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

Ottaway, 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 Ottaway surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ottaway in America

Ottaway is the 37442nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ottaway surname appeared 595 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 Ottaway.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ottaway 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 Ottaway

The surname Ottaway is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the early Middle Ages. It is a locational name, derived from the Old English words 'ot' meaning a slope or an outlying portion of land, and 'weg' meaning a way or path. Thus, the name originally referred to someone who lived near a sloping path or road.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as 'Othewey'. This entry suggests that the name was already established in parts of England by the late 11th century.

During the 13th century, the name appeared in various records as 'Otteweye', 'Otewey', and 'Ottewey', reflecting the variations in spelling common in that era. One notable bearer of the name was Sir John Ottaway, a knight who lived in the late 13th century and was mentioned in the Hundred Rolls of Bedfordshire in 1275.

By the 14th century, the name had evolved closer to its modern spelling, appearing as 'Otteweye' and 'Ottewey' in various documents. This period also saw the rise of Robert Ottaway, a prominent merchant and landowner from Yorkshire, who was born around 1330.

The 16th century brought further instances of the name, with William Ottaway, a poet and playwright from Lincolnshire, born in 1542. His works, though largely forgotten today, were popular in his time and contributed to the literary landscape of the Elizabethan era.

In the 17th century, the name took on its modern spelling of 'Ottaway'. One notable bearer was Thomas Ottaway, a renowned theologian and author who lived from 1616 to 1693. His influential works on religious philosophy and theology were widely read and debated during his lifetime.

As the centuries progressed, the Ottaway name continued to be found across various regions of England, with individuals making their mark in various fields. One such figure was Sir Henry Ottaway, a successful businessman and philanthropist from London, who lived from 1776 to 1858 and was known for his charitable works and support of educational institutions.

While the surname Ottaway is not among the most common in England, it has a rich history spanning over nine centuries, with bearers leaving their mark in diverse areas such as literature, religion, business, and public service.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ottaway

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

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

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

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