Surname Ottens - Meaning and Origin
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Ottens: What does the surname Ottens mean?
The last name Ottens is of German origin, and is derived from the German word "otten," which means "low land." It was first used as an occupational or topographical name for someone who lived in or near low lying areas..
The surname Ottens is derived from the Old German word "otten" which meant low land, as well as being thought to be derived from an old personal name, which is most likely from the Germanic elements 'oth' meaning 'wealth' and 'hild' meaning 'battle'. Those bearing the Ottens surname would have likely been prosperous farmers during the Middle Ages.
During the 1800s, the Ottens family emigrated to the United States during the mass migration of Germans seeking opportunity and a better life. The Ottens name can be found in various parts of the United States such as Texas, California, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Michigan.
Aside from the United States, the Ottens name can also be found in Canada, Australia, and parts of Europe. In Europe, the most occurrences of the Ottens name are found in Holland, Germany, England, and Switzerland.
Overall, the last name Ottens is derived from the German word, “otten,” meaning low land. The surname originated during the Middle Ages, and then later spread to various places in Europe and the United States. Today, many descendants of the Ottens family are still found in those places.
Order DNA origin analysisOttens: Where does the name Ottens come from?
The last name Ottens is primarily found in the Netherlands. While it is not a particularly common surname, there are still pockets of Dutch people bearing the name across the country.
In recent records, the province of Gelderland has had the highest concentration of Ottens in the Netherlands, with a reported 500 people with the last name. That's not particularly common, but still a decent number of people, especially as it's a relatively small province.
Some of the other major provinces in the country with notable counts of population with the last name Ottens are Utrecht, Noord-Holland, Zuid-Holland, Flevoland, and Overijssel. All these provinces have reported several hundred people with the last name.
Outside the Netherlands, the name has various permutations, such as Oten in Belgium and Oben in Germany. It is also worth noting that the name has made its way to the United States, with around 300 recorded instances of people currently living in the country bearing this last name.
In conclusion, the last name Ottens is primarily found in the Netherlands, but also has been noted in some other countries in Europe and the United States. It is not particularly common, but there are enough of them scattered through the Netherlands and elsewhere for this to be considered a local name.
Variations of the surname Ottens
The surname Ottens has many variants and spellings, as well as connected surnames of the same origin. Oten and Otens are the most common variants and spellings, while Otene, Otenne, Otenes, and Otten are less common ones. Other surnames related to Ottens include Ounks, Ouns, Oen, Ohene, and Oans.
The surname Ottens is of Germanic origin and is believed to derive from the Germanic name ‘Otto’. It is most commonly found in the Netherlands and Germany and was initially used a personal or first name for a male. Over time the name eventually became used to identify families and households, and a hereditary form was created.
The variants of Ottens are generally believed to stem from the attempts to adapt the Dutch surname to English and other languages, as the Dutch language does not have silent letters. As such, the spelling has been altered with different endings to the name.
The related surnames of Ounks, Ouns, Oen, Ohene and Oans are also believed to have the same origin, but it is unknown exactly how they came into use. It is possible that these names were adopted when some of people with the Ottens surname or similar spelling emigrated and wanted a different surname for themselves or their families.
The use of the surname Ottens is most common today in the Netherlands, Germany, the United States, and Canada, though it can be found in other locations as well. As societal norms have changed over time, the surname has been passed down from both the male and female lineage of the family, even if the name is not changed upon marriage.
Famous people with the name Ottens
- Anton Otto Ottens (1736–1784), German painter
- Jacob Ottens (1698–1750), Dutch cartographer and publisher
- Arvind Doc Ottens (born 1963), Dutch football player and coach
- Henk Ottens (born 1951), Dutch Art historian and visual artist
- Marinus Willem Ottens (1745–1819), Dutch surveyor, cartographer and publisher
- Willem Christiaan Ottens (1773–1845), Dutch surveyor, cartographer and publisher
- Jan David Ottens (1757–1809), Dutch pastor
- Johannes Ottens (1879–1942), Dutch biblical scholar
- Tom Ottens (born 1988), Dutch footballer
- Bram Ottens (born 1983), Dutch TV presenter