NameCensus.

UK surname

Overson

A surname potentially derived from the Old English word "ofer" meaning ridge or bank.

In the 1881 census there were 97 people recorded with the Overson surname, ranking it #20,127 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 228, ranked #17,936, up from #20,127 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Grimstone, Gayton Thorpe and King's Lynn St Margaret. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include King's Lynn and West Norfolk, Fenland and South Holland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Overson is 240 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 135.1%.

1881 census count

97

Ranked #20,127

Modern count

228

2016, ranked #17,936

Peak year

2014

240 bearers

Map years

6

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Overson had 97 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #20,127 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 228 in 2016, ranked #17,936.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 134 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Overson surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Overson surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Overson 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 93 #17,946
1861 historical 58 #26,585
1881 historical 97 #20,127
1891 historical 117 #21,658
1901 historical 129 #19,735
1911 historical 134 #19,131
1997 modern 228 #16,211
1998 modern 232 #16,508
1999 modern 234 #16,506
2000 modern 226 #16,840
2001 modern 223 #16,765
2002 modern 227 #16,877
2003 modern 222 #16,942
2004 modern 219 #17,180
2005 modern 206 #17,786
2006 modern 211 #17,662
2007 modern 213 #17,744
2008 modern 206 #18,300
2009 modern 216 #18,120
2010 modern 216 #18,492
2011 modern 211 #18,630
2012 modern 212 #18,481
2013 modern 228 #17,864
2014 modern 240 #17,387
2015 modern 240 #17,279
2016 modern 228 #17,936

Geography

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Where Oversons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Grimstone, Gayton Thorpe, King's Lynn St Margaret, Doncaster and Congham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to King's Lynn and West Norfolk, Fenland, South Holland and Pendle. 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 Grimstone Norfolk
2 Gayton Thorpe Norfolk
3 King's Lynn St Margaret Norfolk
4 Doncaster Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Congham Norfolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 King's Lynn and West Norfolk 015 King's Lynn and West Norfolk
2 Fenland 004 Fenland
3 South Holland 004 South Holland
4 Pendle 004 Pendle
5 Pendle 007 Pendle

Forenames

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First names often paired with Overson

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Overson

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Overson is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Overson is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Overson falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Overson

The surname Overson has its origins in the Nordic countries, particularly in Norway and Sweden, dating back to the medieval period. It is likely derived from the Old Norse name "Ofeigr," which means "wealthy" or "prosperous." The name may have been given to individuals who were considered affluent or successful within their communities.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Overson can be found in the Icelandic sagas, where it appears as "Öfeigarson," referring to the son of someone named Öfeigr. These sagas, which were written in the 13th and 14th centuries, provide valuable insights into the lives and customs of the Norse people during that time.

In Sweden, the name Overson can be traced back to the 16th century, with records indicating its presence in various regions of the country. One notable bearer of the name was Olof Overson, a Swedish farmer who lived in the late 1500s and is mentioned in local parish records from the village of Östra Ryd.

The Overson name also has a presence in Norwegian history, with records dating back to the 17th century. One of the earliest recorded individuals with this surname was Hans Overson, a fisherman from the coastal town of Ålesund, who lived in the early 1600s.

As the surname spread across Scandinavia, it underwent various spelling variations, such as Offersson, Offerson, and Ovarsson. These variations likely arose due to regional dialects and differences in record-keeping practices.

In the 19th century, the Overson name gained prominence with the birth of Peder Overson, a renowned Norwegian poet and playwright, who lived from 1828 to 1895. His works, which explored themes of Norwegian identity and culture, were widely acclaimed and helped to shape the country's literary landscape.

Another notable bearer of the Overson name was Ingrid Overson, a Swedish-American author and activist born in 1876. She was a prominent figure in the women's suffrage movement and contributed to numerous publications advocating for gender equality and social reform.

Jens Overson, a Danish-American engineer and inventor, also carried this surname. Born in 1860, he was responsible for several important innovations in the field of agriculture, including the development of an early combine harvester that revolutionized farming practices.

These are just a few examples of individuals who have carried the Overson surname throughout history, contributing to various fields and leaving their mark on the cultural and societal landscapes of their respective countries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Overson families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Overson 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. Norfolk leads with 67 Oversons recorded in 1881 and an index of 46.06x.

County Total Index
Norfolk 67 46.06x
Lincolnshire 13 8.60x
Yorkshire 13 1.39x
Hertfordshire 1 1.53x
Kent 1 0.31x
Middlesex 1 0.11x
Northamptonshire 1 1.12x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Gayton Thorpe in Norfolk leads with 24 Oversons recorded in 1881 and an index of 48000.00x.

Place Total Index
Gayton Thorpe 24 48000.00x
Holbeach 11 654.76x
Doncaster 9 131.39x
Marham 8 3333.33x
Hillington 7 7777.78x
Gayton 6 2400.00x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 6 137.30x
Congham 4 3636.36x
Holy Trinity 4 17.74x
Middleton 4 1428.57x
Great Hale 2 869.57x
Grimston 2 540.54x
Narborough 2 1428.57x
North Runcton 2 2500.00x
Kettering 1 27.78x
Milton In Gravesend 1 20.66x
Paddington London 1 2.88x
South Lynn 1 60.98x
St Albans St Peter 1 45.45x
Terrington St Clement 1 151.52x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 8
William 5
Robert 4
Charles 3
Edward 3
Thomas 3
Christopher 2
James 2
Mark 2
Mathew 2
Matthew 2
Walter 2
Alfred 1
Arthur 1
Crash 1
Frederick 1
George 1
Henry 1
Herbert 1
Lonnet 1
Luke 1
Willm. 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Overson households.

FAQ

Overson surname: questions and answers

How common was the Overson surname in 1881?

In 1881, 97 people were recorded with the Overson surname. That placed it at #20,127 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Overson surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 228 in 2016. That gives Overson a modern rank of #17,936.

What does the Overson surname mean?

A surname potentially derived from the Old English word "ofer" meaning ridge or bank.

What does the Overson map show?

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