Otis
An English surname derived from Ode, a medieval personal name meaning "wealthy" or "prosperous."
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 8,775 Americans carry the last name Otis. That puts it at #4,699 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 2.56 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 39,060 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Otis surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
8.8K
1 in 39,060
Census rank
#4,699
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
2.6
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
7.5K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 7,549 bearers of the surname Otis in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 2.56 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 4699th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Otis, the largest self-reported group is White at 74.5%. The next largest groups are Black (19.2%) and Hispanic (2.8%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Otis
The surname Otis is an English habitational name derived from the Norman French word "autieis," which means "hearth" or "fireplace." The name originated in Normandy, France, and was likely taken to England by Norman settlers after the Norman Conquest of 1066.
The earliest known record of the name in England dates back to the late 11th century, where it appeared in the Domesday Book of 1086 as "Otes" and "Otteis." These early spellings suggest that the name was originally pronounced with a long "o" sound.
During the Middle Ages, the name was primarily found in the counties of Lincolnshire, Yorkshire, and Nottinghamshire in England. It was often associated with manorial estates or villages that had a central hearth or fireplace, as the name suggests.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname was Richard Otys, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire in 1195. Another early bearer of the name was Roger Otys, who was recorded in the Assize Rolls of Yorkshire in 1219.
In the 13th century, the name was sometimes spelled as "Otes" or "Ottes," as seen in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which mentioned a Richard Otes from Cambridgeshire.
A notable historical figure with the surname Otis was Sir John Otys (c. 1540-1593), a prominent English lawyer and Member of Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.
During the 17th century, the surname began to appear more frequently in American records, particularly in New England. One of the earliest settlers with the name was Richard Otis (1601-1694), who arrived in Hingham, Massachusetts, in 1635.
Another prominent member of the Otis family was James Otis Jr. (1725-1783), a patriot and lawyer who was a leading voice in the American Revolution. He famously coined the phrase "Taxation without representation is tyranny."
Other notable individuals with the surname Otis include Harrison Gray Otis (1765-1848), a politician and lawyer who served as the third Mayor of Boston, and James Otis (1848-1912), an American industrialist and founder of the Otis Elevator Company.
Throughout its history, the surname Otis has maintained its strong association with its Norman French roots, reflecting the influence of the Norman Conquest on English surnames and the enduring legacy of this heritage.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Otis
Among Census respondents with the surname Otis, the largest self-reported group is White at 74.5%. The next largest groups are Black (19.2%) and Hispanic (2.8%).
The bar chart below shows how Otis bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Otis surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White74.5%
- Black or African American19.2%
- Hispanic or Latino2.8%
- Two or more races2.0%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.8%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.6%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Otis surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #4,699 | #4,699 | 0.0% |
| Count | 7,549 | 7,549 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 2.56 | 2.56 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Otis bearers went from 7,549 to 7,549 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #4,699 to #4,699.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Otis
FAQ
Otis surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Otis?
The surname Otis holds position #4,699 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 8,775 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 2.56 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Otis surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Otis, the largest self-reported group is White at 74.5%. The next largest groups are Black (19.2%) and Hispanic (2.8%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.