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

Overy, 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 Overy surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Overy in America

Overy is the 38389th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Overy surname appeared 577 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 Overy.

We can also compare 2010 data for Overy 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 Overy

The surname Overy has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "ofer" and "ey," which together mean "high island" or "high ground." This suggests that the name originated as a topographic descriptor, likely referring to a family or individual who resided on a raised area or island.

One of the earliest documented mentions of the surname Overy can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive record of landowners and tenants in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. This indicates that the name was already established by the late 11th century.

During the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms, including Overi, Overie, and Overy, as evidenced by records from counties such as Norfolk and Suffolk. These variations likely reflect regional dialects and spelling conventions of the time.

One notable bearer of the Overy surname was Sir John Overy, a prominent English knight who lived in the 14th century. He served under King Edward III during the Hundred Years' War and participated in several military campaigns against the French.

In the 16th century, the name Overy was associated with several places in England, such as Overy Manor in Dorset and Overy Wharf in London. These place names may have contributed to the surname's development and spread.

Another significant figure was Thomas Overy, a 17th-century English puritan who emigrated to New England in 1635. He became a prominent member of the Massachusetts Bay Colony and served as a representative in the General Court.

In the 18th century, the Overy family had a presence in the county of Norfolk, with several members holding positions of influence. One such individual was John Overy (1722-1791), a successful merchant and landowner who served as a justice of the peace.

During the 19th century, the Overy name gained further prominence with individuals like William Overy (1825-1909), a renowned landscape painter known for his depictions of rural English scenes.

These examples illustrate the rich history and diverse backgrounds associated with the surname Overy, which has been carried by individuals from various walks of life throughout the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Overy

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

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

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

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