The name (Otterå, Otteraano, Oteråni and similar spellings) refers to river that runs through the valley.

The three neighboring farms of Husavik, Brekke, and Otterå had naturally close contact due to their proximity.

Lars Knutsson had married Ildrid Jonsdotter Haukanes who had inherited the farm by his father.

In the first part of the 17th century, the nobleman Aksel Mowatt owned Otterå, and from 1660, Baron Louis Rosenkrantz was the owner.

In the first part of the 18th century, the big farmers in Fitjar are owners, before Ivar Nilsson Haukanes bought the farm in 1766.