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Otis Family History

Otis Surname Meaning

English: variant of Oates. This name is very common in America but now rare in Britain.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Otis family from?

You can see how Otis families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Otis family name was found in the USA, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Otis families were found in USA in 1880. In 1851 there was 1 Otis family living in Perthshire. This was 100% of all the recorded Otis's in Scotland. Perthshire had the highest population of Otis families in 1851.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Otis 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 Otis ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Teacher were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Otis. 15% of Otis men worked as a Laborer and 8% of Otis women worked as a Teacher. Some less common occupations for Americans named Otis were Truck Driver and Housekeeper.

View Census Data for Otis | 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

  • Laborer
    15%
  • Farmer
    14%
  • Salesman
    5%
  • Truck Driver
    4%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Teacher
    8%
  • Stenographer
    7%
  • Housewife
    6%
  • Housekeeper
    6%

What Otis family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 78,000 census records available for the last name Otis. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Otis census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Otis

Passenger Lists

There are 5,000 immigration records available for the last name Otis. 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 Otis immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 34,000 military records available for the last name Otis. For the veterans among your Otis ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Otis military records

You've only scratched the surface of Otis family history

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What is the average Otis lifespan?

Between 1944 and 2004, in the United States, Otis life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1944, and highest in 2002. The average life expectancy for Otis in 1944 was 26, and 74 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Otis

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Otis 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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