Going Amish
Not everyone in the Amish community was born Amish. Outsiders are more than welcome to try and prepare to live in an Amish community if they want to. In order to do that, they must ditch all of their technology and live in a community for at least one year. They must learn their way of life, religion, and cultural standards.
Origin
The term "Amsh" is from the name Jakob Amman. Amman was a Swiss Anabaptist from the Mennonite church who was an advocate for the literal interpretation of the bible. His ideals created a divide in the church. The followers who sided with him were known as Amish.