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Otway Family History

Otway Surname Meaning

English: variant of Ottaway.

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


Similar surnames: 

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Otway family from?

You can see how Otway families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Otway family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Otway families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 91 Otway families living in London. This was about 25% of all the recorded Otway's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Otway families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Otway 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 Otway ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Bricklayer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Otway. 45% of Otway men worked as a Bricklayer and 79% of Otway women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Otway were Mechanic and Old Age Pensioner.

View Census Data for Otway | 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.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • Bricklayer
    45%
  • General Labourer
    34%
  • Mechanic
    23%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    79%
  • Housewife
    6%
  • Private Means
    5%
  • Old Age Pensioner
    4%

What Otway family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 11,000 census records available for the last name Otway. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Otway census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Otway

Passenger Lists

There are 1,000 immigration records available for the last name Otway. 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 Otway immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 663 military records available for the last name Otway. For the veterans among your Otway ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Otway military records

You've only scratched the surface of Otway family history

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What is the average Otway lifespan?

Between 1960 and 2004, in the United States, Otway life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1971, and highest in 2002. The average life expectancy for Otway in 1960 was 51, and 78 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Otway

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Otway 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.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Otway family tree

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