Otoomb History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The history of the Otoomb family name begins after the Norman Conquest of 1066. 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 Otoomb family

The surname Otoomb 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 Otoomb family

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

Otoomb Spelling Variations

Anglo-Norman names are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. When the Normans became the ruling people of England in the 11th century, they introduced a new language into a society where the main languages of Old and later Middle English had no definite spelling rules. These languages were more often spoken than written, so they blended freely with one another. Contributing to this mixing of tongues was the fact that medieval scribes spelled words according to sound, ensuring that a person's name would appear differently in nearly every document in which it was recorded. The name has been spelled Oulton, Olton, Owlton, Oolton, Ouldon, Oulden and others.

Early Notables of the Otoomb family

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

Migration of the Otoomb family

For many English families, the political and religious disarray that plagued their homeland made the frontiers of the New World an attractive prospect. Thousands migrated, aboard cramped disease-ridden ships. They arrived sick, poor, and hungry, but were welcomed in many cases with far greater opportunity than at home in England. Many of these hardy settlers went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Among early immigrants bearing the name Otoomb or a variant listed above were: John Oulden who settled in West New Jersey in 1772; Jane Olton settled in Jamaica in 1663.

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)