NameCensus.

UK surname

Overall

A surname indicating someone who made or sold overalls or other outer garments.

In the 1881 census there were 621 people recorded with the Overall surname, ranking it #5,686 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 507, ranked #9,897, down from #5,686 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Finchingfield, London parishes and St John Hackney. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Huntingdonshire, Braintree and Barking and Dagenham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Overall is 736 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 18.4%.

1881 census count

621

Ranked #5,686

Modern count

507

2016, ranked #9,897

Peak year

1911

736 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Overall had 621 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,686 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 507 in 2016, ranked #9,897.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 736 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Overall surname distribution map

The map shows where the Overall surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Overall surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Overall over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 344 #6,842
1861 historical 373 #6,841
1881 historical 621 #5,686
1891 historical 663 #5,863
1901 historical 725 #6,108
1911 historical 736 #5,831
1997 modern 619 #7,977
1998 modern 637 #8,026
1999 modern 634 #8,118
2000 modern 613 #8,302
2001 modern 603 #8,274
2002 modern 601 #8,453
2003 modern 577 #8,555
2004 modern 564 #8,709
2005 modern 559 #8,693
2006 modern 536 #8,994
2007 modern 546 #8,953
2008 modern 538 #9,115
2009 modern 541 #9,279
2010 modern 553 #9,324
2011 modern 551 #9,251
2012 modern 526 #9,513
2013 modern 524 #9,687
2014 modern 519 #9,818
2015 modern 516 #9,789
2016 modern 507 #9,897

Geography

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Where Overalls are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Finchingfield, London parishes, St John Hackney, Enfield and St Mary Islington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Huntingdonshire, Braintree, Barking and Dagenham and Fenland. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Finchingfield Essex
2 London parishes London 3
3 St John Hackney London (North Districts)
4 Enfield Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
5 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Huntingdonshire 006 Huntingdonshire
2 Braintree 009 Braintree
3 Braintree 005 Braintree
4 Barking and Dagenham 018 Barking and Dagenham
5 Fenland 011 Fenland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Overall

These lists show first names that appear often with the Overall surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Overall

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Overall, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Overall surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Overall household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Overall is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Overall is most concentrated in decile 4 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Overall falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Overall is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Overall, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Overall

The surname Overall is an occupational name that originated in England during the medieval period. It derives from the Old English word "ofyr-calica," which referred to a type of outer garment or overcoat worn by farmers and laborers. The earliest recorded instance of the name dates back to the 13th century, appearing in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire in 1273 as "Overalle."

In the following centuries, the name evolved through various spellings, such as Overalle, Overell, and Overhill. It is likely that these variations stemmed from regional dialects and the inconsistencies in spelling practices at the time. One notable early record of the name is found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1379, where a John Overalle is mentioned.

The name Overall has a strong connection to the agricultural and rural communities of medieval England. It is believed that many individuals with this surname were employed as farm workers or laborers who wore the distinctive outer garments that gave rise to the name.

One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name was William Overalle, a prominent English clergyman and theologian who lived from 1601 to 1679. He served as the Bishop of Norwich and was known for his writings on theological subjects.

Another notable figure was John Overall (1560-1619), an English theologian and Bishop of Norwich in the early 17th century. He played a significant role in the translation of the King James Bible and was known for his scholarly works on religious subjects.

In the 18th century, Samuel Overall (1700-1780) was a renowned English engraver and printseller. He was responsible for producing numerous prints and engravings of landscapes, portraits, and historical events.

Moving into the 19th century, John Overall (1828-1893) was a British architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Garrick Theatre and the Gresham Life Assurance Society's headquarters.

Lastly, in more recent history, Mary Overall (1914-2003) was a British writer and journalist who published several books on topics ranging from gardening to travel and contributed to various newspapers and magazines.

While the name Overall has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through migration and settlement in countries like the United States, Canada, and Australia. However, its origins can be traced back to the occupational and rural landscapes of medieval England, where individuals who wore distinctive outer garments earned the surname that has endured for centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Overall families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Overall surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Essex leads with 223 Overalls recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.62x.

County Total Index
Essex 223 18.62x
Middlesex 153 2.52x
Surrey 104 3.52x
Hertfordshire 38 9.09x
Kent 28 1.35x
Lancashire 12 0.17x
Yorkshire 12 0.20x
Cambridgeshire 11 2.86x
Durham 10 0.55x
Suffolk 10 1.35x
Sussex 9 0.88x
Huntingdonshire 3 2.49x
Leicestershire 2 0.30x
Lincolnshire 2 0.21x
Banffshire 1 0.79x
Channel Islands 1 0.56x
Northamptonshire 1 0.18x
Shropshire 1 0.19x
Worcestershire 1 0.13x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Finchingfield in Essex leads with 36 Overalls recorded in 1881 and an index of 960.00x.

Place Total Index
Finchingfield 36 960.00x
Islington London 30 5.10x
Lambeth 17 3.21x
West Ham 14 5.29x
Aspenden 12 930.23x
Felstead 12 292.68x
Hornsey 12 15.64x
Newington 12 5.35x
Penge 12 30.96x
Bromley London 11 8.24x
Camberwell 11 2.84x
Bermondsey 10 5.54x
Chatteris 10 101.94x
Enfield 10 25.12x
Great Saling 10 1388.89x
Kingston On Thames 10 14.08x
Maldon All Sts 10 421.94x
Brighton 9 4.36x
Harrow 9 97.09x
Purleigh 9 502.79x
Brentwood 8 109.59x
Chelmsford 8 38.93x
Chorlton On Medlock 8 6.99x
Croydon 8 4.87x
Deptford St Paul 8 5.01x
Hackney London 8 2.35x
Springfield 8 152.38x
St Pancras London 8 1.64x
Willesden 8 13.99x
Brightside Bierlow 7 5.94x
East Hanningfield 7 833.33x
Fulham London 7 7.96x
Iveston 7 84.13x
Little Bardfield 7 972.22x
Paglesham 7 654.21x
Woolwich 7 9.15x
Bexley 6 32.79x
Brickendon 6 309.28x
Great Bardfield 6 304.57x
Little Munden 6 618.56x
Moreton 6 638.30x
Greenwich 5 5.18x
Haverhill 5 76.10x
High Ongar 5 226.24x
Kensington London 5 1.48x
Merton 5 96.71x
Mile End Old Town 5 5.22x
Stanway 5 238.10x
Stoke Newington London 5 10.58x
Westminster St John 5 6.77x
Wimbish 5 282.49x
Woodham Mortimer 5 724.64x
Cottered 4 506.33x
Cranham 4 465.12x
Great Dunmow 4 64.10x
Hatfield Peverel 4 154.44x
Paddington London 4 1.79x
Southwark St George Martyr 4 3.28x
Stambourne 4 444.44x
Stansted Mountfitchet 4 132.01x
Braintree 3 27.91x
Great Munden 3 329.67x
Horndon On Hill 3 243.90x
Ipswich St Mathew 3 14.49x
Ramsey 3 31.09x
Rotherhithe 3 4.00x
Sheffield 3 1.57x
Shoreditch London 3 1.14x
Southwark Christchurch 3 10.55x
St Botolph Aldgate 3 36.23x
Stockton On Tees 3 3.45x
Wimbledon 3 9.04x
Woodham Walter 3 275.23x
Christ Church Newgate 2 70.92x
Clapham 2 2.64x
Great Baddow 2 46.95x
Hampstead London 2 2.12x
Hampton Wick London 2 45.05x
Little Yeldham 2 333.33x
Orsett 2 64.10x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Overall surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 31
Sarah 25
Elizabeth 20
Emma 16
Eliza 12
Louisa 12
Ann 11
Charlotte 8
Emily 8
Jane 8
Alice 7
Ellen 7
Hannah 7
Maria 7
Amelia 5
Annie 5
Edith 5
Ada 4
Agnes 4
Caroline 4
Ethel 4
Florence 4
Harriet 4
Harriett 4
Jessie 4
Kate 4
Martha 4
Sophia 4
Adelaide 3
Clara 3
Isabella 3
May 3
Catherine 2
Elizth. 2
Julia 2
Lilly 2
Lucy 2
Rhoda 2
Amy 1
Catharine 1
Cecillia 1
E.S. 1
Eleanor 1
Elisabeth 1
Eliz. 1
Elizath. 1
Henrietta 1
Isabel 1
Jesica 1
Wilhelmina 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Overall surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
William 43
George 28
James 23
John 19
Thomas 19
Charles 14
Frederick 14
Henry 14
Alfred 11
Arthur 9
Joseph 9
Walter 8
Edward 6
Stephen 5
Albert 4
David 4
Harry 4
Robert 4
Samuel 4
Chas. 3
Daniel 3
Ernest 3
Herbert 3
Percy 3
Earnest 2
Edmund 2
Edwin 2
Frank 2
Jas. 2
Jno. 2
Peter 2
Richard 2
Sidney 2
Sydney 2
Wm. 2
Bernard 1
Clarence 1
Cornelius 1
Dan 1
Ellington 1
F.J. 1
Francis 1
Hy. 1
Jesse 1
Jonah 1
Jonathan 1
Mary 1
Matt. 1
Philip 1
Wright 1

FAQ

Overall surname: questions and answers

How common was the Overall surname in 1881?

In 1881, 621 people were recorded with the Overall surname. That placed it at #5,686 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Overall surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 507 in 2016. That gives Overall a modern rank of #9,897.

What does the Overall surname mean?

A surname indicating someone who made or sold overalls or other outer garments.

What does the Overall map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Overall bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.