<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001140361-11-020660
<TYPE>3
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20110330
<FILING-DATE>20110404
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20110404
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>MITAROTONDA JAMES A
<CIK>0001254583
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>3
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>001-09102
<FILM-NUMBER>11737442
</FILING-VALUES>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>888 SEVENTH AVENUE 17TH FL
<CITY>NEW YORK
<STATE>NY
<ZIP>10019
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>AMERON INTERNATIONAL CORP
<CIK>0000790730
<ASSIGNED-SIC>3270
<IRS-NUMBER>770100596
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>DE
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1130
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>245 S LOS ROBLES AVE
<CITY>PASADENA
<STATE>CA
<ZIP>91101
<PHONE>6266834000
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>245 S LOS ROBLES AVE
<CITY>PASADENA
<STATE>CA
<ZIP>91101
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
<FORMER-COMPANY>
<FORMER-CONFORMED-NAME>AMERON INC/DE
<DATE-CHANGED>19920703
</FORMER-COMPANY>
</ISSUER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc1.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 3
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0203</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2011-03-30</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000790730</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>AMERON INTERNATIONAL CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>AMN</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001254583</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MITAROTONDA JAMES A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O BARINGTON CAPITAL GROUP, L.P.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>888 SEVENTH AVENUE 17TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10019</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>124658</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Barington Companies Equity Partners, L.P.</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Put Option (obligation to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>60</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2011-03-07</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2011-04-16</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>50000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Barington Companies Equity Partners, L.P.</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Put Option (obligation to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>65</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2011-03-29</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2011-04-16</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>7100</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Barington Companies Equity Partners, L.P.</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Put Option (obligation to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>60</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2011-03-29</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2011-05-21</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>20000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Barington Companies Equity Partners, L.P.</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The Reporting Person's relationship to Barington Companies Equity Partners, L.P. is described in this footnote.  The Reporting Person is the sole stockholder and director of LNA Capital Corp., which is the general partner of Barington Capital Group L.P., which is the majority member of Barington Companies Investors, LLC.   Barington Companies Investors, LLC is the general partner of Barington Companies Equity Partners, L.P.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The Reporting Person disclaims beneficial ownership of these securities, except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein, and this report shall not be deemed to be an admission that the Reporting Person is the beneficial owner of these securities for purposes of Section 16 or for any other purpose.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ James A. Mitarotonda</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2011-04-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
