Outten History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The vast movement of people that followed the Norman Conquest of England of 1066 brought the Outten family name to the British Isles. They lived in Cheshire, at Oulton. There are parishes so named in Norfolk, Suffolk, West Riding of Yorkshire, Cheshire, and Cumberland. "The family, however, seem to have sprung, so far as North England is concerned, from the township of Oulton, near Tarporley, Cheshire." 1 Another source agrees: "The manor and township of Oulton gave a name to some ancient Cheshire families." 2

Early Origins of the Outten family

The surname Outten was first found in Cheshire at Oulton, at the time of the Norman Conquest in 1066, when Serlon de Burcy of the Canton of Vassey in Normandy, was granted lands by King William for his assistance at the Battle of Hastings, and these lands descended to Nigel Burcy in 1086.

At one time the family held Leighton in Cheshire as noted: "The manor belonged anciently to a family that took their name from the township, and by whom it was conveyed, by a deed without date, to the Oulton family. The Erdswicks acquired the estate in 1328, by exchange with the Oultons." 3 The Assize Rolls of Staffordshire in 1279 listed Alan de Oldeton and a few years later Nicholas atte Noulton was listed in Worcestershire in 1327. 4

Further to the north, Henry de Oulton was listed in the Feet of Fines of Yorkshire in 1328. In 1455, Earwaker's East Cheshire listed Thomas Olton as holding estates in Mottram, Cheshire and Richard Olton, of Congleton was listed in the Wills at Chester in 1588. The same source listed Blanch Oulton, of Bradley as a widow in 1629. 1

Early History of the Outten family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Outten research. Another 71 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Outten History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Outten Spelling Variations

A multitude of spelling variations characterize Norman surnames. Many variations occurred because Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules. The introduction of Norman French to England also had a pronounced effect, as did the court languages of Latin and French. Therefore, one person was often referred to by several different spellings in a single lifetime. The various spellings include Oulton, Olton, Owlton, Oolton, Ouldon, Oulden and others.

Early Notables of the Outten family

More information is included under the topic Early Outten Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Outten Ranking

In the United States, the name Outten is the 17,210^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 5

Outten migration to the United States +

Many English families left England, to avoid the chaos of their homeland and migrated to the many British colonies abroad. Although the conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and some travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute, once in the colonies, many of the families prospered and made valuable contributions to the cultures of what would become the United States and Canada. Research into the origins of individual families in North America has revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Outten or a variant listed above:

Outten Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

L. Outten, who immigrated to the United States, in 1907
Francis J. Outten, aged 17, who landed in America, in 1922
Guy Outten, aged 2, who immigrated to America from Camp Galliard, Canal Zone, in 1924
Hilda Outten, aged 20, who landed in America from Camp Galliard, Canal Zone, in 1924
Edmundo Outten, aged 23, who immigrated to the United States from Camp Galliard, Canal Zone, in 1924

Contemporary Notables of the name Outten (post 1700) +

William Robert "Bobby" Outten (1948-2020), American politician, Republican member of the Delaware House of Representatives from 2005 to 2019
Richard Outten, American screenwriter, known for Journey 2: The Mysterious Island (2012) and Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland (1989)
Winston Rudith Outten, British politician, Speaker of the Turks and Caicos Islands House of Assembly (1995-1998)
Keith Outten, Australian rugby league player who played from 1968 to 1974

Citations +

Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/