NameCensus.

UK surname

Ottway

In the 1881 census there were 84 people recorded with the Ottway surname, ranking it #21,690 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 110, ranked #29,225, down from #21,690 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Cawston, Richmond and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Sevenoaks, Thurrock and Bath and North East Somerset.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ottway is 139 in 2007. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 31.0%.

1881 census count

84

Ranked #21,690

Modern count

110

2016, ranked #29,225

Peak year

2007

139 bearers

Map years

5

1901 to 2016

Key insights

  • Ottway had 84 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #21,690 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 110 in 2016, ranked #29,225.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 136 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Ottway surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ottway surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ottway 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 65 #21,747
1861 historical 67 #25,342
1881 historical 84 #21,690
1891 historical 88 #25,677
1901 historical 119 #20,624
1911 historical 136 #18,962
1997 modern 120 #24,158
1998 modern 129 #23,722
1999 modern 132 #23,602
2000 modern 132 #23,562
2001 modern 118 #24,832
2002 modern 132 #23,680
2003 modern 124 #24,378
2004 modern 134 #23,425
2005 modern 128 #24,076
2006 modern 132 #23,834
2007 modern 139 #23,377
2008 modern 136 #24,004
2009 modern 138 #24,276
2010 modern 134 #25,263
2011 modern 134 #25,050
2012 modern 115 #27,717
2013 modern 114 #28,347
2014 modern 119 #27,813
2015 modern 112 #28,809
2016 modern 110 #29,225

Geography

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Where Ottways are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Cawston, Richmond, London parishes, St Pancras and St James Clerkenwell. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Sevenoaks, Thurrock, Bath and North East Somerset and South Hams. 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 Cawston Norfolk
2 Richmond Surrey
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Pancras London (North Districts)
5 St James Clerkenwell London (Central Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Sevenoaks 015 Sevenoaks
2 Sevenoaks 013 Sevenoaks
3 Thurrock 020 Thurrock
4 Bath and North East Somerset 026 Bath and North East Somerset
5 South Hams 005 South Hams

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ottway

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Ottway

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Ottway, 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 Ottway surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Ottway household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

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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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Ottway is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Ottway is most concentrated in decile 5 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Ottway 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 Ottway is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

1881 census detail

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Ottway families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ottway 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. Surrey leads with 34 Ottways recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.52x.

County Total Index
Surrey 34 8.52x
Norfolk 15 11.91x
Middlesex 12 1.46x
Essex 7 4.33x
Somerset 6 4.55x
Yorkshire 6 0.74x
Staffordshire 3 1.08x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.91x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ashtead in Surrey leads with 12 Ottways recorded in 1881 and an index of 4615.38x.

Place Total Index
Ashtead 12 4615.38x
Kingston On Thames 7 72.99x
Bow London 6 57.53x
Cawston 6 1935.48x
Gomersal 6 158.31x
Richmond 6 107.33x
Walcot 6 85.47x
Islington London 5 6.30x
Heigham 4 59.17x
Lambeth 4 5.60x
Sutton 4 138.41x
West Ham 4 11.20x
Great Dunmow 3 357.14x
West Bromwich 3 18.95x
Horning 2 1666.67x
Whitwell 2 1666.67x
Hempnall 1 400.00x
Mansfield Woodhouse 1 136.99x
Shoreditch London 1 2.82x
Wimbledon 1 22.32x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 9
George 5
John 4
Alf.S. 2
Henry 2
James 2
Robert 2
Thomas 2
Arthur 1
Charles 1
Chas. 1
Edward 1
Ezra 1
Francis 1
Fred 1
Herbert 1
Richard 1
Willm.R. 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Ottway households.

FAQ

Ottway surname: questions and answers

How common was the Ottway surname in 1881?

In 1881, 84 people were recorded with the Ottway surname. That placed it at #21,690 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Ottway surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 110 in 2016. That gives Ottway a modern rank of #29,225.

What does the Ottway map show?

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