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Otwell Family History

Otwell Surname Meaning

English: variant of Ottewell from the Middle English and Old French personal name Otuel a pet form of Otewi (see Ottaway).

This surname is now rare in Britain.

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 Otwell family from?

You can see how Otwell families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Otwell family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Otwell families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there was 1 Otwell family living in Middlesex. This was 100% of all the recorded Otwell's in United Kingdom. Middlesex had the highest population of Otwell families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Otwell 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 Otwell ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Farmer and Housewife were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Otwell. 31% of Otwell men worked as a Farmer and 20% of Otwell women worked as a Housewife. Some less common occupations for Americans named Otwell were Farming and Teacher.

View Census Data for Otwell | 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

  • Farmer
    31%
  • Laborer
    24%
  • Truck Driver
    6%
  • Farming
    4%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Housewife
    20%
  • Seamstress
    13%
  • Waitress
    13%
  • Teacher
    13%

What Otwell family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 5,000 census records available for the last name Otwell. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Otwell census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Otwell

Passenger Lists

There are 209 immigration records available for the last name Otwell. 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 Otwell immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 2,000 military records available for the last name Otwell. For the veterans among your Otwell ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Otwell military records

You've only scratched the surface of Otwell family history

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What is the average Otwell lifespan?

Between 1946 and 2004, in the United States, Otwell life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1946, and highest in 1964. The average life expectancy for Otwell in 1946 was 47, and 76 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Otwell

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Otwell 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 Otwell family tree

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