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

Ottney, 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 Ottney surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ottney in America

Ottney is the 83226th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ottney surname appeared 226 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 Ottney.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ottney 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 Ottney

The surname Ottney originated in England during the late medieval period, specifically in the counties of Yorkshire and Lancashire. It is derived from the Old English word "otan-eg," which means "island of oats," suggesting that the name may have referred to someone who lived on an island or a piece of land where oats were grown.

The earliest known record of the name Ottney can be found in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379, where it appears as "Otenay." This spelling variation highlights the fluid nature of surnames during that time, as they were often adapted based on local dialects and pronunciation.

In the 16th century, the name Ottney appeared in various land records and legal documents in the northern counties of England. One notable example is the will of John Ottney, a landowner from Skipton, Yorkshire, dated 1587. This document provides valuable insights into the family's holdings and social status in that region.

The Ottney surname has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One such figure is William Ottney (1635-1709), a prominent merchant and alderman in the city of York. He was involved in the city's governance and played a role in supporting local trade and commerce.

Another individual of note is Sarah Ottney (1717-1795), a renowned herbalist and midwife from Lancashire. Her knowledge of traditional remedies and her expertise in assisting with childbirth made her a respected figure in her community.

In the 19th century, the name Ottney gained further recognition with the accomplishments of Robert Ottney (1832-1901), a pioneering civil engineer. He was responsible for designing and overseeing the construction of several notable bridges and infrastructure projects across northern England.

Additionally, the Ottney surname can be found in historical records from other parts of England, such as Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire, indicating that the name had spread beyond its initial northern roots.

While the exact origins of the Ottney surname remain somewhat obscure, its long history and presence in various regions of England attest to its enduring legacy as a quintessentially English name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ottney

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

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

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

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