| ![Show Contents]() Otterson History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
England
Etymology of OttersonWhat does the name Otterson mean? Otterson is an ancient Norman name that arrived in England after the Norman Conquest of 1066. The name Otterson 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 Otterson familyThe surname Otterson 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 Otterson familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Otterson 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 Otterson History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Otterson Spelling VariationsA 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 Other, Others, Otter, Otters, Ottyr, Otre, Otir, Oter, Oder, Othyr, FitzOther and many more. Early Notables of the Otterson familyMore information is included under the topic Early Otterson Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Otterson Rankingthe United States, the name Otterson is the 18,527th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1
| Otterson 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 Otterson or a variant listed above:
Otterson Settlers in United States in the 18th Century- Andrew Otterson, who landed in New England in 1760 2
- Ann Otterson, who arrived in New England in 1760 2
- William Otterson, who arrived in New England in 1760 2
Otterson Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- Alexander Otterson, aged 33, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1824 2
- Henry Otterson, who arrived in New York in 1830 2
- Joseph Otterson, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1838 2
Otterson Settlers in United States in the 20th Century- Hans Christian Otterson, who landed in Wisconsin in 1912 2
| Otterson migration to Canada | + |
Otterson Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century- Elizabeth Otterson, aged 20, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the brig "Dorcas Savage" from Belfast, Ireland
- Ann Otterson, aged 14, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the brig "Dorcas Savage" from Belfast, Ireland
| Contemporary Notables of the name Otterson (post 1700) | + |
- Ryan Otterson (b. 1986), former American football offensive tackle for the San Diego Chargers (2010-2011)
- Michael R. Otterson, American managing director of Public Affairs for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church)
- Joel Otterson (b. 1959), American artist
- Jack Otterson (1905-1991), American eight-time Academy Award nominated art director
- William John "Bill" Otterson (1862-1940), American Major League Baseball player who played shortstop in 30 games for the Brooklyn Grays during the 1887 season
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
- "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
- 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)
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