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

Overgaard, 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 Overgaard surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Overgaard in America

Overgaard is the 40745th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Overgaard surname appeared 536 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 Overgaard.

We can also compare 2010 data for Overgaard 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 Overgaard

The surname Overgaard has its origins in Denmark, where it first emerged in the medieval period. It is derived from the Old Norse words "yfir" meaning "over" and "gardr" meaning "farm" or "enclosed area." The name likely referred to someone who lived on or owned a farm situated on higher ground or elevated land.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Overgaard can be found in the Danish census records from the 16th century. Variations of the spelling were common, including Overgord, Overgord, and Overgaard. The name was particularly prevalent in the northern regions of Denmark, such as Jutland and the island of Funen.

In the 17th century, historical documents mention an Overgaard family residing in the town of Viborg, Denmark. One notable member was Hans Overgaard (1622-1698), a wealthy merchant and landowner who played a significant role in the town's trade and commerce.

The name Overgaard also appears in Norwegian records, suggesting that it may have spread from Denmark to Norway at some point in history. One notable Norwegian with this surname was Nils Overgaard (1843-1922), a renowned explorer and arctic adventurer who participated in several expeditions to Greenland and Svalbard.

In the 19th century, the Overgaard name gained prominence in the United States, as Danish and Norwegian immigrants began settling in various parts of the country. One notable American with this surname was Carl Overgaard (1865-1943), a Danish-American artist and painter known for his landscapes and seascapes.

Other notable individuals with the surname Overgaard include:

1. Sophus Overgaard (1818-1891), a Danish politician and journalist.
2. Knud Overgaard (1859-1943), a Danish chess master and one of the strongest players of his time.
3. Peder Overgaard (1913-1991), a Danish writer and novelist known for his works depicting rural life in Denmark.
4. Kirsten Overgaard (born 1959), a Norwegian politician and member of the Norwegian Labour Party.
5. Lene Overgaard (born 1969), a Danish actress and television presenter.

While the surname Overgaard is still relatively uncommon outside of Denmark and Norway, it holds a rich history and cultural significance, reflecting the agricultural roots and geographical features of the regions where it originated.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Overgaard

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

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

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

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