Otwell History, Family Crest & Coats of ArmsOtwell is an ancient Norman name that arrived in England after the Norman Conquest of 1066. The name Otwell comes from the Norman given name of Ottiwell. Early Origins of the Otwell familyThe surname Otwell was first found in Cheshire where they held a family seat after the Norman Conquest of England in 1066 A.D. Early History of the Otwell familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Otwell research. Another 126 words (9 lines of text) covering the year 1120 is included under the topic Early Otwell History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Otwell 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 Ottiwell, Ottewell, Ottawell, Ottowell, Ottiwill, Ottwell and many more. Early Notables of the Otwell familyMore information is included under the topic Early Otwell Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Otwell RankingIn the United States, the name Otwell is the 12,549th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1
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 Otwell or a variant listed above: Otwell Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
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