Find out how popular the last name Over is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Over.

Over, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Over surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Over in America

Over is the 24112th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Over surname appeared 1,044 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Over.

We can also compare 2010 data for Over to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Over

The surname "OVER" is believed to have originated in England, with its earliest recorded use dating back to the late 11th century. The name is derived from the Old English word "ofer," meaning "above" or "higher." This suggests that the surname may have been initially used to describe someone who lived in an elevated location or near a hill or ridge.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname "OVER" appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive record of landholdings and population surveys conducted under the orders of William the Conqueror. The entry mentions a landowner named Radulfus Over, who held property in Northamptonshire.

In the 13th century, records show the name was also spelled as "Ofer" and "Overe," reflecting the evolution of the English language over time. During this period, the surname may have been associated with place names such as Overtown or Overton, which were derived from the same Old English root.

Notable individuals bearing the surname "OVER" include John Over (c. 1460-1510), a British theologian and philosopher who served as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge. Another prominent figure was Robert Over (1573-1615), an English clergyman and author known for his works on theology and church history.

In the 17th century, the surname "OVER" gained prominence in the Netherlands, where it was often spelled as "Overen." One notable bearer of this name was Roelof van Overen (1623-1677), a Dutch Golden Age painter known for his still-life and genre paintings.

Moving into the 18th century, the name "OVER" appeared in various parts of England and Scotland. One noteworthy individual was Samuel Over (1703-1781), a British architect and surveyor who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Marine Society's headquarters.

Throughout the 19th century, the surname "OVER" continued to be present in various regions of the United Kingdom. One prominent figure was William Over (1808-1888), an English architect and surveyor who worked on numerous public buildings and churches in the Midlands region.

As the surname "OVER" spread across different regions and countries, it underwent various spelling variations, including "Overs," "Overr," and "Overe." However, the common thread among all these variations remains the Old English root word "ofer," which has endured for centuries as a testament to the name's rich heritage and linguistic origins.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Over

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Over.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Over was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Over has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Over was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Over, please contact us.

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