Show ContentsOvenden History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Ovenden surname is a habitational name, taken on from any of various places named Ovington, such as in Durham and in Northumberland.

Early Origins of the Ovenden family

The surname Ovenden was first found in Essex at Ovington, a parish, in the union of Risbridge, hundred of Hinckford. 1 Ovington can also be found in Norfolk, Northumberland, Southampton, Durham and the North Riding of Yorkshire.

The place names are generally first listed in Saxon times or at the time of the Domesday Book in 1086. The oldest was found in Northumberland where it was listed as Ofingadun (699-705) and for the most part, the place name meant "estate associated with a man called Ufa," from the Old English personal name + "-ing" + "tun." 2

The Domesday Book, lists the following variants: Ouituna (Essex) and Ulfeton (Durham.) Ovington, Norfolk was listed as Uvinton in 1202.

Hence, conjecturally, the surname is descended from the tenant of the lands of Brictrwulf from Richard Fitzgilbert a Norman Baron who was recorded in the Domesday Book census of 1086. One of the first records of then name was Roger of Hoveden, or Howden (fl. 1174-1201), who was an English chronicler and is believed to have been from Howden in the East Riding of Yorkshire. He went on the Third Crusade with Richard I of England, joining him in Marseille in August 1190.

Early History of the Ovenden family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ovenden research. Another 88 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1172, 1174, 1190, 1201, 1571, 1582, 1583, 1614 and 1625 are included under the topic Early Ovenden History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ovenden Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Ovington, Offington, Ovenden, Ofington, Offenden, Ovendean, Offendean, Hovenden, Hoffington, de Offington, de Ovington and many more.

Early Notables of the Ovenden family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

  • Robert Hovenden...

Ireland Migration of the Ovenden family to Ireland

Some of the Ovenden family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 93 words (7 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Ovenden family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Mary Ovington, who arrived in Maryland in 1666; Eduard Hovenden, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1775; John Hovendon, who came to Nova Scotia in 1787; John Ovington, who came to Philadelphia in 1813.


Contemporary Notables of the name Ovenden (post 1700) +

  • Graham Stuart Ovenden (b. 1943), English painter, fine art photographer and writer
  • Mark Ovenden F.R.G.S. (b. 1963), English broadcaster and author
  • Keith William Ovenden ONZM (1943-2023), English novelist and biographer, appointed Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2020
  • Charles Thomas Ovenden (1846-1924), Irish Anglican priest and author, Dean of St Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin (1911-1924)
  • Richard Ovenden (b. 1964), British librarian and author, Associate Director, at the Bodleian Library, University of Oxford
  • John Frederick Ovenden (b. 1942), British Labour Party politician, Member of Parliament for Gravesend (1974-1979)
  • Annie Ovenden, British fine figurative artist, founding member of the Brotherhood of Ruralists

HMS Hood
  • Mr. Jack Ovenden (b. 1923), English Canteen Assistant serving for the Royal Navy from Deal, Kent, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 3


  1. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  2. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  3. H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm


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