-Sons of Ottar -- Background

Background

This is a Cotter Family project. As all of us have seen the information regarding the origin and source of the Cotter name is varied. Some is unsupportable by fact; well exemplified by the English cottager story which is as insulting as inane.
Now our project is shedding some light on the truth, and it appears that the Norwegian/Viking origin explanation is supportable based on our test results. As of this date January 26, 2010 all members have Frisian/Norse compatible YDNA. This is consistent with the history of Ireland and the Viking raiding and settlement as well as Ottars participation.
Ottar was North Norwegian Viking Chieftain from Hagoland in North Norway, in the late 800s, he visited the court of the English King, Alfred the Great, who ordered that an account of the Norwegian's travels be written down. Ottar described his voyages to the White Sea, and although he was perhaps not the first Norwegian to reach these unknown waters, his journey was a remarkable feat of exploration which made both the North Cape and the White Sea known in European literature for the first time. Ottar continued to trade and was known to make annual visits to Hedeby, Denmark.