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

Overson, 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 Overson surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Overson in America

Overson is the 30101st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Overson surname appeared 779 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 Overson.

We can also compare 2010 data for Overson 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 Overson

The surname Overson has its origins in the Nordic countries, particularly in Norway and Sweden, dating back to the medieval period. It is likely derived from the Old Norse name "Ofeigr," which means "wealthy" or "prosperous." The name may have been given to individuals who were considered affluent or successful within their communities.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Overson can be found in the Icelandic sagas, where it appears as "Öfeigarson," referring to the son of someone named Öfeigr. These sagas, which were written in the 13th and 14th centuries, provide valuable insights into the lives and customs of the Norse people during that time.

In Sweden, the name Overson can be traced back to the 16th century, with records indicating its presence in various regions of the country. One notable bearer of the name was Olof Overson, a Swedish farmer who lived in the late 1500s and is mentioned in local parish records from the village of Östra Ryd.

The Overson name also has a presence in Norwegian history, with records dating back to the 17th century. One of the earliest recorded individuals with this surname was Hans Overson, a fisherman from the coastal town of Ålesund, who lived in the early 1600s.

As the surname spread across Scandinavia, it underwent various spelling variations, such as Offersson, Offerson, and Ovarsson. These variations likely arose due to regional dialects and differences in record-keeping practices.

In the 19th century, the Overson name gained prominence with the birth of Peder Overson, a renowned Norwegian poet and playwright, who lived from 1828 to 1895. His works, which explored themes of Norwegian identity and culture, were widely acclaimed and helped to shape the country's literary landscape.

Another notable bearer of the Overson name was Ingrid Overson, a Swedish-American author and activist born in 1876. She was a prominent figure in the women's suffrage movement and contributed to numerous publications advocating for gender equality and social reform.

Jens Overson, a Danish-American engineer and inventor, also carried this surname. Born in 1860, he was responsible for several important innovations in the field of agriculture, including the development of an early combine harvester that revolutionized farming practices.

These are just a few examples of individuals who have carried the Overson surname throughout history, contributing to various fields and leaving their mark on the cultural and societal landscapes of their respective countries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Overson

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

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

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

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