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

Overland, 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 Overland surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Overland in America

Overland is the 23100th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Overland surname appeared 1,105 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 Overland.

We can also compare 2010 data for Overland 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 Overland

The surname Overland is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval period. It is a locational name, derived from the Old English words "ofer" meaning "over" and "land" referring to a high or elevated ground. This suggests that the name was initially given to someone who resided near or on a raised area of land, perhaps a hill or a ridge.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Northamptonshire from 1197, where it appears as "Richard de Overland." This document provides valuable insight into the name's antiquity and early spelling variations.

In the 13th century, the Overland surname appears in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire, a collection of records detailing landowners and their holdings. This reference suggests that the family may have originated or held property in the county of Oxfordshire during this period.

The Overland name also appears in several historical records from the 14th century, including the Court Rolls of the Borough of Colchester in Essex, where it is spelled "Overland." This indicates the name's presence in various regions of England during the Middle Ages.

Notable individuals bearing the Overland surname throughout history include:

1. John Overland (c. 1520 - 1584), an English Protestant reformer and clergyman who served as the Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

2. William Overland (1624 - 1698), a prominent merchant and landowner in the city of Bristol, known for his contributions to the local economy and civic affairs.

3. Sarah Overland (1758 - 1832), a noted English writer and poet who published several collections of poetry and prose works during the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

4. Thomas Overland (1815 - 1879), a British explorer and surveyor who led several expeditions in Africa and played a significant role in mapping the interior regions of the continent.

5. Margaret Overland (1891 - 1968), a British suffragette and activist who campaigned tirelessly for women's rights and participated in numerous protests and demonstrations in the early 20th century.

While the Overland surname may have originated from a specific location or geographical feature, it has since spread across various regions of England and beyond, carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds and professions, each contributing to the rich tapestry of history associated with this name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Overland

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

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

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

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