Surname Otero - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'O'
Unveiling the Origins and History of the Otero Lineage: A Personal Journey Through My iGENEA DNA Test Results
My iGENEA DNA test has provided a compelling insight of the history and origins of the Otero lineage, validating the general understanding about the surname's roots and offering unexpected revelations. The highly-detailed results bear testament to the Otero lineage's rich history, including migrations, societal interactions, and changes.
X. Otero
read moreOtero: What does the surname Otero mean?
The surname Otero is of Spanish origin and is of toponymic origin, meaning it is derived from the name of a place. The word "Otero" comes from the Spanish term meaning "hill" or "high place". This suggests that the name may have been given to those who lived on or near a hill. Like many surnames, it started as a way to distinguish people by their geographic location or occupation. It is prevalent in the Spanish regions of Castile and León, Andalusia, and Galicia. However, it is also found in other Spanish-speaking countries. Despite being a popular surname, Otero may also refer to several towns and municipalities in Spain. The coat of arms associated with the Otero surname includes a blue chevron with three golden flowers, demonstrating elements of nobility and honor.
Order DNA origin analysisOtero: Where does the name Otero come from?
The last name Otero is most common in Spain and various Latin American countries. In Spain the surname is the 67th most common surname according to the 2020 rankings from the National Institute of Statistics. In the world, it stands at a remarkable 7400th, making it one of the more uncommon names.
In Latin America, the surname Otero is heralded as a noble family name. It is found in Mexico, Honduras, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Panama, Colombia, Bolivia, Venezuela, Chile – almost all the countries of the region. In Mexico it is the 62nd most common surname and within the top million most common surnames in the world.
In the USA, the last name is less common. According to the 2000 census, Otero ranked 11, 405th in popularity. Between 2000 and 2020, the surname has declined in popularity in the USA, dropping to 16, 883rd in 2020.
The surname is also common in parts of Europe and in Asia and Africa. France, Germany, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom all have the surname Otero present, albeit to a much lesser degree than in Spain and Latin America.
In conclusion, the surname Otero is most common in Spain and the Latin American countries, although it can be found as well in various parts of Europe, Africa and Asia.
Variations of the surname Otero
The surname Otero is a Spanish surname of toponymic origin meaning "from Otero". The variants of Otero are Oter (which is less common), Otéro, Oterro, and Oteri. A less common spelling is Autero. Some variants of Otero with other endings are Oteros, Otéros, Oterros, and Oteris.
Some common surnames of similar origin to Otero are Otín, Otaño, Otón, Otiz, and Otizi. These surnames all derive from toponyms beginning with the same Latin word 'ot-' meaning “place of”. Some other surnames derived from Latin but similar to Otero are Otey, Ottery, Otero, Oteri, Otero, and Oterro.
The surname Otero is used all over the Spanish-speaking world, including Mexico, Latin America, and Spain. It's also found in some parts of the United States, specifically California and New Mexico. It's not uncommon to find the surname spelled differently depending on the old region it originated from.
In Mexico, the variants of Otero are Otero, Otaño, Otón, Otiz, and Otizi. In the United States, the variants are Otero, Otey, Ottery, and Otizi. In some Latin American countries, the variants of Otero are Oter, Otéro, Oteri, Oterro, and Oteros.
Overall, Otero is a very common surname that can be spelled slightly differently depending on the region and language. It is of toponymic origin meaning “from Otero”.
Famous people with the name Otero
- Ramiro Otero: independent Mexican journalist focusing on topics such as human rights and the environment.
- Jose Otero Cardama: notorious Spanish entomologist and conservationist, member of the Royal Spanish Academy of Sciences who was responsible for producing some of the earliest identification works of Iberian insects.
- Angelo Otero: Venezuelan artist known for his sculptures and paintings featuring contrasting organic and industrial forms.
- Elenita Otero: Puerto Rican teacher, writer, and advocate for women's rights.
- Luis Otero: Dominican Republic athlete who has competed in track and field events since 2004.
- Adelaida Otero Cepeda: Spanish writer and journalist from Alicante, she won the 1985 National Novel Prize for her novel, ‘Llevatelo Todo’.
- Aureliano Otero: former Cuban bishop of Pinar del Rio.
- Yoel Otero: Cuban playwright, screenwriter, and chess master.
- Daniel Otero: former Puerto Rican track and field athlete who specialized in the long jump and triple jump, representing his country at twoSummer Olympics.
- Luis Otero: Venezuelan political activist and founder of the Venezuelan Student Movement who was arrested in 2014 as a part of the anti-government protests.