Ottawel History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

• Origins Available:
• England

Early Origins of the Ottawel family

Early History of the Ottawel family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ottawel research. Another 126 words (9 lines of text) covering the year 1120 is included under the topic Early Ottawel History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ottawel Spelling Variations

Multitudes of spelling variations are a hallmark of Anglo Norman names. Most of these names evolved in the 11th and 12th century, in the time after the Normans introduced their own Norman French language into a country where Old and Middle English had no spelling rules and the languages of the court were French and Latin. To make matters worse, medieval scribes spelled words according to sound, so names frequently appeared differently in the various documents in which they were recorded. The name was spelled Ottiwell, Ottewell, Ottawell, Ottowell, Ottiwill, Ottwell and many more.

Early Notables of the Ottawel family

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

Migration of the Ottawel family

Because of this political and religious unrest within English society, many people decided to immigrate to the colonies. Families left for Ireland, North America, and Australia in enormous numbers, traveling at high cost in extremely inhospitable conditions. The New World in particular was a desirable destination, but the long voyage caused many to arrive sick and starving. Those who made it, though, were welcomed by opportunities far greater than they had known at home in England. Many of these families went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Ottawel or a variant listed above: Thomas Ottawell who arrived in Virginia in 1623; Thomas Ottowell, who came to Virginia in 1624; George Ottawell, who settled in Maryland in 1754; and Bridget Otwell, who settled in New York State in 1853..