2000
#138,741
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 111
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Overholts
A Dutch surname derived from the geographical feature of an overholt, meaning a forested hillside.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 122 Americans carry the last name Overholts. That puts it at #152,339 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,809,462 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Overholts surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
122
1 in 2,809,462
Census rank
#152,339
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
106
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 106 bearers of the surname Overholts in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 152339th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Overholts, the largest self-reported group is White at 98.1%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (1.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Overholts
The surname Overholts is believed to have originated in Germany, likely during the medieval period. It is a locational name, derived from a place name that may have been related to a physical feature or landmark, such as a forest, hill, or body of water.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in a document from the 14th century, where it appears as "Overholtze." This spelling suggests that the name may have been associated with a wooded area or a place surrounded by trees, as the German word "holtz" means "wood" or "forest."
In the 16th century, records show variations of the name such as "Overholtz" and "Overholdtz," indicating that the spelling had evolved over time. During this period, the name was concentrated in various regions of Germany, including Bavaria and Saxony.
One notable individual with the surname Overholts was Johann Friedrich Overholts (1643-1718), a German theologian and philosopher who served as a professor at the University of Wittenberg. His writings on ethics and moral philosophy were widely studied and influential during his time.
Another prominent figure was Hans Overholts (1712-1789), a German artist known for his landscape paintings and etchings. His works captured the natural beauty of the German countryside and were highly regarded by his contemporaries.
In the 18th century, some individuals with the surname Overholts migrated to other parts of Europe and eventually to the Americas. One such individual was Peter Overholts (1756-1832), who settled in Pennsylvania and became a successful farmer and landowner.
Another notable Overholts was Anna Maria Overholts (1789-1865), a German-American pioneer who journeyed westward with her family and helped establish a settlement in what is now Ohio. Her diary and letters provide valuable insights into the lives of early American settlers.
In the 19th century, the surname Overholts continued to spread across various regions, with individuals bearing the name making contributions in fields such as agriculture, education, and politics. One example is William Overholts (1832-1910), a farmer and politician who served as a state representative in Indiana.
Throughout its history, the surname Overholts has maintained its connection to its German roots, reflecting the migration patterns and experiences of those who have carried it across generations and continents.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Overholts
Among Census respondents with the surname Overholts, the largest self-reported group is White at 98.1%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (1.9%).
The bar chart below shows how Overholts bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Overholts surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White98.1% · 104
- Two or more races1.9% · 2
Timeline
Historical Census data for Overholts
Overholts appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#157,234
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 103
-8 bearers (-7.2%)
Per 100,000 0.03
Rank movement Down 18,493 places
2020
#152,339
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 106
+3 bearers (+2.9%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Up 4,895 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #138,741 | 111 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #157,234 | 103 | 0.03 | -8 bearers (-7.2%) | Down 18,493 places |
| 2020 | #152,339 | 106 | 0.04 | +3 bearers (+2.9%) | Up 4,895 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Overholts surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #157,234 | #152,339 | 3.1% |
| Count | 103 | 106 | 2.9% |
| Per 100K | 0.03 | 0.04 | 18.2% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Overholts bearers went from 103 to 106 (+2.9% change). The surname moved up 4,895 positions in the national ranking, going from #157,234 to #152,339.
FAQ
Overholts surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Overholts?
Name Census estimates that about 122 living Americans carry the surname Overholts. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,809,462 residents.
How common is Overholts?
Overholts ranks #152,339 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 106 people with the surname Overholts. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (122), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Overholts.
Has Overholts become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Overholts went from 103 recorded bearers to 106. That is an increase of 3 (+2.9%). In the national ranking it rose from #157,234 to #152,339.
What does the Census say about the background of Overholts?
Among Census respondents with the surname Overholts, the largest self-reported group is White at 98.1%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (1.9%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Overholts in the 2020 Census, accounting for 98.1% (104 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Overholts appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (98.1%), Two or More Races (1.9%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Overholts (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Overholts mean?
A Dutch surname derived from the geographical feature of an overholt, meaning a forested hillside. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Overholts (0.04 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people share the surname Overholts?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.