Show ContentsOuten History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Today's generation of the Outen family bears a name that was brought to England by the migration wave that was started by the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Outen family lived in Cheshire, at Oulton. There are parishes so named in Norfolk, Suffolk, West Riding of Yorkshire, Cheshire, and Cumberland. "The family, however, seem to have sprung, so far as North England is concerned, from the township of Oulton, near Tarporley, Cheshire." [1] Another source agrees: "The manor and township of Oulton gave a name to some ancient Cheshire families." [2]

Early Origins of the Outen family

The surname Outen was first found in Cheshire at Oulton, at the time of the Norman Conquest in 1066, when Serlon de Burcy of the Canton of Vassey in Normandy, was granted lands by King William for his assistance at the Battle of Hastings, and these lands descended to Nigel Burcy in 1086.

At one time the family held Leighton in Cheshire as noted: "The manor belonged anciently to a family that took their name from the township, and by whom it was conveyed, by a deed without date, to the Oulton family. The Erdswicks acquired the estate in 1328, by exchange with the Oultons." [3] The Assize Rolls of Staffordshire in 1279 listed Alan de Oldeton and a few years later Nicholas atte Noulton was listed in Worcestershire in 1327. [4]

Further to the north, Henry de Oulton was listed in the Feet of Fines of Yorkshire in 1328. In 1455, Earwaker's East Cheshire listed Thomas Olton as holding estates in Mottram, Cheshire and Richard Olton, of Congleton was listed in the Wills at Chester in 1588. The same source listed Blanch Oulton, of Bradley as a widow in 1629. [1]

Early History of the Outen family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Outen research. Another 71 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Outen History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Outen Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, Norman French and other languages became incorporated into English throughout the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Outen include Oulton, Olton, Owlton, Oolton, Ouldon, Oulden and others.

Early Notables of the Outen family

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

Outen Ranking

In the United States, the name Outen is the 17,211st most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. [5]

Migration of the Outen family

In England at this time, the uncertainty of the political and religious environment of the time caused many families to board ships for distant British colonies in the hopes of finding land and opportunity, and escaping persecution. The voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, though, and many arrived in North America sick, starved, and destitute. Those who did make it, however, were greeted with greater opportunities and freedoms that they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make important contributions to the young nations in which they settled. Early immigration records have shown some of the first Outens to arrive on North American shores: John Oulden who settled in West New Jersey in 1772; Jane Olton settled in Jamaica in 1663.


Contemporary Notables of the name Outen (post 1700) +

  • Rufus Outen, American pottery maker and founder of R.F. Outen Pottery in Matthews, North Carolina; the facility is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places
  • William Austin Outen (1905-1961), American Major League Baseball catcher who played for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1933
  • Savannah Outen (b. 1992), American singer
  • Wyn Outen (1880-1964), Australian rules footballer who played with St Kilda from 1903 to 1907
  • Matt Outen (1883-1930), Australian rules footballer who played with St Kilda from 1910 to 1911
  • Alby Outen Jr. (1936-2010), Australian rules footballer who played with Footscray in 1954
  • Sarah Dilys Outen MBE FRGS (b. 1985), British athlete and adventurer, the first woman and the youngest person to row solo across the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean
  • Albert "Alby" Outen (1902-1972), Australian rules footballer who played with Footscray from 1925 to 1930


  1. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  2. Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
  3. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  4. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  5. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/


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