NameCensus.

UK surname

Ottaway

A habitational surname referring to someone from a place called 'Otway'.

In the 1881 census there were 622 people recorded with the Ottaway surname, ranking it #5,678 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 806, ranked #6,867, down from #5,678 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Kingston-on-Thames and Chobham. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wiltshire, Tonbridge and Malling and Chichester.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ottaway is 1,039 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 29.6%.

1881 census count

622

Ranked #5,678

Modern count

806

2016, ranked #6,867

Peak year

1911

1,039 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Ottaway had 622 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,678 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 806 in 2016, ranked #6,867.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,039 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Ottaway surname distribution map

The map shows where the Ottaway surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Ottaway surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ottaway over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 459 #5,397
1861 historical 405 #6,337
1881 historical 622 #5,678
1891 historical 622 #6,214
1901 historical 804 #5,618
1911 historical 1,039 #4,422
1997 modern 820 #6,414
1998 modern 853 #6,417
1999 modern 870 #6,373
2000 modern 856 #6,419
2001 modern 829 #6,476
2002 modern 824 #6,616
2003 modern 781 #6,787
2004 modern 793 #6,723
2005 modern 766 #6,841
2006 modern 765 #6,876
2007 modern 776 #6,866
2008 modern 787 #6,846
2009 modern 790 #6,966
2010 modern 810 #6,949
2011 modern 795 #6,992
2012 modern 787 #6,938
2013 modern 805 #6,916
2014 modern 832 #6,771
2015 modern 806 #6,896
2016 modern 806 #6,867

Geography

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Where Ottaways are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Kingston-on-Thames, Chobham and Ashford. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wiltshire, Tonbridge and Malling, Chichester, Ashford and Norwich. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 London parishes London 1
2 Kingston-on-Thames Surrey
3 London parishes London 3
4 Chobham Surrey
5 Ashford Kent

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wiltshire 026 Wiltshire
2 Tonbridge and Malling 008 Tonbridge and Malling
3 Chichester 004 Chichester
4 Ashford 006 Ashford
5 Norwich 006 Norwich

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ottaway

These lists show first names that appear often with the Ottaway surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Ottaway

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Ottaway, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Ottaway surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Ottaway household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Ottaway is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Ottaway is most concentrated in decile 2 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Ottaway falls in decile 7 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Ottaway is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Ottaway, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Ottaway

The surname Ottaway is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the early Middle Ages. It is a locational name, derived from the Old English words 'ot' meaning a slope or an outlying portion of land, and 'weg' meaning a way or path. Thus, the name originally referred to someone who lived near a sloping path or road.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as 'Othewey'. This entry suggests that the name was already established in parts of England by the late 11th century.

During the 13th century, the name appeared in various records as 'Otteweye', 'Otewey', and 'Ottewey', reflecting the variations in spelling common in that era. One notable bearer of the name was Sir John Ottaway, a knight who lived in the late 13th century and was mentioned in the Hundred Rolls of Bedfordshire in 1275.

By the 14th century, the name had evolved closer to its modern spelling, appearing as 'Otteweye' and 'Ottewey' in various documents. This period also saw the rise of Robert Ottaway, a prominent merchant and landowner from Yorkshire, who was born around 1330.

The 16th century brought further instances of the name, with William Ottaway, a poet and playwright from Lincolnshire, born in 1542. His works, though largely forgotten today, were popular in his time and contributed to the literary landscape of the Elizabethan era.

In the 17th century, the name took on its modern spelling of 'Ottaway'. One notable bearer was Thomas Ottaway, a renowned theologian and author who lived from 1616 to 1693. His influential works on religious philosophy and theology were widely read and debated during his lifetime.

As the centuries progressed, the Ottaway name continued to be found across various regions of England, with individuals making their mark in various fields. One such figure was Sir Henry Ottaway, a successful businessman and philanthropist from London, who lived from 1776 to 1858 and was known for his charitable works and support of educational institutions.

While the surname Ottaway is not among the most common in England, it has a rich history spanning over nine centuries, with bearers leaving their mark in diverse areas such as literature, religion, business, and public service.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Ottaway families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ottaway surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Kent leads with 219 Ottaways recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.60x.

County Total Index
Kent 219 10.60x
Surrey 197 6.67x
Middlesex 64 1.06x
Norfolk 52 5.58x
Essex 19 1.59x
Hampshire 14 1.13x
Sussex 13 1.27x
Wiltshire 9 1.68x
Hertfordshire 7 1.68x
Oxfordshire 7 1.87x
Berkshire 5 1.10x
Devon 3 0.24x
Lancashire 3 0.04x
Somerset 3 0.31x
Cambridgeshire 2 0.52x
Northumberland 2 0.22x
Gloucestershire 1 0.08x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.12x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Chobham in Surrey leads with 38 Ottaways recorded in 1881 and an index of 729.37x.

Place Total Index
Chobham 38 729.37x
Smarden 36 1525.42x
Kingston On Thames 22 31.03x
Ashford 21 104.32x
Beckenham 17 62.92x
Islington London 14 2.38x
West Ham 14 5.30x
Epsom 13 90.40x
Ockham 13 1140.35x
Sutton 13 60.86x
Costessey 12 600.00x
Egham 12 66.23x
Headcorn 12 387.10x
Maidstone 11 17.87x
Tenterden 11 150.89x
Bawburgh 10 1136.36x
Bethersden 9 428.57x
Challock 9 1216.22x
Harrietsham 9 638.30x
Chertsey 8 41.95x
Hammersmith London 8 5.36x
Penge 8 20.67x
Rotherhithe 8 10.69x
Gillingham 7 16.43x
Great Witchingham 7 593.22x
Hackney London 7 2.06x
Hitchin 7 37.14x
Newchurch 7 248.23x
Sanford On Thames 7 1060.61x
Tonbridge 7 9.39x
Upchurch 7 300.43x
Walton On Thames 7 51.66x
Brighton 6 2.91x
Clapham 6 7.92x
Deal 6 34.03x
Dorking 6 30.27x
Lambeth 6 1.14x
Leatherhead 6 81.19x
Melton Parva 6 800.00x
Stoke Holy Cross 6 697.67x
Boughton Under Blean 5 144.51x
Chilham 5 170.07x
Effingham 5 409.84x
Kensington London 5 1.48x
Lenham 5 121.36x
Saxthorpe 5 724.64x
Staines 5 52.14x
Bethnal Green London 4 1.52x
Chingford 4 138.89x
Heckfield 4 344.83x
Poplar London 4 3.50x
Ratcliffe London 4 11.96x
Salisbury The Close 4 305.34x
St Pancras London 4 0.82x
Trowbridge 4 16.89x
Battersea 3 1.35x
Bedminster 3 3.27x
Biddenden 3 106.01x
Dover St Mary Virgin 3 15.00x
Long Ditton 3 62.24x
Margate St John Baptist 3 7.93x
Richmond 3 7.25x
Southwark St George Martyr 3 2.46x
Sutton Valence 3 127.66x
West Derby 3 1.43x
Winkfield 3 39.74x
Wye 3 93.75x
Bridge 2 112.36x
Chesterton 2 16.91x
Deptford St Paul 2 1.25x
Faversham 2 10.15x
Garboldisham 2 150.38x
Hougham 2 16.27x
Lewisham 2 1.81x
Paddington London 2 0.90x
Paignton 2 20.86x
Plumstead 2 2.90x
Portsea 2 0.82x
Ulcombe 2 147.06x
Wylam 2 100.50x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Ottaway surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Ottaway surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

FAQ

Ottaway surname: questions and answers

How common was the Ottaway surname in 1881?

In 1881, 622 people were recorded with the Ottaway surname. That placed it at #5,678 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Ottaway surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 806 in 2016. That gives Ottaway a modern rank of #6,867.

What does the Ottaway surname mean?

A habitational surname referring to someone from a place called 'Otway'.

What does the Ottaway map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Ottaway bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.