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

Overcast, 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 Overcast surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Overcast in America

Overcast is the 52619th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Overcast surname appeared 394 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 Overcast.

We can also compare 2010 data for Overcast 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 Overcast

The surname Overcast is of English origin and can be traced back to the late 16th century. It is derived from the Old English words "ofer" meaning "over" and "cæste" meaning "cast" or "throw," which together suggest someone who lives at or near an elevated location or hill.

The earliest known record of the surname Overcast dates back to 1598 in the parish records of St. Mary's Church in Chelmsford, Essex, where a Thomas Overcast was listed as a resident. Other early spellings of the name include Overcasten, Overcaste, and Overcaster.

During the 17th century, the name appeared in several historical documents, including the Hearth Tax Returns of 1674 for Gloucestershire, which recorded a John Overcast residing in the village of Naunton. The Overcast surname is also found in the Protestation Returns of 1641-42 for Somerset, where a William Overcast was listed as a resident of the parish of Stogursey.

One of the earliest known bearers of the Overcast surname was Robert Overcast, a merchant and landowner who lived in Kidderminster, Worcestershire, in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. He was involved in the local wool trade and served as a churchwarden at St. Mary's Church in Kidderminster.

Another notable individual with the surname Overcast was John Overcast, a soldier who fought in the English Civil War (1642-1651) on the Parliamentarian side. He served under the command of Oliver Cromwell and participated in several key battles, including the Battle of Naseby in 1645.

In the 18th century, the Overcast surname was found in various parts of England, including Yorkshire, where a family of Overcasts lived in the village of Kilnwick near Beverley. One member of this family, William Overcast (1732-1812), was a successful farmer and landowner.

Other notable individuals with the surname Overcast include:

1. Josiah Overcast (1789-1867), an English architect and surveyor who worked in London and designed several notable buildings, including the Royal Naval College in Portsmouth.

2. Mary Overcast (1846-1928), a British author and poet who wrote several collections of romantic poetry and short stories in the late 19th century.

3. Thomas Overcast (1865-1942), an English cricketer who played for Gloucestershire County Cricket Club in the late 19th century.

4. Emily Overcast (1878-1961), a British artist and painter known for her landscapes and portraits, many of which were exhibited at the Royal Academy in London.

5. William Overcast (1903-1988), a British engineer and inventor who patented several innovative designs for agricultural machinery and farming equipment in the mid-20th century.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Overcast

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

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

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

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