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

Otley, 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 Otley surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Otley in America

Otley is the 64200th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Otley surname appeared 310 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 Otley.

We can also compare 2010 data for Otley 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 Otley

The surname Otley originates from England, with its roots tracing back to the 11th century. It is a locational name derived from the town of Otley in West Yorkshire, which was recorded as "Otanlega" in the Domesday Book of 1086. The name is believed to be of Old English origin, composed of the elements "Ota," a personal name, and "lēah," meaning a woodland or clearing.

One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name was Willelmus de Otteleia, mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1166. In the 13th century, records show John de Ottelay as a landowner in Otley in 1273. The name's spelling variations over the centuries include Ottelay, Oteley, and Otteley, reflecting the regional accents and scribal practices of the time.

During the 14th century, the surname Otley appeared in various historical documents. In the Poll Tax Returns of Yorkshire in 1379, the name was recorded as Johannes de Ottelay. The Subsidy Rolls of 1545 mention John Otley, a resident of Liversedge, West Yorkshire.

Notable individuals bearing the surname Otley include:

1. Thomas Otley (c. 1505 - c. 1587), an English Catholic martyr who was hanged, drawn, and quartered for his religious beliefs during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

2. William Otley (1674-1737), an English clergyman and author, best known for his work "A Description of the English Lakes."

3. Jonathan Otley (1766-1836), a British botanical artist and illustrator who contributed to works such as "The Botanical Cabinet" and "The Botanical Register."

4. Sir Francis Otley (1801-1887), a British diplomat and politician who served as the Minister Plenipotentiary to Mexico from 1858 to 1860.

5. William Young Ottley (1771-1836), an English writer, collector, and connoisseur of art, known for his works on Italian Renaissance art and his extensive art collection.

The surname Otley has a rich history rooted in the English countryside, with its earliest bearers hailing from the town of the same name. While the name's popularity may have waxed and waned over the centuries, it has been carried by notable figures across various fields, contributing to the cultural tapestry of England and beyond.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Otley

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

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 Otley 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 Otley 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 Otley was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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