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

Overbey, 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 Overbey surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Overbey in America

Overbey is the 11663rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Overbey surname appeared 2,688 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 Overbey.

We can also compare 2010 data for Overbey 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 Overbey

The surname Overbey has its origins in England, tracing back to the 11th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "ofer" meaning "over" and "bæc" meaning "ridge" or "hill." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived on or near a particular ridge or hill.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appeared as "Ourebec." This ancient manuscript, commissioned by William the Conqueror, was a comprehensive record of landholdings across England and parts of Wales.

During the medieval period, the name underwent various spelling variations, including Overbeck, Overbeek, and Overbeke. These variations likely reflect regional dialects and the inconsistent spelling practices of the time.

In the 13th century, a notable figure named John Overbey was recorded as owning land in the county of Norfolk. His descendants continued to hold property in the area for several generations.

The 16th century saw the emergence of another prominent individual with the surname, Sir Thomas Overbey (1492-1564). He served as a Member of Parliament and held influential positions in the court of King Henry VIII.

In the 17th century, the name appears in the records of the Virginia Company, which established the first permanent English settlement in North America. One of the early settlers in the Jamestown colony was William Overbey, who arrived in 1619.

As the name spread across England and eventually to other parts of the world, its spelling continued to evolve. Variations like Overby, Overbuey, and Overbay emerged, reflecting the influence of local dialects and scribal errors.

Among the notable individuals bearing the Overbey surname in more recent centuries was Sir John Overbey (1731-1803), a British naval officer who served during the American Revolutionary War and the French Revolutionary Wars.

Another prominent figure was Elizabeth Overbey (1809-1888), an English writer and advocate for women's rights, who published several works on female education and social reform.

The name Overbey has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including merchants, soldiers, politicians, and scholars, contributing to the rich tapestry of its history across multiple centuries and regions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Overbey

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

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

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

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