Ottosen is a Danish and Norwegian patronymic surname meaning "son of Otto." The name Otto itself derives from Old Frankish aud or Old High German ot, meaning "wealth, fortune," and was originally a short form of various compound names. The suffix "-sen" is a Scandinavian patronymic ending equivalent to "-son."
The surname Ottosen is most prevalent in Denmark and Norway, reflecting its linguistic origins. A notable location named after the surname is Ottosen, Iowa, a small city founded in 1896 when Chris Ottosen, a grain dealer, successfully petitioned for a post office bearing his name. The town, which once had a population of 61, saw much of it destroyed by a mid-20th-century fire and was never fully rebuilt, with just 40 residents recorded in the 2020 census.
Etymology and Related Names
The root name Otto has been borne by numerous historical figures, including four kings of Germany, the first Holy Roman Emperor Otto the Great, Saint Otto of Bamberg (a 12th-century missionary to Pomerania), and 19th-century German chancellor Otto von Bismarck. Otto also saw use as a given name in Scandinavia, from which the surname Ottosen was formed. Variant and related surnames across different languages include Dutch Otten, German Ott and Otto, and English Otis. In Irish tradition, Cody and Mac Óda are surnames derived from a Gaelic form of Otto.
- Meaning: Son of Otto
- Origin: Danish, Norwegian; patronymic from Otto
- Type: Surname
- Usage Regions: Denmark, Norway; also found among Scandinavian diaspora communities.
Sources: Wikipedia — Ottosen, Iowa