NameCensus.

UK surname

Otway

A locational surname derived from a place name in England.

In the 1881 census there were 285 people recorded with the Otway surname, ranking it #10,070 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 353, ranked #13,081, down from #10,070 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Beetham, London parishes and Great and Little Totham, Goldhanger, Heybridge, Tolleshunt Major, Tolleshunt Knights, Tolleshunt Dar. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Scarborough, South Lakeland and Lewes.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Otway is 400 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 23.9%.

1881 census count

285

Ranked #10,070

Modern count

353

2016, ranked #13,081

Peak year

1911

400 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Otway had 285 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,070 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 353 in 2016, ranked #13,081.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 400 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Otway surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Otway surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Otway 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 217 #9,784
1861 historical 162 #14,310
1881 historical 285 #10,070
1891 historical 336 #10,158
1901 historical 372 #9,972
1911 historical 400 #9,280
1997 modern 348 #12,229
1998 modern 362 #12,259
1999 modern 362 #12,316
2000 modern 359 #12,333
2001 modern 356 #12,228
2002 modern 352 #12,557
2003 modern 361 #12,140
2004 modern 350 #12,449
2005 modern 359 #12,143
2006 modern 348 #12,498
2007 modern 340 #12,872
2008 modern 347 #12,786
2009 modern 362 #12,637
2010 modern 373 #12,628
2011 modern 372 #12,519
2012 modern 354 #12,851
2013 modern 369 #12,655
2014 modern 372 #12,669
2015 modern 364 #12,768
2016 modern 353 #13,081

Geography

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Where Otways are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Beetham, London parishes, Great and Little Totham, Goldhanger, Heybridge, Tolleshunt Major, Tolleshunt Knights, Tolleshunt Dar, Bradford and Leatherhead. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Scarborough, South Lakeland, Lewes and Leeds. 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 Beetham Westmorland
2 London parishes London 3
3 Great and Little Totham, Goldhanger, Heybridge, Tolleshunt Major, Tolleshunt Knights, Tolleshunt Dar Essex
4 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Leatherhead Surrey

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Scarborough 011 Scarborough
2 South Lakeland 003 South Lakeland
3 Lewes 002 Lewes
4 Leeds 011 Leeds
5 South Lakeland 004 South Lakeland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Otway

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Otway

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

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Otway surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Otway 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Otway is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Otway is most concentrated in decile 1 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Otway falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Otway 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 Otway, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Otway

The surname Otway has its origins in England and dates back to the medieval era. It is believed to be a locational name derived from the place name Otway, which was recorded in several regions of England, including Gloucestershire, Somerset, and Suffolk.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Otway can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landholdings commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name was likely derived from the Old English words "ot" meaning "from" and "weg" meaning "way" or "path," suggesting a connection to a particular route or pathway.

During the 13th century, the name appeared in various records and documents, with spellings such as Oteweye, Otewey, and Otteweye. These variations were common due to the lack of standardized spelling conventions at the time.

One notable bearer of the Otway surname was Sir John Otway (c. 1520-1593), an English diplomat and soldier who served under Queen Elizabeth I. He played a significant role in the Anglo-Spanish War and was knighted for his services.

Another prominent figure was Thomas Otway (1652-1685), an English playwright and translator famous for his tragic plays, including "The Orphan" and "Venice Preserved." His works were highly influential in the Restoration era and helped shape the development of English drama.

In the 18th century, Caesar Otway (1670-1719) was a British naval officer and cartographer who participated in several voyages of exploration and produced valuable maps of the West Indies and South America.

Robert Waller Otway (1770-1836), an English poet and clergyman, was known for his poetry collections, including "The Complaint" and "The Gladiator." His works often explored themes of nature and the human experience.

More recently, Sir Graham Otway (1925-2013) was a British diplomat who served as the British Ambassador to West Germany from 1976 to 1982. He played a significant role in fostering diplomatic relations between the two countries during the Cold War era.

Throughout its history, the Otway surname has been associated with various professions, including military service, literature, exploration, and diplomacy, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and contributions of those who have borne this name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Otway families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Otway 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 69 Otways recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.09x.

County Total Index
Surrey 69 5.09x
Middlesex 39 1.40x
Westmorland 33 54.01x
Essex 24 4.37x
Sussex 22 4.69x
Norfolk 13 3.04x
Lancashire 9 0.27x
Staffordshire 8 0.85x
Warwickshire 8 1.14x
Bedfordshire 7 4.86x
Kent 7 0.74x
Oxfordshire 7 4.08x
Suffolk 7 2.07x
Cambridgeshire 6 3.41x
Gloucestershire 6 1.10x
Yorkshire 6 0.22x
Radnorshire 4 17.83x
Devon 3 0.52x
Durham 2 0.24x
Hampshire 2 0.35x
Hertfordshire 2 1.04x
Isle of Man 1 1.94x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Witherslack in Westmorland leads with 26 Otways recorded in 1881 and an index of 5000.00x.

Place Total Index
Witherslack 26 5000.00x
Newington 23 22.40x
Brighton 14 14.81x
Croydon 11 14.63x
Leatherhead 11 324.48x
Tolleshunt D Arcy 11 1410.26x
St Luke London 7 15.70x
Witham 7 247.35x
Bristol St Paul In 6 41.29x
Chesterton 6 110.50x
Edgbaston 6 27.60x
Long Ditton 6 271.49x
Woodstock 6 555.56x
Burton 5 781.25x
Gomersal 5 38.88x
Hackford In Aylsham 5 649.35x
Lambeth 5 2.06x
Luton 5 20.06x
Petworth 5 178.57x
Beswick 4 47.39x
Bethnal Green London 4 3.31x
Bungay St Mary 4 238.10x
Discoed 4 4444.44x
Liverpool 4 2.00x
St Pancras London 4 1.79x
Wolverhampton 4 5.54x
Camberwell 3 1.69x
Chislehurst 3 58.94x
Hammersmith London 3 4.38x
Islington London 3 1.11x
Shoreditch London 3 2.49x
St George Hanover 3 8.27x
Sutton 3 30.61x
Tottenham 3 6.78x
West Bromwich 3 5.58x
Beccles 2 36.70x
Blakeney 2 263.16x
Dunstable 2 45.25x
Felmingham 2 526.32x
Great Totham 2 281.69x
Hackney London 2 1.28x
Hove 2 9.72x
Leamington Priors 2 11.59x
Southwark Christchurch 2 15.35x
St George In East 2 10.58x
Stevenage 2 67.34x
Tonbridge 2 5.85x
Westoe 2 4.27x
Wickham Bishops 2 392.16x
Arundel 1 38.17x
Batley 1 3.82x
Beetham 1 106.38x
Bilston 1 5.50x
Bishops Tawton 1 55.25x
Bromley 1 6.92x
Caterham 1 16.69x
Christchurch 1 8.09x
Denton 1 217.39x
Enstone 1 95.24x
Great Snoring 1 227.27x
Lancaster 1 5.09x
Limehouse London 1 3.28x
Margate St John Baptist 1 5.76x
Mitcham 1 11.68x
Morden 1 149.25x
Nayland 1 116.28x
Norwich St Peter Mancroft 1 46.51x
Onchan 1 6.72x
Paddington London 1 0.98x
Reigate Borough 1 32.05x
Romford 1 11.53x
Rotherhithe 1 2.91x
St Marylebone London 1 0.67x
Stoke Damerel 1 2.47x
Terrington St Clement 1 51.81x
Tormoham 1 4.09x
Undermilbeck 1 49.75x
Ventnor 1 18.45x
Westminster St 1 9.76x
Westminster St James 1 3.50x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 28
Thomas 16
John 12
George 9
James 8
Charles 5
Henry 4
Robert 4
Edward 3
Francis 3
Aaron 2
Arthur 2
Cecil 2
David 2
Frederick 2
Harry 2
Richard 2
Walter 2
Albert 1
Alfred 1
Augustus 1
Charley 1
Cooke 1
Edgar 1
Edmund 1
Edwin 1
Erwood 1
F. 1
Frank 1
Fredk. 1
Geo. 1
Harold 1
Hinde 1
Isaac 1
Jacily 1
Joseph 1
Joshua 1
Lawrence 1
Noah 1
Norris 1
Percy 1
Thos. 1

FAQ

Otway surname: questions and answers

How common was the Otway surname in 1881?

In 1881, 285 people were recorded with the Otway surname. That placed it at #10,070 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Otway surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 353 in 2016. That gives Otway a modern rank of #13,081.

What does the Otway surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place name in England.

What does the Otway map show?

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