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

Oviatt, 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 Oviatt surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Oviatt in America

Oviatt is the 20512th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Oviatt surname appeared 1,293 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 Oviatt.

We can also compare 2010 data for Oviatt 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 Oviatt

The surname Oviatt originates from England, tracing its roots back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "ofer," meaning "bank" or "ridge," combined with the Old English word "geat," meaning "gate" or "opening." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near a ridge or bank with a gate or opening.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Oviatt can be found in various historical records from the 13th and 14th centuries. One notable example is the mention of William Oviatt in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327. Additionally, the name appears in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, which were records of landowners and tenants in various English counties.

In the 16th century, the name Oviatt was found in various parish records and tax rolls throughout England. During this period, variations in spelling were common, with the name appearing as Oveyate, Oveatt, and Oviate, among others. These variations likely stemmed from the phonetic nature of the name and regional dialects.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname Oviatt was John Oviatt, born around 1520 in Gloucestershire, England. Records indicate that he was a landowner and farmer in the village of Painswick.

Another notable figure was Thomas Oviatt, born in 1587 in Oxfordshire. He was a merchant and tradesman who was involved in the wool trade, which was a significant industry in England at the time.

In the 17th century, the Oviatt family expanded their presence in various parts of England. One prominent member was William Oviatt, born in 1632 in Warwickshire. He was a successful businessman and landowner, and his descendants continued to play influential roles in their local communities.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, several individuals with the surname Oviatt made significant contributions in various fields. For example, Richard Oviatt (1755-1832) was a renowned clockmaker and inventor from Gloucestershire, known for his innovative designs and precision timepieces.

Another notable figure was Elizabeth Oviatt (1790-1868), a philanthropist and social reformer from Worcestershire. She dedicated her life to improving the living conditions of the poor and advocating for education and healthcare for underprivileged communities.

Throughout its history, the surname Oviatt has been associated with various place names and locations in England. For instance, the village of Oviate in Gloucestershire and the hamlet of Oviatt's Green in Worcestershire bear resemblance to the surname, suggesting a potential link to the origins of the name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Oviatt

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

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

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

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