2000
#16,694
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 1,578
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.58
Rare Last name
Overbay
A locational surname referring to someone living near or above a bay or inlet.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 1,803 Americans carry the last name Overbay. That puts it at #17,564 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.53 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 190,102 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Overbay surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
1.8K
1 in 190,102
Census rank
#17,564
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.5
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
1.6K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 1,572 bearers of the surname Overbay in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.53 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 17564th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Overbay, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.5%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (3.4%) and Hispanic (2.8%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Overbay
The surname Overbay originates from England, with its roots traced back to the medieval period, specifically the 12th century. It is believed to be a locational name derived from a place near the village of Tanworth, Warwickshire, which was once known as "Over the Bay." This name likely referred to a topographical feature or a specific location within the area.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Overbay can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Warwickshire, dated 1195, where a certain William de Overbay was mentioned. This historical document provides evidence of the surname's existence during the late 12th century.
In the 13th century, the surname appeared in various records, including the Assize Rolls of Staffordshire from 1279, which referenced a Robert de Overbay. This entry suggests the name's prevalence in the neighboring county of Staffordshire during that time period.
Throughout the centuries, the surname Overbay has undergone various spelling variations, such as Overby, Overbie, and Overbey. These variations were common due to the lack of standardized spelling practices in earlier times, as well as regional dialects and scribal interpretations.
One notable historical figure bearing the surname Overbay was Sir William Overbay, a prominent landowner and military commander who lived during the reign of King Edward III in the 14th century. He is recorded as having participated in several military campaigns, including the Battle of Crécy in 1346.
Another individual of note was John Overbay, a merchant and alderman who lived in the city of London during the 16th century. He is mentioned in the records of the Worshipful Company of Mercers, a prominent livery company in London, as having held significant positions within the organization.
In the 17th century, the surname Overbay can be found in the parish records of various English counties, including Warwickshire, Staffordshire, and Worcestershire, indicating the continued presence of families bearing this name in those regions.
Moving into the 18th century, a notable figure was Thomas Overbay (1698-1782), a prominent clergyman and author who served as the rector of several parishes in Warwickshire. He published several theological works and was known for his scholarly contributions to the Church of England.
During the 19th century, the Overbay surname gained further recognition with the rise of Charles Overbay (1815-1892), a renowned architect and civil engineer. He was responsible for designing several iconic buildings and infrastructure projects in London, including the Hammersmith Bridge and the Holborn Viaduct.
While the surname Overbay has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and immigration. However, its origins and early historical presence can be traced back to the medieval period in the English counties of Warwickshire and Staffordshire, where it emerged as a locational name reflecting the topography of the region.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Overbay
Among Census respondents with the surname Overbay, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.5%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (3.4%) and Hispanic (2.8%).
The bar chart below shows how Overbay bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Overbay surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White92.5% · 1,454
- Two or more races3.4% · 54
- Hispanic or Latino2.8% · 44
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.6% · 9
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.4% · 6
- Black or African American0.3% · 5
Timeline
Historical Census data for Overbay
Overbay appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#17,472
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 1,613
+35 bearers (+2.2%)
Per 100,000 0.55
Rank movement Down 778 places
2020
#17,564
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 1,572
-41 bearers (-2.5%)
Per 100,000 0.53
Rank movement Down 92 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #16,694 | 1,578 | 0.58 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #17,472 | 1,613 | 0.55 | +35 bearers (+2.2%) | Down 778 places |
| 2020 | #17,564 | 1,572 | 0.53 | -41 bearers (-2.5%) | Down 92 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Overbay surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #17,472 | #17,564 | -0.5% |
| Count | 1,613 | 1,572 | -2.5% |
| Per 100K | 0.55 | 0.53 | -4.4% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Overbay bearers went from 1,613 to 1,572 (-2.5% change). The surname moved down 92 positions in the national ranking, going from #17,472 to #17,564.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Overbay
FAQ
Overbay surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Overbay?
Name Census estimates that about 1,803 living Americans carry the surname Overbay. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 190,102 residents.
How common is Overbay?
Overbay ranks #17,564 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.53 per 100,000 residents, which is about 1 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 1,572 people with the surname Overbay. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (1,803), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.53 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.53 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 1 of them to have the surname Overbay.
Has Overbay become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Overbay went from 1,613 recorded bearers to 1,572. That is a decrease of 41 (-2.5%). In the national ranking it fell from #17,472 to #17,564.
What does the Census say about the background of Overbay?
Among Census respondents with the surname Overbay, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.5%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (3.4%) and Hispanic (2.8%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Overbay in the 2020 Census, accounting for 92.5% (1,454 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Overbay appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (92.5%), Two or More Races (3.4%), Hispanic (2.8%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Overbay (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Overbay mean?
A locational surname referring to someone living near or above a bay or inlet. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Overbay (0.53 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people share the surname Overbay?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.