Surname Otava - Meaning and Origin
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Otava: What does the surname Otava mean?
Otava is a Finnish surname, originating in Central-Eastern Finland. It is believed to be derived from a river located in Central Finland, called the Otava River. The word translates to “bridge, ford” and is likely derived from a Karelian word “otava” meaning “changing place”. The river was an important trading route connecting Central Finland to East Finland and Russia, and so many people with the surname likely traveled this route.
The surname Otava can also be found among people of Croatian and Slovenian descent. It likely originates from the Croatian and Slovenian word “tahnuti” or “opotahnuti” which comes from the verb “tahnuti”, meaning “to jump in the water”. It’s likely that the people with this surname were fishermen or lived near water, and the surname came from their occupation.
The surname is quite widespread and is quite common among Finnish people, especially in the Central-Eastern regions of the country. People with the surname Otava often make up a large part of the population in the small towns near the Otava River. It’s a unique surname that is often seen as a sign of pride amongst the people of Finland.
Order DNA origin analysisOtava: Where does the name Otava come from?
Otava is a surname of Czech origin. It is a very rare surname, with fewer than 200 people in the United States who carry the last name. They mainly live in or originate from the Midwest region of the US, primarily in North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan.
The Otava surname is believed to have originated from an old Czech word which translates to “seven” in English. It is unclear where exactly the name came from, though the Czech state of Bohemia is usually credited with its origin. Given the rarity of the last name, it is safe to assume that it is not a very common surname today.
However, the Otava family may have derived from a single ancestor and the name has been passed down through the generations. As a result, common variants of the name have spawned, such as Otaver, Otawy, and Otera.
Otava is not a common surname among Czech-Americans either, with a majority of them carrying the surnames of popular Czech immigrants from centuries past, such as Novak, Kulisek, or Sokola.
In conclusion, Otava is an uncommon last name today, both among the general population and among Czech-Americans. It is unclear where and when the surname originated from, though it is thought to have come from the Czech state of Bohemia. Variants of the name do exist, signifying that at least one Otava ancestor once existed and passed down his name through the generations.
Variations of the surname Otava
The surname Otava is believed to be of Slavic origin. Variants of this surname include Ottava, Otvára, Otvář, and Otvářík. Spellings of Otava include Ottawa, Otváře, and Otváříky.
Otava is also known as a given name or a first name. Variant spellings of Otava as a first name include Otyava, Otavia, Ottavia, Otvăţa, Otaava, and Otaawah.
In some regions of Central and Eastern Europe, Otava is used as a surname by certain families with Czech, Polish, or Slovakian heritage. Common surnames of similar origin to Otava include Otvos, Ostava, or Ostavi.
Other surnames of a similar origin include Usová, Uryva, Useva, and Ushva. Spellings of these surnames can include Usovaa, Uryvaa, Usiev, and Ushev.
Some of the rarer surnames of similar origin can be traced to other Slavic countries such as Bulgaria, Croatia, and Serbia. These include Otovac, Otvovac, Usovac, and Ostovac. Spellings of these names can range from Otovaca to Ostovaca.
All of these surnames come from the same root words which mean “in the valley”, and likely originated with families living in the lowlands of Central and Eastern Europe.
Famous people with the name Otava
- Jakub Otava: Czech footballer.
- Andrej Otava: Czechoslovak ice hockey player, represented Czechoslovakia at the 1964 Winter Olympics.
- Petr Otava: Czech weightlifter who competed in the 1976 Summer Olympics.
- Marie Otava-Fischer: Czechoslovak film actress.
- Oskar Otava: Czechoslovak fencer who competed in the 1968 Olympics and 1972 Olympics.
- Ondřej Otava: Czechoslovak slalom canoeist who competed in the 1980s.
- Bedřich Otava: Czech bobsledder who competed in the 1994 Winter Olympics.
- František Otava: Czech middle distance runner who competed in the 1936 Summer Olympics.
- Jan Otava: Czechoslovak ski jumper who competed during the late 1930s and early 1940s.
- Bořivoj Otava: Czech poet and playwright.
Other surnames
Comments or additions to the name "Otava"
11.02.2024
In Ukrainian language the word otava means the second mowing of the grass. Such interpretation of my surname I like better. I also came across such surname in Romania and there is a Facebook group Otava - All over the world.