Otis (surname)

The surname Otis is of English origin. It is derived from the medieval given name "Ode," which itself is a short form of various Germanic personal names containing the element "od," meaning wealth, prosperity, or inheritance. Diminutive forms like "Otin" and "Otes" were also used, and these ultimately evolved into the surname Otis.

The surname is found more frequently in areas of England where Germanic influence was strong. It was also carried to North America by early English settlers.

Variations of the surname include Oates, Otes, Otte, and Ott.

Notable individuals with the surname Otis:

• Elisha Otis: (1811-1861), American industrialist and inventor of the safety elevator.
• Harrison Gray Otis: (1765-1848), American businessman, lawyer, and politician, and a member of the influential Otis family of Massachusetts.
• James Otis Jr.: (1725-1783), American lawyer, political activist, pamphleteer, and legislator in colonial Massachusetts during the period leading up to the American Revolution.