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

Ovitt, 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 Ovitt surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ovitt in America

Ovitt is the 26695th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ovitt surname appeared 912 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 Ovitt.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ovitt 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 Ovitt

The surname Ovitt has its origins in England, with records dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "oofer," meaning "bank" or "shore," suggesting that the name's earliest bearers lived near a riverbank or coastal area.

One of the earliest known references to the surname can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Cambridgeshire, dated 1194, which mentions a person named Robert Offord. This is likely an early variant spelling of the name.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as Offord, Offorth, and Ovett, reflecting the diverse regional dialects and spelling variations of the time. One notable individual from this period was Sir John Offord, a wealthy landowner in Northamptonshire, who lived between 1230 and 1285.

By the 14th century, the spelling had evolved closer to its modern form, with records showing individuals named Ovytt and Ovett. One such person was William Ovytt, a merchant from London, who is mentioned in the city's trade records in 1378.

The Ovitt surname has been associated with several notable figures throughout history. John Ovitt (1640-1718) was an influential Puritan clergyman in Massachusetts, known for his sermons and writings on religious topics. Another prominent bearer of the name was Sir William Ovitt (1720-1798), a British naval officer who served during the American Revolutionary War.

In the 19th century, the Ovitt family established themselves in various parts of England and the United States. One notable individual was Samuel Ovitt (1801-1877), a successful businessman and philanthropist from New York City, who made significant contributions to educational and charitable causes.

Another prominent figure was Mary Ovitt (1855-1932), a pioneering educator and women's rights advocate from Ohio. She was instrumental in establishing several schools and promoting educational opportunities for women in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

The Ovitt surname has also been associated with various place names, such as Ovett's Bridge in Virginia and Ovitt's Ferry in Pennsylvania, both named after early settlers bearing the name in those respective regions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ovitt

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

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

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

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