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

Overby, 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 Overby surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Overby in America

Overby is the 5512th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Overby surname appeared 6,311 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Overby.

We can also compare 2010 data for Overby 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 Overby

The surname Overby has its origins in the Scandinavian countries, particularly in Norway and Denmark. It is believed to have emerged around the 11th or 12th century as a locational name, referring to a place or settlement known as "Overby" or a similar variation.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Overby can be found in the Norwegian census records from the late 13th century, where it appears as "Ovrebi." This spelling suggests that the name may have originated from the Old Norse words "yfri" meaning "upper" and "by" meaning "village" or "settlement."

During the medieval period, the name Overby was predominantly concentrated in the coastal regions of Norway and Denmark. It is possible that some individuals bearing this surname may have been involved in maritime activities or fishing communities located near the upper villages or settlements.

In the 15th century, a notable figure named Hans Overby (c. 1420-1489) was a prominent merchant and ship owner based in the city of Bergen, Norway. His successful trading ventures and contributions to the local economy helped establish the Overby name as a respected mercantile family in the region.

Another historical reference to the name Overby can be found in the Danish chronicles from the 16th century, where a nobleman named Jørgen Overby (c. 1525-1592) is mentioned as a trusted advisor to King Frederik II. Overby's diplomatic skills and counsel were highly valued by the Danish monarch during his reign.

As the centuries progressed, the Overby surname spread beyond Scandinavia, with some families migrating to other parts of Europe and eventually to the Americas. One notable individual was Carl Overby (1789-1868), a Swedish-born explorer and adventurer who participated in several expeditions to the Arctic regions in the early 19th century.

Another prominent figure with the Overby surname was Kathrine Overby (1864-1935), a Norwegian-American educator and activist who played a significant role in establishing Norwegian-language schools and promoting cultural preservation among Norwegian immigrants in the United States.

The Overby name has also been associated with notable figures in the arts and literature. For example, Ingrid Overby (1908-1991) was a renowned Danish sculptor and ceramist whose works are exhibited in numerous galleries and museums around the world.

While the Overby surname may have evolved and spread across different regions over time, its origins can be traced back to the Viking-era settlements and coastal communities of Scandinavia, where it likely originated as a locational name describing an "upper village" or elevated settlement.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Overby

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

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

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

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