Ott Family History

German: from a short form of ancient Germanic compound names based on the element aud ōd ‘wealth prosperity’ (see Otto and 2 below). English (London): from the Old Norman French personal name Ode Odde Odes Otto Otes Otton (ancient Germanic Audo Odo Oddo Otto) originally a short form of ancient Germanic compound names based on the element aud ‘wealth prosperity’.

Many of these names were Latinized as Odo. Odo was the name of the half-brother of the Conqueror archbishop of Bayeux who accompanied the Norman expedition to England and was rewarded with 439 confiscated manors. Compare Oates.

Chinese: possibly from a Taishanese form of the Chinese name 達 (meaning ‘eminent’) a monosyllabic personal name or part of a disyllabic personal name of some early Chinese immigrants in the US.