According to John Leland, the English antiquarian, over 450 years ago the elements within this place name were aml and hwch (plentiful pigs) suggesting that the animals were kept here. However this is not the case.

The combination here is am (about, around, near or opposite) and llwch. Although llwch means 'dust' today, this element probably refers to the area which was formerly swampy near the present church but may have meant 'inlet' referring to the creek which later became the harbour of Porth Amlwch.

Equivalents of llwch can be seen in the Cornish place name, Looe and the Scottish loch.

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