Contents [hide]

Otten History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Citations

Otten History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Belgium
England-Alt
England
Germany
Ireland

The distinguished surname Otten emerged among the industrious people of Flanders, which was an important trading partner and political ally of Britain during the Middle Ages. As a result of the frequent commercial intercourse between the Flemish and English nations, many Flemish migrants settled in Britain. In early times, people were known by only a single name. However, as the population grew and people traveled further afield, it became increasingly necessary to assume an additional name to differentiate between bearers of the same personal name. One of the most common classes of surname is the patronymic surname, which was usually derived from the first name of the person's father. Flemish surnames of this type are often characterized by the diminutive suffix -kin, which became very frequent in England during the 14th century. The surname Otten is derived from the Old French personal names Odes, Otes, Odon, and Otton. These are all derived from the Old German names Odo and Otto, which literally mean riches. 1 Occasionally, the name Otten is a local surname derived from the settlement of Ott in Belgium. 2

Another source claims the name is occupational as in "a nickname for a Dealer in Oats." 3

Early Origins of the Otten family

The surname Otten was first found in the Domesday Book of 1086 where Ode, Odo, Otho were recorded. 4 Later in Lincolnshire, Radulfus filius Ode was recorded in 1160 and later again, Willelmus filius Ote (Otte) was recorded in the Pipe Rolls for Essex in 1177. In Suffolk, William Ode was registered in the Curia Regis Rolls for 1213. "Belchamp Otton (Essex) owes its attribute (Otes 1254, Oton 1255) to Otlo (temp. Hy 2), descendant of Otto or Odo 4. " 5

The Hundredorum Rolls for 1273 included entries as a forename and surname: Hotys de Parme, Lincolnshire; and Andreas Otes, Norfolk as did the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379: Otes de Howorth; and Johannes Oteson

In Ireland, the name is "a synonym by pseudo-translation of Quirke." (GIF)

Early History of the Otten family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Otten research. Another 159 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1160, 1177, 1213, 1275, 1610, 1646, 1649, 1654, 1666, 1674, 1683, 1697 and 1705 are included under the topic Early Otten History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Otten Spelling Variations

Flemish surnames are characterized by a large number of spelling variations. One reason for this is that medieval English lacked definite spelling rules. The spellings of surnames were also influenced by the official court languages, which were French and Latin. Names were rarely spelled consistently in medieval times. Scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, rather than adhering to specific spelling rules, and people often had their names registered in several different forms throughout their lives. One of the greatest reasons for change is the linguistic uniqueness of the Flemish settlers in England, who spoke a language closely related to Dutch. The pronunciation and spelling of Flemish names were often altered to suit the tastes of English-speaking people. In many cases, the first, final, or middle syllables of surnames were eliminated. The name has been spelled Oates, Oats, Otes, Otis, Oaten, Otten, Oadt, Otton, Oton and many more.

Early Notables of the Otten family

Prominent in the family at this time was Titus Oates (1649-1705) English conspirator and perjurer who fabricated the Popish Plot and was fined for calling the Duke of York (the future James II) a traitor. He was the son of Samuel Oates (1610-1683), rector of Marsham in Norfolk and was born at Oakham in 1649. His father, the descendant of a family of Norwich ribbon-weavers, left the established church, and gained some notoriety as a ‘dipper’ or anabaptist in East Anglia in 1646. In 1649 he appears to have...
Another 88 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Otten Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Otten Ranking

In the United States, the name Otten is the 6,791^st most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 6 However, in Netherlands, the name Otten is ranked the 130^th most popular surname with an estimated 8,461 people with that name. 7

Migration of the Otten family to Ireland

Some of the Otten family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Otten migration to the United States +

A search of the immigration and passenger lists has shown a number of people bearing the name Otten:

Otten Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Helmerich Otten, who arrived in New York in 1663
Helmerich Otten, who landed in New Netherland(s) in 1663 8

Otten Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Carl Otten, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1805 8
Bermud Otten, who settled in New York, NY in 1827
Cath Elis Otten, who arrived in America in 1835 8
Anna Mar Otten, aged 50, who arrived in New Orleans, La in 1843 8
Maria Cath Otten, aged 14, who landed in New Orleans, La in 1843 8
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Otten migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Otten Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

John Otten, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Oliver Lang" in 1858
Mr. John Otten, (b. 1840), aged 23, British farm labourer travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Lancashire Witch" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 13th October 1863 9
Mrs. Maria Otten, (b. 1841), aged 22, British settler travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Lancashire Witch" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 13th October 1863 9

Contemporary Notables of the name Otten (post 1700) +

Donald F. Otten (1921-1985), American professional basketball player
Leslie B. "Les" Otten (b. 1949), American former CEO of the American Skiing Company
Katherine Maree "Kate" Otten (b. 1964), South African architect
Max Otten (b. 1992), professional Australian rules football player
Jonny Otten (b. 1961), retired German footballer
Mark Otten (b. 1985), Dutch professional footballer
Andy Otten (b. 1989), Australian rules football player

Historic Events for the Otten family +

Bismarck

Arnold Otten (1922-1941), German Matrose who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he died in the sinking 10

Citations +

Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
Barber, Henry, British Family Names London: Elliot Stock, 62 Paternoster Row, 1894. Print.
Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
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/
"Most Common Last Names in Netherlands." Forebears, https://forebears.io/netherlands/surnames
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
Bismarck & Tirpitz Class - Crew List Bismarck. (Retrieved 2018, February 06). Retrieved from https://www.bismarck-class.dk/bismarck/crew/bismarck_crew.html#crew_details