Ottaway
A variant of the old English name Otto meaning "wealthy, prosperous".
Name Census estimates that about 0 living Americans carry the first name Ottaway. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Ottaway today is around 0 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Ottaway births was 1919 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Ottaway. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Ottaway. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
0
~ - Americans
Peak year
1919
5 babies that year
Average age
-
1919 SSA rank
#4,644
Tracked since 1919
Popularity
Ottaway: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Ottaway by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Ottaway during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1910s | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Ottaway
The given name Ottaway has its roots in the Old English language, originating from the Anglo-Saxon era of the 5th to 11th centuries. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "Otthear," which translates to "prosperous warrior" or "wealthy guard." This name was commonly found among the Anglo-Saxon tribes that inhabited parts of modern-day England and Scotland.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Ottaway can be traced back to the Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of land ownership and taxation compiled in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror. The Domesday Book mentions several individuals with variations of the name, such as "Ottuar" and "Otthew," suggesting its widespread use during the Norman period.
Throughout the Middle Ages, the name Ottaway appeared in various chronicles and historical documents. One notable figure was Ottaway de Montfort, a 12th-century knight and vassal of King Henry II of England. He played a significant role in the Norman conquest of Ireland and was granted lands in County Westmeath for his service.
In the 16th century, the name Ottaway gained further prominence with the birth of Ottaway Woodville (1510-1578), an English nobleman and courtier during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. He served as a member of the Privy Council and was known for his diplomatic skills, representing England in negotiations with France and Spain.
Another notable figure was Ottaway Cromwell (1587-1647), a distant cousin of Oliver Cromwell and a prominent military leader during the English Civil War. He commanded troops for the Parliamentarian forces and was instrumental in several key battles, including the Battle of Marston Moor in 1644.
During the colonial era, the name Ottaway was carried across the Atlantic by English settlers. One such individual was Ottaway Winslow (1642-1717), a Puritan who arrived in Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1623. He became a prominent figure in the colony, serving as a magistrate and helping to establish the town of Marshfield.
In more recent history, Ottaway Huxley (1825-1895) was a British biologist and naturalist, known for his contributions to the study of invertebrates and his support for Charles Darwin's theory of evolution. He was a respected member of the Royal Society and published numerous scientific papers during his lifetime.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals who have carried the given name Ottaway throughout history, reflecting its enduring legacy and rich cultural significance.
People
Ottaway + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Ottaway as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with O
Other first names starting with O with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Ottaway: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Ottaway?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 0 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Ottaway going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about - US residents.
Is Ottaway a common name?
We classify Ottaway as "Very Rare". It ranks above 2.9% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 5 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Ottaway most popular?
The single biggest year for Ottaway was 1919, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Ottaway is about 0 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Ottaway in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Ottaway a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Ottaway in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Ottaway still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Ottaway in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Ottaway can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How common is the name Ottaway?
For a quick modern take, check how many people share the name Ottaway on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org.