Find out how popular the last name Oteri is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Oteri.

Oteri, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Oteri surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Oteri in America

Oteri is the 45653rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Oteri surname appeared 468 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Oteri.

We can also compare 2010 data for Oteri to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Oteri

The surname Oteri originated in Sicily, Italy, and can be traced back to the 11th century. It is derived from the Greek word "otos," meaning "ear," which suggests that the name may have been given to someone who had a distinctive ear shape or a hearing-related occupation.

The earliest recorded use of the name Oteri can be found in the Sicilian town of Messina, where it was mentioned in a document from the year 1095. The name was also present in other parts of Sicily, such as Palermo and Catania, during the medieval period.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname Oteri was Giovanni Oteri, a Sicilian merchant who lived in the 13th century. He was involved in the trade of silk and spices between Sicily and the Byzantine Empire.

In the 14th century, the Oteri family gained prominence in the town of Mistretta, located in the province of Messina. A noble branch of the family, known as the Oteri di Mistretta, held significant landholdings and political influence in the region.

During the Renaissance period, the name Oteri appeared in various artistic and literary works. One notable figure was Antonino Oteri, a poet and playwright from Palermo who lived in the 16th century. His works, which included comedies and pastoral plays, were widely celebrated in his time.

Another prominent individual with the surname Oteri was Giuseppe Oteri, a Sicilian painter who lived in the 17th century. He was renowned for his religious paintings and frescoes adorning many churches across Sicily.

In the 18th century, the Oteri family had a presence in the town of Catania, where they were involved in the local government and legal profession. One member, Francesco Oteri, served as a judge and legal advisor to the city's authorities.

Moving into the 19th century, the name Oteri gained recognition in the field of music. Vincenzo Oteri, a composer and conductor from Palermo, was highly regarded for his operas and orchestral works, which were performed across Italy and Europe.

Despite its Sicilian roots, the surname Oteri has spread to other parts of Italy and beyond, with individuals bearing this name making significant contributions in various fields throughout history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Oteri

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Oteri.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Oteri was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Oteri has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Oteri was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Oteri, please contact us.

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