Surname Ott - Meaning and Origin
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Exploring ancestral lineage through iGENEA DNA test led to an unexpected emotional journey, enhancing the bond with my family and the ancestry linked to the surname Ott, knotting personal identity with the past.
D. Ott
read moreOtt: What does the surname Ott mean?
The surname Ott is of German origin and is derived from a nickname for someone who was prosperous or rich, based on the Old German word "od", meaning "wealth" or "fortune". The name may have initially been assigned to someone with great material wealth or someone who was seen as a symbol of wealth and prosperity within their community. However, it's important to note that the usage and meanings of surnames vary across different cultures and regions. Throughout history, the name Ott has been associated with a variety of families in different regions of Germany, each with its own coat of arms and history. Over time, the surname has spread across the world due to emigration and now can be found in a variety of countries.
Order DNA origin analysisOtt: Where does the name Ott come from?
The last name Ott is most commonly associated with German-speaking countries such as Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. It is also found in several areas of the United States including Pennsylvania, Indiana, and Mississippi. The name is derived from a nickname meaning "wealth" or "power," and the original spelling is "Ot."
In Austria, it is quite common to have the last name Ott. In some parts of the country, the Ott family is said to have been there since the 12th century. In other parts of Austria, the Ott family is found in more recent records of the 18th century.
In Germany, Ott is also quite a common last name. It appears to have been present in some areas since the 1500s, and in many records since the 1600s.
In Switzerland, Ott is thought to have been present since the 1700s, and is found in increased numbers in the French-speaking part of the country.
In the United States, Ott is mainly found in German-speaking descendant settlements in parts of Pennsylvania, Indiana, and Mississippi.
Overall, the last name Ott is most commonly associated with Central European countries such as Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. It is also found with increasing prevalence in American states with large German-descendent populations such as Pennsylvania and Indiana.
Variations of the surname Ott
Ott is a surname of multiple origins, and as such, there are various variants, spellings, and related surnames associated with this surname.
The Ott surname can be primarily of Germanic or Ashkenazi Jewish, Austrian, Swiss, Dutch, English, French, and Czech origins.
In Germanic and Ashkenazi Jewish languages, the surname can be spelled as "Ot, Oth, Otht, Othe, Otht, Othts, Ottel, Otter, and Ottmann".
In Austrian, Swiss, Dutch, and English, the surname is spelled as "Oat, Oates, Ot, Otes, and Ottes".
In French, the surname is spelled as "Ot", while in Czech the surname is spelled as "Otte".
Furthermore, the suffix "er" is sometimes added on to all of these spellings to form related surnames such as Oter, Otter, Otteler, Ottmann, Oateser, and Otteser.
The origin of the Ott surname is closely associated with the Middle Low German word "ot", which means "wealth". For example, the name "Oth" (upper German form of Ot) stems from an Old High German phrase meaning "Prosperous" or "Wealthy".
Related surnames are also derived from the similar root words in other languages like Old Norse "ottr", meaning "Heritage" or "Estate" in Icelandic, and Old High German "odal", meaning "Fee Tail Estate" or "Herritage".
As such, variants of the Ott surname might include Ottsdotter, Ottson, Odahl, Odland, Oftedal, Oaten, and Oateson.
Famous people with the name Ott
- Austin Ott: American professional ice hockey goaltender
- Kaylee Ott: American professional soccer player
- Johann Ott: South African sprint canoeist
- David Ott: American classical and jazz composer
- Heike Ott: German sculptor
- Mary Ott: Novelist of young adult fiction
- Larry Ott: American composer of church music and film scores
- Eva Ott: Finnish modern dancer
- Heiko Ott: German Olympic sailor
- Dr. Roy Ott: American educationalist specializing in agricultural science and food science
- Hans Otto Ott: German-born US lawyer
- Niklaus Ott: Swiss actor
- Jordan Ott: American wheelchair athlete competing in the shot put and in other field events
- Uwe Ott: Professional flamenco guitarist
- Carsten Ott: German composer, producer, and arranger
- Marina Ottaway: American political scientist and Middle East expert
- Barry Ott: South African singer and songwriter
- Brad Ott: American Christian musician, composer and arranger
- Steve Ott: Canadian professional ice hockey player
- Gunter Ott: German Professor of Bioscience at the Technical University of Munich