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

Overall, 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 Overall surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Overall in America

Overall is the 17229th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Overall surname appeared 1,644 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Overall.

We can also compare 2010 data for Overall 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 Overall

The surname Overall is an occupational name that originated in England during the medieval period. It derives from the Old English word "ofyr-calica," which referred to a type of outer garment or overcoat worn by farmers and laborers. The earliest recorded instance of the name dates back to the 13th century, appearing in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire in 1273 as "Overalle."

In the following centuries, the name evolved through various spellings, such as Overalle, Overell, and Overhill. It is likely that these variations stemmed from regional dialects and the inconsistencies in spelling practices at the time. One notable early record of the name is found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1379, where a John Overalle is mentioned.

The name Overall has a strong connection to the agricultural and rural communities of medieval England. It is believed that many individuals with this surname were employed as farm workers or laborers who wore the distinctive outer garments that gave rise to the name.

One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name was William Overalle, a prominent English clergyman and theologian who lived from 1601 to 1679. He served as the Bishop of Norwich and was known for his writings on theological subjects.

Another notable figure was John Overall (1560-1619), an English theologian and Bishop of Norwich in the early 17th century. He played a significant role in the translation of the King James Bible and was known for his scholarly works on religious subjects.

In the 18th century, Samuel Overall (1700-1780) was a renowned English engraver and printseller. He was responsible for producing numerous prints and engravings of landscapes, portraits, and historical events.

Moving into the 19th century, John Overall (1828-1893) was a British architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Garrick Theatre and the Gresham Life Assurance Society's headquarters.

Lastly, in more recent history, Mary Overall (1914-2003) was a British writer and journalist who published several books on topics ranging from gardening to travel and contributed to various newspapers and magazines.

While the name Overall has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through migration and settlement in countries like the United States, Canada, and Australia. However, its origins can be traced back to the occupational and rural landscapes of medieval England, where individuals who wore distinctive outer garments earned the surname that has endured for centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Overall

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

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 Overall 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 Overall 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 Overall was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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