria, France and Germany. The Ampers that were in Spain, migrated to Argentina, and from there, to the USA. The Ampers that settled in France, were the ancestors of Andre Ampere, the French scientist and mathematician.
The Ampers that came to Indonesia during the Spice trade, were the Dutch or German jews, who were with the East India Company. And they waged war with the neighboring Kingdoms of Indonesia, to control the Spice trade and, sugar and tobacco and other products that brought high profits for the East India Company.
It was a German officer, named Amper, that led the attack on a town in Negros, or was it Iloilo, and then lost to the Spanish forces. His armada was badly decimated and he escaped for his dear life. I can only guess that, as a fugitive, he found his way to the small town of Quinale (old name of Anda, and a barrio of Guindulman), and was stranded there. He had no way of finding his way back to Sumatra, in Indonesia, mas labi na ngadto sa Germany. So, he started the Amper clan in Quinale, Guindulman, Bohol.
The meaning of the Jewish name Amper is not known.
In the Philippines, you will find the Ampers in Davao, especially in Digos, in Cagayan de Oro city, in Surigao, in Butuan city and some in Agusan del Sur. There are also Ampers in Samar, particularly in Calbayog city and in Balangkayan, and in Llorente, in Eastern Samar. There are Ampers in Bicol and in Quezon province. There is an Amper in Batangas city and in Calamba, Laguna.
You will also find Ampers in Antipolo city, where my family and several others from Anda, live. They are also in Paranaque, in Quezon city, in Rodriguez, Rizal, in Marikina and in Mandaluyong city. There are Ampers in Bulacan, Tarlac, Pampanga and Zambales, specifically in Subic. There are Ampers in Pangasinan, in Baguio city and in Isabela.
In Leyte, a great concentration of the Ampers are in Pintuyan, Southern Leyte. There are also Ampers in the neighboring towns of San Ricardo, San Francisco and Liloan. Tua pod sa St, Bernard, San Juan, Anahawan, Hinundayan, Hinunangan and Silago, where we come from. There are also Ampers in Sogod, Bontoc, Tomas Oppus and Maasin. May Amper din sa Ormoc city, Baybay city and Hilongos. Meron din sa Tacloban city - si Susan Amper Viterbo,owner of Anjes Jewelry. She comes from the Ampers of Hilongos. Her mother is from Liloan.
In Bohol, I am aware of the Ampers in Tagbilaran, Ubay, Tubigon, Antequerra, and Jagna. Tua pod sa town where the Baclayon church is located.