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

Ottens, 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 Ottens surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ottens in America

Ottens is the 38389th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ottens surname appeared 577 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 Ottens.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ottens 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 Ottens

The surname Ottens originates from the Netherlands and dates back to the 12th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old Dutch word "oten," which means "to eat" or "to consume." This suggests that the name may have been initially given to someone who worked in the food industry or was associated with the preparation or serving of food.

One of the earliest known references to the name Ottens can be found in a Dutch census record from the year 1312, where a family with the surname is listed as residing in the city of Utrecht. This historical record provides evidence of the name's existence and use during the Middle Ages in the Netherlands.

In the 15th century, the name Ottens is mentioned in a manuscript detailing the construction of a church in the town of Amersfoort, where an individual named Gerrit Ottens is listed as a stonemason who worked on the project. This reference suggests that the name was not exclusively associated with the food industry but also extended to other professions and trades.

During the 16th century, the name Ottens began to appear in various Dutch records, including birth and marriage registers. One notable individual from this period was Pieter Ottens, a cartographer born in 1665 in the city of Leiden. He gained recognition for his detailed maps and atlases, contributing significantly to the field of cartography.

In the 17th century, the surname Ottens was found in multiple Dutch cities, including Amsterdam, Haarlem, and Rotterdam. One prominent figure from this era was Jan Ottens, a Dutch artist and engraver born in 1623 in Amsterdam. His works, which included portraits and landscape paintings, were highly regarded and can be found in various art collections worldwide.

The 18th century saw the rise of another notable individual bearing the Ottens surname: Reinier Ottens, a Dutch philosopher and theologian born in 1718 in Rotterdam. He was known for his influential writings on ethics and moral philosophy, which had a significant impact on the intellectual discourse of the time.

Throughout its history, the surname Ottens has been associated with various professions and walks of life, from skilled tradesmen to artists, cartographers, and intellectuals. While the name's origin can be traced back to the Netherlands and its connection to the food industry, it has evolved and spread across various regions and cultures, becoming a part of the rich tapestry of Dutch heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ottens

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

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

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

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