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

Overshown, 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 Overshown surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Overshown in America

Overshown is the 115639th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Overshown surname appeared 151 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 Overshown.

We can also compare 2010 data for Overshown 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 Overshown

The surname OVERSHOWN has its origins in England, dating back to the 13th century. It is derived from an Old English phrase meaning "to show or exhibit over a particular area or region." The name was likely given to someone whose occupation involved displaying or presenting goods or services in a specific locality.

The earliest recorded instance of the name OVERSHOWN can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from the year 1276, where a certain William Overshown is mentioned as a merchant dealing in textiles. This suggests that the name may have initially been associated with traders or merchants who traveled from town to town, showcasing their wares.

During the 14th century, the OVERSHOWN name appears in various records from the counties of Oxfordshire and Berkshire. In the Poll Tax Returns of 1379, a Robert Overshown is listed as a resident of the village of Bampton, Oxfordshire. This entry indicates that the name had become established in the region and was no longer solely associated with itinerant traders.

In the 16th century, the OVERSHOWN surname appears in the parish records of St. Mary's Church in Reading, Berkshire. Notable individuals from this period include John Overshown (1521-1587), a prosperous landowner and yeoman farmer, and his son, Thomas Overshown (1552-1614), who served as a constable for the town of Reading.

The 17th century saw the OVERSHOWN name spread further across England, with records showing branches of the family residing in Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, and Hampshire. One notable figure from this era was William Overshown (1632-1699), a successful merchant and ship owner based in the port city of Southampton.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, several individuals bearing the OVERSHOWN surname achieved prominence in various fields. These include Samuel Overshown (1714-1789), a renowned clockmaker and horologist from London; Elizabeth Overshown (1768-1842), a prolific author and poet; and George Overshown (1819-1893), a respected mathematician and academic who taught at the University of Cambridge.

While the OVERSHOWN surname is not among the most common in England, it has a rich history spanning several centuries and has been associated with various occupations, from merchants and farmers to scholars and artisans. The name serves as a reminder of the diverse origins and meanings behind many English surnames.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Overshown

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

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

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

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