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

Otter, 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 Otter surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Otter in America

Otter is the 20076th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Otter surname appeared 1,331 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 Otter.

We can also compare 2010 data for Otter 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 Otter

The surname Otter is of English origin and is believed to have derived from the Middle English word "oter," which means otter, a semi-aquatic mammal. This surname likely originated as a descriptive nickname, referring to someone who was associated with or resembled the characteristics of an otter, such as being agile, sleek, or living near water.

The earliest recorded use of the surname Otter can be traced back to the 13th century in various parts of England, particularly in areas with rivers or other water bodies where otters were commonly found. Some of the earliest recorded spellings include Otere, Oter, and Otter.

Historical records indicate that the surname Otter appeared in the Hundredorum Rolls of Yorkshire in 1273, where it was listed as "Johannes le Otere." This early reference suggests that the name was already established as a surname by the 13th century.

In the 14th century, the surname Otter was documented in various records, including the Subsidy Rolls of Staffordshire in 1327, where a William Oter was mentioned. Additionally, the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1332 referenced a John Otter.

One of the earliest known bearers of the surname Otter was William Otter, who was born around 1370 in Coventry, Warwickshire, England. He was a prominent merchant and served as the Mayor of Coventry in the early 15th century.

In the 16th century, the surname Otter was found in various parts of England, including the county of Somerset. The Visitation of Somerset in 1623 recorded the Otter family as having a coat of arms, indicating their status as a respected family.

Another notable individual with the surname Otter was Edward Otter (1598-1686), an English clergyman and author from Devon. He wrote several works on religious topics and served as the Rector of Gittisham in Devon.

In the 18th century, William Otter (1768-1840) was a prominent English clergyman and scholar. He was the Regius Professor of Divinity at the University of Oxford and served as the Bishop of Chichester from 1836 until his death.

The surname Otter has also been associated with several place names, such as Otterburn in Northumberland, Otterford in Somerset, and Ottershaw in Surrey, which may have influenced the development and distribution of the surname in these areas.

Overall, the surname Otter has a rich history dating back to the Middle Ages in England, with references spanning various regions and occupations, including merchants, clergymen, and scholars. Its origin can be traced back to the Middle English word for the semi-aquatic mammal, reflecting the descriptive nature of many early English surnames.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Otter

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

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

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

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