| ![Show Contents]() Otre History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
Etymology of OtreWhat does the name Otre mean? Otre is a name that first reached England following the Norman Conquest of 1066. It comes from the Scandinavian given name Ottur. When used as a surname Otter indicates that the father of the original bearer was named Ottur. Early Origins of the Otre familyThe surname Otre was first found in Huntingdonshire where they held a family seat from very ancient times, and are believed to be descended from the celebrated Castellan of Windsor, William FitzOther, son of Otherus, the Duke of Lombardy, the great Norman land owner at the time of the Conquest, who was also scion of the Fitzgeralds, the Gerards and the Windsors. The Clan proliferated in east Yorkshire, Nottingham, Lincoln and Derby. Early History of the Otre familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Otre research. Another 141 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1140, 1250, 1264, 1291, 1296, 1548 and 1837 are included under the topic Early Otre History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Otre Spelling VariationsBefore the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Sound was what guided spelling in the Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Otre family name include Other, Others, Otter, Otters, Ottyr, Otre, Otir, Oter, Oder, Othyr, FitzOther and many more. Early Notables of the Otre familyMore information is included under the topic Early Otre Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Otre familyTo escape the political and religious chaos of this era, thousands of English families began to migrate to the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. The passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe; however, those who made the voyage safely were encountered opportunities that were not available to them in their homeland. Many of the families that reached the New World at this time went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations of the United States and Canada. Research into various historical records has revealed some of first members of the Otre family to immigrate North America: Johan Casspar Other who settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1740; Thomas Others settled in Virginia in 1636; Francis Otter landed in America in 1748.
The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.
Motto: Watch
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