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Ottum Family History

Ottum Surname Meaning

Norwegian: habitational name from a farmstead in Sogn named Ottum probably from a river name derived from Old Norse ótta ‘to frighten’ denoting a dangerous river.

This surname is very rare in Norway.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: 

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Ottum family from?

You can see how Ottum families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Ottum family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1861 and 1920. The most Ottum families were found in USA in 1920. In 1911 there was 1 Ottum family living in Manitoba. This was 100% of all the recorded Ottum's in Canada. Manitoba had the highest population of Ottum families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Ottum surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Ottum ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Farmer and Waitress were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Ottum. 46% of Ottum men worked as a Farmer and 43% of Ottum women worked as a Waitress. Some less common occupations for Americans named Ottum were Retired and Bookkeeper.

View Census Data for Ottum | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

United States shown, Canada data unavailable

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Farmer
    46%
  • Laborer
    17%
  • Driver
    13%
  • Retired
    9%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Waitress
    43%
  • Housekeeper
    29%
  • Bookkeeper
    29%

What Ottum family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 1,000 census records available for the last name Ottum. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Ottum census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Ottum

Passenger Lists

There are 81 immigration records available for the last name Ottum. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in Canada, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Ottum immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 249 military records available for the last name Ottum. For the veterans among your Ottum ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Ottum military records

You've only scratched the surface of Ottum family history

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What is the average Ottum lifespan?

Between 1952 and 2004, in the United States, Ottum life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1952, and highest in 1981. The average life expectancy for Ottum in 1952 was 45, and 64 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Ottum

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Ottum ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

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