Otter Family History

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Otter Name Meaning

English, German, Dutch, and Jewish (Ashkenazic): metonymic occupational name for an otter hunter, or nickname for someone supposedly resembling an otter, from Middle English, Middle High German oter, Middle Dutch otter, German Otter ‘otter’. The Jewish surname can be ornamental. English: from the late Old English personal name Ohthere, a borrowing of Old Norse Óttar, composed of the elements ótti ‘fear’, ‘dread’ + herr ‘army’. In Scotland the Old Norse name is the source. French: from a Germanic personal name composed of the elements aud, od ‘wealth’ + hari, heri ‘army’.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names ©2013, Oxford University Press


Similar surnames: Oster, Cotter, Notter, Potter, Zotter, Etter, Rotter, Stier, Lotter

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Otter Family Origin

Where is the Otter family from?

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You can see how Otter families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Otter family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Otter families were found in the UK in 1891. In 1911 there were 19 Otter families living in Ontario. This was about 43% of all the recorded Otter's in Canada. Ontario had the highest population of Otter families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Otter surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

View Census Data for Otter

Otter Family Occupations

What did your Otter ancestors do for a living?

In 1921, Labourer and widow were the top reported jobs for men and women in the CA named Otter. 15% of Otter men worked as a Labourer and 34% of Otter women worked as a widow. Some less common occupations for Americans named Otter were Blacksmith and Student Nurse

View Census data for Otter | Data not to scale

Top Male Occupations in 1921

  • Labourer
    15%
  • Carpenter
    10%
  • Farmer
    10%
  • Blacksmith
    5%

Top Female Occupations in 1921

  • widow
    34%
  • Bank Clerk
    34%
  • Student Nurse
    34%

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

Otter Historical Records

What Otter family records will you find?

Census Record

There are 24,000 census records available for the last name Otter. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Otter census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search 1881 Canadian census records for Otter

Passenger List

There are 3,000 immigration records available for the last name Otter. 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 Otter immigration records

Draft Card

There are 5,000 military records available for the last name Otter. For the veterans among your Otter ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Otter military records

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Otter Life Expectancy

What is the average Otter lifespan?

Between 1956 and 2004, in the United States, Otter life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1956, and highest in 1997. The average life expectancy for Otter in 1956 was 54, and 68 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Otter

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Otter 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.

Famous Otter Family Ancestors

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