NameCensus.

UK surname

Overend

A topographical surname referring to someone living near the end of a ridge or hill.

In the 1881 census there were 894 people recorded with the Overend surname, ranking it #4,259 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 756, ranked #7,240, down from #4,259 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Calverley, Kildwick and Batley. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Riding of Yorkshire, Kirklees and Bradford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Overend is 1,125 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 15.4%.

1881 census count

894

Ranked #4,259

Modern count

756

2016, ranked #7,240

Peak year

1901

1,125 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Overend had 894 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,259 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 756 in 2016, ranked #7,240.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,125 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Overend surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Overend surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Overend 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 656 #3,955
1861 historical 672 #3,994
1881 historical 894 #4,259
1891 historical 973 #4,250
1901 historical 1,125 #4,314
1911 historical 1,106 #4,197
1997 modern 840 #6,299
1998 modern 864 #6,350
1999 modern 882 #6,306
2000 modern 861 #6,385
2001 modern 834 #6,438
2002 modern 850 #6,458
2003 modern 827 #6,471
2004 modern 824 #6,507
2005 modern 815 #6,512
2006 modern 797 #6,650
2007 modern 799 #6,699
2008 modern 780 #6,893
2009 modern 819 #6,746
2010 modern 824 #6,851
2011 modern 803 #6,927
2012 modern 777 #7,026
2013 modern 793 #7,011
2014 modern 792 #7,060
2015 modern 767 #7,177
2016 modern 756 #7,240

Geography

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Where Overends are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Calverley, Kildwick, Batley, Bradford and Keighley. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Riding of Yorkshire, Kirklees and Bradford. 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 Calverley Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Kildwick Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Batley Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Keighley Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Riding of Yorkshire 026 East Riding of Yorkshire
2 Kirklees 002 Kirklees
3 Kirklees 028 Kirklees
4 Bradford 007 Bradford
5 Bradford 046 Bradford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Overend

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Overend

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Overend, 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 Overend surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Overend 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Overend is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Overend is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Overend falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Overend 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 Overend, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Overend

The surname Overend originated in England during the medieval period. It is a locational name derived from the Old English words "ofer" meaning "over" and "ænde" meaning "end" or "boundary." The name likely referred to someone who lived at the end of a village or near a boundary marker.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Overendis." This entry suggests that the name was already in use during the late 11th century in England.

In the 13th century, the name was also recorded as "Oureende" and "Ovreende" in various historical documents, reflecting the variations in spelling that were common during that time period.

One notable individual with the surname Overend was Sir John Overend (1564-1637), an English merchant and politician who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1627. He was a member of the Worshipful Company of Haberdashers and played a significant role in the economic and political affairs of the city.

Another prominent figure was Thomas Overend (1804-1868), a Yorkshire-born banker who co-founded the banking firm Overend, Gurney and Company in London. The firm's collapse in 1866 triggered a financial crisis known as the "Overend Gurney Panic," which had far-reaching consequences for the British economy.

In the 19th century, the name Overend was also associated with the textile industry in Yorkshire. John Overend (1787-1860) was a successful wool merchant and industrialist who established a thriving textile business in Bradford.

William Overend (1819-1901), born in Keighley, Yorkshire, was a prominent engineer and inventor who designed and built several pioneering textile machines, contributing to the advancement of the industry during the Industrial Revolution.

Another individual of note was Samuel Overend (1845-1920), a Yorkshire-born businessman who made his fortune in the coal mining industry and became a prominent philanthropist, supporting educational and cultural institutions in his local community.

These are just a few examples of the historical significance and presence of the surname Overend, which has its roots in medieval England and has been associated with various industries, professions, and influential individuals throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Overend families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Overend 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. Yorkshire leads with 658 Overends recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.64x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 658 7.64x
Lancashire 91 0.88x
Cheshire 21 1.09x
Middlesex 15 0.17x
Lanarkshire 12 0.43x
Surrey 12 0.28x
Ayrshire 9 1.38x
Derbyshire 8 0.59x
Durham 8 0.31x
Renfrewshire 7 1.04x
Staffordshire 7 0.24x
Dorset 6 1.05x
Lincolnshire 6 0.43x
Cambridgeshire 5 0.91x
Peeblesshire 5 12.23x
Cumberland 4 0.53x
Midlothian 3 0.26x
Berkshire 2 0.31x
Somerset 2 0.14x
Channel Islands 1 0.39x
Gloucestershire 1 0.06x
Hertfordshire 1 0.17x
Norfolk 1 0.07x
Perthshire 1 0.26x
Shropshire 1 0.13x
Stirlingshire 1 0.31x
Sussex 1 0.07x
Westmorland 1 0.52x
Wiltshire 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. Sutton In Keighley in Yorkshire leads with 54 Overends recorded in 1881 and an index of 1106.56x.

Place Total Index
Sutton In Keighley 54 1106.56x
Keighley 48 52.29x
Soothill 43 138.22x
Calverley Cum Farsley 35 143.09x
Horton In Bradford 28 20.82x
North Bierley 21 45.16x
Bradford 19 9.11x
Manningham 19 17.91x
Skipton 15 55.35x
Glusburn 14 288.07x
Bowling 13 15.24x
Carlton In Skipton 13 258.45x
Dewsbury 13 14.72x
Eccleshill 13 62.02x
Gomersal 13 32.34x
Toxteth Park 13 3.72x
Batley 12 14.66x
Birkenhead 12 7.85x
Leeds 12 2.47x
West Derby 12 3.98x
Cononley 11 445.34x
Bramley In Bramley 10 30.33x
Morley 10 22.33x
Pudsey 10 21.72x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 9 11.22x
Cheetham 9 11.70x
Cottingham 9 48.49x
Drighlington 9 71.71x
Halifax 9 7.12x
Liverpool 9 1.44x
Bingley 8 14.59x
Farnhill 8 479.04x
Idle 8 20.04x
Muirkirk 8 52.39x
Over Darwen 8 9.71x
Sheffield 8 2.92x
Abbey 7 6.81x
Ashley 7 608.70x
Cartworth 7 98.31x
Kexborough 7 378.38x
Langfield 7 46.45x
Pendleton In Salford 7 5.70x
Baildon 6 36.99x
Bootle Cum Linacre 6 7.33x
Castleford 6 19.13x
Gainsborough 6 18.32x
Gilberdike Bishopsoil 6 487.80x
Glossop Dale 6 9.42x
Headingley Cum Burley 6 10.82x
Holbeck 6 10.52x
Lofthouse Cum Carlton 6 57.14x
Poole St James 6 28.00x
Rutherglen 6 14.55x
Whitby 6 20.67x
Accrington 5 5.33x
Burley In Wharfdale 5 65.79x
Ecclesall Bierlow 5 2.85x
Haworth 5 24.43x
Heaton 5 54.05x
Innerleithen 5 46.08x
Liversedge 5 13.04x
St Andrewthe Less 5 7.95x
Camberwell 4 0.72x
Cleckheaton 4 12.61x
Fulham London 4 3.17x
Govan 4 0.58x
Great Little Marsden 4 8.47x
Islington London 4 0.47x
Mexborough 4 23.41x
Mirfield 4 8.46x
Monkwearmouth Shore 4 7.93x
Newington 4 1.25x
Pontefract 4 21.56x
Shipton In Pocklington 4 314.96x
St Pancras London 4 0.57x
Thornhill 4 15.92x
Wolverhampton 4 1.77x
Wyke In Bradford 4 25.97x
Bilton Cum Harrogate 3 10.18x
Watermillock 3 217.39x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 66
Sarah 37
Elizabeth 32
Ann 26
Annie 21
Martha 16
Alice 13
Emma 12
Hannah 12
Jane 12
Margaret 12
Ellen 9
Eliza 7
Ada 6
Agnes 6
Harriet 6
Amy 5
Ethel 5
Frances 5
Louisa 5
Maria 5
Amelia 4
Anne 4
Catherine 4
Fanny 4
Charlotte 3
Elizth. 3
Grace 3
Harriett 3
Isabella 3
Lucy 3
Lydia 3
Ruth 3
Selina 3
Susannah 3
Caroline 2
Clara 2
Edith 2
Florence 2
Hariet 2
Jessie 2
Julia 2
Matilda 2
Rebecca 2
Rose 2
Beatrice 1
Betsy 1
Betty 1
Edna 1
Venus 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 55
William 44
Joseph 23
James 18
Thomas 17
George 14
Henry 13
Robert 13
Charles 11
Samuel 10
Isaac 9
Arthur 8
Fred 7
Albert 6
Harry 6
Herbert 5
Richard 5
Seth 5
Walter 5
Edwin 4
Frederick 4
Sam 4
David 3
Frank 3
Jas. 3
Jesse 3
Nathan 3
Smith 3
Tom 3
Alfred 2
Benjamin 2
Chas. 2
Daniel 2
Dixon 2
Edward 2
Ernest 2
Geo. 2
Harold 2
Jabez 2
Jackson 2
Jno. 2
Jonathan 2
Joshua 2
Martin 2
Miles 2
Percy 2
Randolph 2
Saml. 2
Thos. 2
Timothy 2

FAQ

Overend surname: questions and answers

How common was the Overend surname in 1881?

In 1881, 894 people were recorded with the Overend surname. That placed it at #4,259 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Overend surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 756 in 2016. That gives Overend a modern rank of #7,240.

What does the Overend surname mean?

A topographical surname referring to someone living near the end of a ridge or hill.

What does the Overend map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Overend 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.