NameCensus.

UK surname

Otten

A German and Dutch toponymic surname indicating an origin near a small garden or an area overgrown with brushwood.

In the 1881 census there were 74 people recorded with the Otten surname, ranking it #23,062 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 152, ranked #23,516, down from #23,062 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St George in the East, London parishes and St Dunstan Stepney. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wealden, Swansea and Liverpool.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Otten is 168 in 2012. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 105.4%.

1881 census count

74

Ranked #23,062

Modern count

152

2016, ranked #23,516

Peak year

2012

168 bearers

Map years

5

1901 to 2016

Key insights

  • Otten had 74 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #23,062 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 152 in 2016, ranked #23,516.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 150 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Otten surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Otten surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Otten 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 38 #26,502
1861 historical 70 #24,911
1881 historical 74 #23,062
1891 historical 77 #27,169
1901 historical 119 #20,624
1911 historical 150 #17,866
1997 modern 159 #20,339
1998 modern 167 #20,258
1999 modern 164 #20,621
2000 modern 157 #21,146
2001 modern 149 #21,568
2002 modern 166 #20,532
2003 modern 164 #20,483
2004 modern 157 #21,168
2005 modern 160 #20,899
2006 modern 155 #21,477
2007 modern 154 #21,804
2008 modern 150 #22,429
2009 modern 152 #22,716
2010 modern 159 #22,577
2011 modern 162 #22,101
2012 modern 168 #21,516
2013 modern 165 #22,163
2014 modern 160 #22,824
2015 modern 154 #23,306
2016 modern 152 #23,516

Geography

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Where Ottens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St George in the East, London parishes, St Dunstan Stepney, Lambeth and Childwall. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wealden, Swansea, Liverpool and Kensington and Chelsea. 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 St George in the East London (East Districts)
2 London parishes London 3
3 St Dunstan Stepney London (East Districts)
4 Lambeth London (South Districts)
5 Childwall Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wealden 002 Wealden
2 Swansea 011 Swansea
3 Liverpool 057 Liverpool
4 Kensington and Chelsea 016 Kensington and Chelsea
5 Kensington and Chelsea 017 Kensington and Chelsea

Forenames

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First names often paired with Otten

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Otten

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Otten, 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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Otten surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Otten household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

Senior Professionals

Within London, Otten is most associated with areas classed as Senior Professionals, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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 very central neighbourhoods house residents whose ages are more skewed towards older age cohorts than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Few households have young children. Rates of illness are low. Indian ethnicity is rare compared to the Supergroup mean. Property under occupation is more common, despite the centrality of neighbourhoods, and more residents live in communal establishments than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Otten is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Otten falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Otten is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
Other Ethnic Group

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

Meaning and origin of Otten

The surname Otten has its origins in the Low German language, stemming from the northern regions of Germany and the Netherlands. It is believed to have derived from the Low German word "ot" or "otte," which was a diminutive form of the personal name "Otto." This name itself traces back to the Old High German name "Oudo," meaning "prosperous" or "wealthy."

The earliest known records of the Otten surname date back to the 13th century in the areas of Westphalia and Lower Saxony in northwestern Germany. It is thought that the name may have initially referred to someone who was a descendant or a follower of an individual named Otto, much like many other surnames that originated from personal names.

In the late 13th century, the name Otten appeared in the Werdener Lehnregister, an important historical document that recorded feudal landholdings in the region around the town of Werden, which is now part of the city of Essen. This suggests that the Otten family may have held land or property in this area during that time.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the Otten surname was Johannes Otten, who lived in the German city of Lübeck in the late 14th century. He was a prominent merchant and member of the city council, indicating that the Otten family had achieved a certain level of status and influence in the region.

In the 16th century, the Otten name appeared in various Dutch records, suggesting that the surname had spread to the Netherlands. One notable figure was Adriaen Otten, a Dutch painter born in Utrecht in 1518. He was known for his detailed still-life paintings and religious works.

Another significant individual was Johann Baptist Otten, a German Roman Catholic priest and theologian who lived from 1673 to 1743. He was a renowned scholar and author, publishing several influential works on theology and philosophy during his lifetime.

In the 19th century, the Otten name gained prominence in the field of education. Johann Adam Otten (1798-1876) was a German educator and author who played a crucial role in the development of the Prussian education system and advocated for the inclusion of physical education in schools.

Throughout history, the Otten surname has been associated with various professions and backgrounds, from merchants and artists to scholars and educators. While its origins can be traced back to northern Germany and the Low German language, the name has since spread across Europe and beyond, reflecting the migrations and histories of those who bore it.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Otten families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Otten 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. Middlesex leads with 20 Ottens recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.77x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 20 2.77x
Surrey 14 3.98x
Essex 13 9.13x
Yorkshire 8 1.12x
Lancashire 5 0.58x
Gloucestershire 4 2.83x
Somerset 4 3.44x
Devon 2 1.33x
Cheshire 1 0.63x
Hampshire 1 0.68x
Kent 1 0.41x
Nottinghamshire 1 1.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lambeth in Surrey leads with 13 Ottens recorded in 1881 and an index of 20.66x.

Place Total Index
Lambeth 13 20.66x
St George In East London 12 176.73x
Leyton 10 408.16x
Knedlington 8 40000.00x
Shadwell London 4 198.02x
Bristol St Paul In 3 79.58x
Clerkenwell London 3 17.62x
Kingston 3 1304.35x
Toxteth Park 3 10.35x
Liverpool 2 3.85x
West Ham 2 6.36x
Axminster 1 142.86x
Barking 1 23.98x
Blacon Cum Crabwall 1 1666.67x
Clarborough 1 136.99x
Dunkirk 1 555.56x
Portsea 1 3.45x
Slapton 1 666.67x
Southwark St George Martyr 1 6.89x
Whitechapel London 1 14.06x
Winchcomb 1 142.86x
Yeovil 1 42.37x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Henry 6
John 4
Charles 3
George 2
Robert 2
Samuel 2
Albert 1
Arthur 1
Edwin 1
Ephraim 1
Frank 1
Fredc. 1
Frederick 1
Herman 1
Jacob 1
Joseph 1
Martin 1
Metto 1
Sidney 1
Thomas 1
Walter 1
Wilheim 1
William 1
Wm.G. 1

FAQ

Otten surname: questions and answers

How common was the Otten surname in 1881?

In 1881, 74 people were recorded with the Otten surname. That placed it at #23,062 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Otten surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 152 in 2016. That gives Otten a modern rank of #23,516.

What does the Otten surname mean?

A German and Dutch toponymic surname indicating an origin near a small garden or an area overgrown with brushwood.

What does the Otten map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Otten 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.