Amherst is a surname. Notable people with the surname include:
Baron Amherst (disambiguation), in particular: Jeffery Amherst, 1st Baron Amherst (1717–1797), British army officer William Amherst (British Army officer) (1732–1781), younger brother of the above Baron Amherst of Hackney, created 1892 for: William Tyssen-Amherst, 1st Baron Amherst of Hackney Alicia Amherst (1865–1941), gardening historian and daughter of the above Earl Amherst: William Amherst, 1st Earl Amherst, Governor-General of India from August 1823 to February 1828 William Amherst, 2nd Earl Amherst Josceline Amherst, Australian politician and fifth son of the 2nd earl William Amherst, 3rd Earl Amherst Hugh Amherst, 4th Earl Amherst Jeffery Amherst, 5th Earl Amherst Elizabeth Amherst Hale (1774–1826), Canadian artist born Elizabeth Frances Amherst