Surname Over - Meaning and Origin
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Over: What does the surname Over mean?
The last name Over is an Anglo-Saxon name derived from the Old English words “ofer” or “ofer”, meaning someone from the high place or hill. The surname would usually indicate that the bearer lived on or nearby a hill or difficulty terrain such as a bank of a river or stream. As a locational surname, the original bearers of this name likely lived in a place that was known for being “over” something.
Over is a very common name in England, where it most likely originated. It has a number of variants including, Overton, Overell, Overill, Overy, Overin, Oven, Ovens, Ovenen, Overnell, Overyall and Overyell. It’s also related to the Dutch and German surname Overbach, meaning “over the stream”.
Today, the Over surname is most commonly found in the United States, England, Canada, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand.
The name Over is likely to be a source of great pride for those who carry it. Those with the surname may have a connection to many centuries of hard work and tenacity, as their ancestors carefully picked out a location based on the surrounding terrain and environment. Many Over ancestors may have been responsible for reclaiming land, or at the very least, were amongst those brave few who chose to leave the comfort of home for a better future. The Over surname is a reminder of the achievements of these courageous and enterprising ancestors.
Order DNA origin analysisOver: Where does the name Over come from?
The surname Over is a relatively uncommon name today, but it can be found in many parts of the world. It is most common in England and Europe, primarily in The Netherlands and Germany, as well as in Australia and New Zealand. It can also be found in scattered pockets in the United States.
The origin of the surname Over is disputed, although it is generally accepted as being of Germanic origin, referring to someone who came from Over in the Netherlands. This was a small town near the Maas river in the Dutch province of Limburg.
The Over name has been common in England since the 12th century, and the earliest known record of the name was on the rolls of the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, which documented the inhabitants of Teesdale in the county of Durham.
The first recorded reference to the Over family in America was in 1660 in Virginia, where Johannes Over was found in the records of the Virginia Land Corporation. Later, in the 18th century, Jacob Over immigrated from Germany and established a prosperous farming family in Pennsylvania.
Today, most people with the surname Over can trace their roots back to Europe, although there are a few with different origins.
Variations of the surname Over
The surname Over is an ancient Anglo-Saxon name that originated from various places in England. It is derived from the Old English word "oferl", which meant "ridge or hill over a valley". The spelling of the surname varied widely in the Middle Ages, appearing as Oeur, Ore, Orer, Oure, Owar, Oure and Ouwer.
The surnames that are derived from Over include Overell, Overells, Overy, Overly, Overill, Overhall, Overhul, Overyer, Overyard, Overbee, Overbaugh, Overcash, Overholser, Overing,and Overlock.
Variant spellings and surnames of Over are also found throughout Europe. In Dutch and German, the surname is spelled Oever. In French, the surname is spelled Ouver and Orver. In Scandinavian, the surname is spelled Ofver, Ofverr, Ofverts and Ofvertz. In Polish, the surname is spelled Ouer.
Over is also an Irish surname. It is derived from the old Irish version of the word "oversheugh", which means "over the mountain". This is the same root as the American version of the name "O’Hara". Variations of this Irish name include O’Hover, O’Hoofer, O’Hove, O’Hauver, O’Hoever, O’Hoove and O’Hauvaugh.
Overall, the spelling and variants of the surname Over is quite diverse, and comes from many different sources and countries. It is likely that many individuals of today with the surname Over have ancestors who hailed from different countries in Europe.
Famous people with the name Over
- Arne Overland: a Norwegian singer and songwriter, also known by the stage name Climate Justice.
- Demi Over: an American professional soccer player who currently plays as a midfielder for Portland Thorns FC of the National Women's Soccer League.
- Hunter Over: an American professional baseball pitcher who currently plays for the Minnesota Twins.
- Paul Over: an American professional basketball player who last played with Brooklyn Nets of the National Basketball Association.
- Chrysty Over: an American professional extreme sports athlete who specializes in aerial skiing and skiing. She is currently a coach at her own ski academy and a morning pitcher for NBC Sports.
- Abe Over: an American baseball pitcher for the New York Yankees. He is regarded as one of the best pitchers of all time in Major League Baseball.
- Elisha Over: an American professional boxer who has held the IBF super featherweight title since 2021.
- Jana Over: an American film producer and founder of the production company “Over Authority”.
- Lila Over: an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and multi-instrumentalist. She is known for her eclectic style and her multi-genre approach to music-making.
- Ross Over: an American actor and producer, best known for his role in the television series “The Vampire Diaries”.