Surname Ottar - Meaning and Origin

Ottar: What does the surname Ottar mean?

Ottar is a Scandinavian surname that has roots in Old Norse. The name is derived from two elements - 'ótt,' meaning fear, dread or terror, and 'arr,' meaning warrior. Therefore, in its entirety, Ottar roughly translates to "frightening warrior" or "warrior who instills fear". The name can be traced back to ancient Viking times and is fairly common in Norway and Sweden today. Over time, its spelling has evolved and you can find variations such as Otar, Ottarr, and Otter. It's important to note that surnames can have different meanings in different cultures and languages. In Iceland, for example, "Ottar" is not used as a surname but as a given name.

Ottar: Where does the name Ottar come from?

The last name Ottar is of Scandinavian origin. It is derived from the Old Norse personal name Óttarr, which can be found in saga literature and runic inscriptions. The name Óttarr is composed of two elements: "Ótt", meaning fear, dread, or terror, and "arr", meaning warrior or army, so the total meaning may be interpreted as 'fierce warrior'.

Today, the last name Ottar is most commonly found in Norway, however, it is not particularly widespread. It is also found, but less frequently, in other Scandinavian countries like Sweden and Denmark. Traditionally, Nordic countries did not have a fixed system of hereditary surnames like many western cultures, instead using a patronymic system which changed every generation, so a fixed surname like Ottar is relatively rare. The fixed surname systems only formally started in the 19th and 20th centuries. Nevertheless, there are many people with the first name Ottar in these countries as well.

Variations of the surname Ottar

The surname Ottar has a Nordic origin and is quite popular in Norway and Sweden. The derivation of the name is from the Old Norse personal name 'Óttarr', which means 'fear or terror army'. The spelling of this surname varies globally due to cultural and regional influences.

Some variants include Ottarsen, Ottarsson, Otterson and Oterson, which indicate a paternal lineage (son of Ottar). Other spellings might be Ottarsdatter or Ottarsdotter, often used in Scandinavian countries to indicate a daughter of Ottar.

In some cases, the surname can also be spelled as Otter, Otar, or Otterer due to phonetic similarities. In countries like Germany, variant surnames like Ott or Otte are common.

It is also likely to encounter a compound form of the surname, for example, Ottar-Nilson or Ottar-Eriksson, which could be traced back to Nordic culture where a person’s surname indicates their father’s first name.

These variations often depend on global location and regional dialects. Despite different spellings or variations, they still retain the original cultural significance and familial connections.

It is important to remember that the spelling and variations of surnames are largely influenced by regional pronunciation, local dialects, and personal preference. Therefore, the above variants and spellings of the surname Ottar are commonly seen, but they might not be exhaustive.

Famous people with the name Ottar

• Frida Ottar: Norwegian professional footballer.
• Alfred Ottar Folkestad: miners' union leader and a Norwegian politician for the Labour Party.
• Ottar Martin Opstad: Norwegian football forward from the 1920s.
• Ottar Hellevik: Mayor of Volda municipality in Møre og Romsdal county in Norway.
• Ottar Helge Haga: Norwegian forester, elder brother of Einar Haga.
• Karl Ottar Bjørklund: Norwegian speed skater from the 1920s.
• Ottar Thomassen: Norwegian musician, climbed the success ladder with his song "Tory Kyssa".
• Ottar Bertelsen: Norwegian journalist and newspaper editor for Sandefjords Tidende.
• Trygve Ottar: Norwegian non-fiction writer and author of the book Hardanger Through Ages.
• Ottar Nygård: Norwegian curler who competed in the Winter Olympics in 1982.
• Ottar Hvarnes: Norwegian professional cyclist, mainly known for track cycling events.
• Ottar Brox: Norwegian journalist and newspaper editor for Dagbladet.
• Ottar Nordbø: Norwegian painter and sculptor involved in the Jæren Expressionism movement.
• Einar Ottar Haga: Norwegian woodcarver primarily known for his ornamental and religious woodcarvings.
• Ottar Åsland: Norwegian rock musician and guitarist of the Heavy metal rock band TNT.

Other surnames

Ottawa