hɪstˈɔːɹɪkli, ˈʌtvɛɹ hæd ɐ vˈɛɹi ɹoʊbˈʌst fˈɪʃɪŋ ˈɪndʌstɹi ænd ɪn wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd fˈɪfti ˈeɪt, ðə ɡɹˈeɪɾɚɹ ˈʌtvɛɹ ˈɛɹiə wʌz splˈɪt ˈɔf fɹʌmðə mjuːnˈɪsɪpˈælᵻɾi ʌv ˈiːvɪndvˌɪɡ tə bɪkˌʌm ɪts ˈoʊn mjuːnˈɪsɪpˈælᵻɾi nˈoʊn æz ˈʌtvɛɹ.
Historically, Utvær had a very robust fishing industry and in 1858, the greater Utvær area was split off from the municipality of Eivindvig to become its own municipality known as Utvær.