Explore the Family Name Otterbein
The meaning of Otterbein
German: nickname from Middle High German oter ‘otter’ + bein ‘bone, leg’; its precise application is unclear.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Otterbein in the United States?
The surname Otterbein, based on data from the Decennial U.S. Census, experienced a decrease in popularity between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, Otterbein was ranked 52,827 in popularity with a count of 368 individuals, representing a proportion of 0.14 per 100,000 people. By 2010, the rank had dropped to 59,171, reflecting a decrease of 12.01%. The count of individuals with the Otterbein surname also decreased by 7.07% to 342, reducing the proportion to 0.12 per 100,000.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #52,827 | #59,171 | -12.01% |
| Count | 368 | 342 | -7.07% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.14 | 0.12 | -14.29% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Otterbein
In terms of ethnic identity, data from the Decennial U.S. Census indicates that the majority of individuals with the surname Otterbein identified as White, representing 96.74% in 2000 and slightly increasing to 97.08% in 2010. Interestingly, there was no record of individuals identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander, Black, or American Indian and Alaskan Native during both census years. In 2000, a small percentage (1.36%) of individuals identified as being of two or more races, but this number dropped to zero by 2010. There was a slight increase in those identifying as Hispanic from 0% in 2000 to 1.46% in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 96.74% | 97.08% | 0.35% |
| Hispanic | 0% | 1.46% | 0% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Two or More Races | 1.36% | 0% | 0% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |