Evidence suggests that the first Outten's came to America in the early 1640s.
County Court Records of Accomack-Northampton, Virginia 1640-1645 edited by Susie M. Ames contains a reference to the Outten name. On pages 55-56 is the following:
[p. 28] Whereas their was a defference between Capt. William Stone and Mr. William Burwell concearning a parcell of land att the Seaboard side upon hearing whereof this board had thourght fitt and accordinglie Ordered the said Capt. Stone shall enjoye the same.
Whereas Capt Stone hath made it appeare unto this Court that their is due and of right belonging unto him the said Capt. Stone Nine hundred and Fiftie acres of land for the transportation of nineteene severall persons whose names are hereafter mentioned It is therefore thought fitt and accordinglie Ordered by this Court that the same be allordinglie Certified unto the right worshipfull the Governer and Counsell att James Cittie for this obteyning a patent for enjoying the same which Certifficate is hereby graunted att the request of the said Capt. Stone. Phillip A Negro, Jane A Negro, Tony A Negro, Susanna Grace, Arthur Upshott, Thomas Outten, William Streete, John Straffort, John Rutter, Edward Muncke, James Johnson, Edward Claxton, Isacke Breett, John Dudson, John Browne, John Lewe, Richard Nevell, Margaret Smith and William Muchke.
In 1670 there were three Maryland Real Estate transactions that suggest that in addition to Thomas Outten there was an early Outten named William, possibly Thomas's son. On Jan 25, 1670, Thomas Hooten assigned some land to John Purnell. On March 16, 1670, William Hooten was granted land for transporting himself from Virginia to Maryland. On that same day he assigned this land to George Ennes. Hooten is a common spelling for Outten in the colonial period.
This evidence contridicts earlier theories suggesting that the Outten's were Hugenots. Rev. John Perry Outten's Hugenot theory includes the arrival in Massachusetts from France in about 1662. This is included in his manuscripts "The Outten Advent" and "Were the Outten's Hugenots?".
An Abraham Outen is listed in the Record of Indentures of Individuals Bound Out as Apprentices, Servants Etc, and of Germans... in the Penn-German Society Bulletin Vol 16 (1905). He is listed as having arrived in Pennslyvania in 1773. This is of course too late to be first Outten but he could be the source of one branch of the family.
There doesn't seem to be any strong consensus on the Origin of the Outten Family. Here are two theories that I have heard:
Rev. John Perry Outten speculated that the Outten's were Hugenots. Again, in his manuscripts "The Outten Advent" and "Were the Outten's Hugenots?" he outlines his theory.
My cousin Bill feels that the Outten's are Dutch. Several years ago he spoke with some Outten's in London. They explained that the family was originally Van Outten and had come to England from Holland during the Weaver's Migration in 1350. The Weavers Migration apparently was caused when the King of England forbad the importation of Dutch cloth.