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Oetter Family History

Oetter Surname Meaning

Historically, surnames evolved as a way to sort people into groups - by occupation, place of origin, clan affiliation, patronage, parentage, adoption, and even physical characteristics (like red hair). Many of the modern surnames in the dictionary can be traced back to Britain and Ireland.


Similar surnames: Otter, Setter, Ketter, Netter, Better, Petter, Wetter, Vetter, Etter

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Oetter family from?

You can see how Oetter families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Oetter family name was found in the USA, the UK, and Canada between 1880 and 1920. The most Oetter families were found in USA in 1920. In 1891 there were 18 Oetter families living in Lincolnshire. This was about 86% of all the recorded Oetter's in United Kingdom. Lincolnshire had the highest population of Oetter families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Oetter surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Oetter ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Salesman and Clerk were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Oetter. 34% of Oetter men worked as a Salesman and 100% of Oetter women worked as a Clerk.

View Census Data for Oetter | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

United States shown, England data unavailable

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Salesman
    34%
  • Laborer
    25%
  • Truck Driver
    25%
  • Farmer
    17%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Clerk
    100%

What Oetter family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 972 census records available for the last name Oetter. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Oetter census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Oetter

Passenger Lists

There are 181 immigration records available for the last name Oetter. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Oetter immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 365 military records available for the last name Oetter. For the veterans among your Oetter ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Oetter military records

You've only scratched the surface of Oetter family history

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What is the average Oetter lifespan?

Between 1963 and 2004, in the United States, Oetter life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1997, and highest in 1983. The average life expectancy for Oetter in 1963 was 79, and 80 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Oetter

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Oetter ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

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