Otke History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Germany

Etymology of Otke

What does the name Otke mean?

The Otke surname first began to be used in the German state of Bavaria, some time after the 12th century, when hereditary surnames were adopted according to fairly general rules, and names that were derived from locations became particularly common. The family name Otke is a local surname. Originally denoting the proprietorship of an estate or influence within a village, the German preposition von, which means from or of, used with local names, was taken as a mark of aristocracy. The surname Otke was given to someone who lived in Bavaria, where the name came from humble beginnings but gained a significant reputation for its contribution to the emerging medieval society. The name Otke evolved from the Old German personal name Ott, a name of Emperors, made famous by Otto the Great (912-973), Holy Roman emperor.

Early Origins of the Otke family

The surname Otke was first found in Bavaria, where the name came from humble beginnings but gained a significant reputation for its contribution to the emerging mediaeval society. It later became more prominent as many branches of the same house acquired distant estates and branches, some in foreign countries, always elevating their social status by their great contributions to society.

Early History of the Otke family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Otke research. Another 168 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1563, 1743, 1755, 1788, 1792 and 1840 are included under the topic Early Otke History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Otke Spelling Variations

One can encounter great variation in the spelling of surnames: in early times, spelling in general, and thus the spelling of names was not yet standardized; and later, spellings would change with branching and movement of families. Variations of the name Otke include Ott, Otte, Ottel, Oettel, Oettle, Oettli, Otts, Ot and many more.

Early Notables of the Otke family

Another 42 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Otke Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Otke family

The great European flow of migration to North America, which began in the middle of the 17th century and continued into the 20th century, was particularly attractive to those from Bavaria who wished to escape either poverty or religious persecution. For many Bavarian tenant farmers, the chance to own their own land was a major incentive. So the widespread colonization of the United States began in 1650, when many immigrants from Germany settled in pockets in Pennsylvania, Texas, New York, Illinois, and California. In Canada, German settlement centered in Ontario and the prairie provinces. Among those of this surname listed in various historical records were: Hermann Otte, who came to New Netherlands (now New York) in 1661. Hans Michael Ott settled in Philadelphia in 1743; Jacob Ott arrived in New York City in 1765.