Overington History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The name Overington is part of the ancient legacy of the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. It is a product of when the family lived in the region of Overton in various counties throughout England. Overington is a topographic surname, which was given to a person who resided near a physical feature such as a hill, stream, church, or type of tree.

The place name literally means "higher farmstead" and dates back to Saxon times when the first record of the place name was Uferantun in 909 in Hampshire. There are numerous entries in the Domesday Book of 1086 with very early spellings including: Ovretune in Hampshire; Ovretone in Wiltshire; Oureton in Lancashire; and Ovreton in North Yorkshire. 1

One source claims a dual origin of Overton and Orton. "From one or other of the many places called Overton, or from Orton (Hunts, Leics, Northants, Warwicks, Westmorland), all with ofer, ufera as the first element. In the absence of medieval forms the two names cannot be distinguished." 2

Early Origins of the Overington family

The surname Overington was first found in Lancashire where "in the reign of Henry III., Adam de Overton held lands here; and here, also, the priory of Lancaster had a grange, the site of which appears to have been granted to the monks about 1272. " 3

Before this entry we found Æðelweard of Ortun c. 1051 who was listed as an Old English Byname. Henry de Orton was listed in the Feet of Fines for Oxfordshire in 1229. 2

The following year the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 eluded to the widespread use of the name throughout ancient Britain: Adam de Overton, Oxfordshire; Ode de Overton, Huntingdonshire; and Geoffrey de Overton, Salop (Shropshire.) 4

The Writs of Parliament include a listing for John de Overton, Huntingdonshire in 1324. In Somerset, Sarra de Overtone, was listed there 1 Edward III (during the first year of King Edward III's reign.) 5

Early History of the Overington family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Overington research. Another 170 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1150, 1203, 1275, 1324, 1520, 1525, 1530, 1539, 1547, 1551, 1553, 1562, 1580, 1599, 1609, 1624, 1629, 1631, 1640, 1642, 1657, 1662, 1663, 1664, 1665, 1668, 1678, 1687, 1708, 1712, 1750 and 1788 are included under the topic Early Overington History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Overington Spelling Variations

The first dictionaries that appeared in the last few hundred years did much to standardize the English language. Before that time, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. The language was changing, incorporating pieces of other languages, and the spelling of names changed with it. Overington has been spelled many different ways, including Overton, Oferton, Overtone and others.

Early Notables of the Overington family

Notables of the family at this time include William Overton (c.1525-1609), an English clergyman, Bishop of Lichfield (1580-1609.) He was "born in London between 1520 and 1530, is said to have been of the same family as Robert Overton, the major-general, and to have owed his early education to Glastonbury Abbey; it is certain that he was elected to a demyship at Magdalen College, Oxford, in 1539, and that he became perpetual fellow of the college in 1551. He graduated B.A. in 1547 and M.A. in 1553; in the latter degree he was incorporated at Cambridge in 1562. " 6Richard Overton...
Another 101 words (7 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Overington Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Overington migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Overington Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Edward Overington, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Morley" in 1840 7
Frances Overington, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Morley" in 1840 7

Overington migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Overington Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Miss Eliza Overington, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Northfleet" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand, Via Wellington and Lyttleton in February 1854 8

Contemporary Notables of the name Overington (post 1700) +

John Overington (b. 1946), American politician, Member of the West Virginia House of Delegates (2013-)
W J G Overington, British computer pioneer who coined the phrase telesoftware in the 1970s and 1980s, for transmission of programs for a microprocessor or home computers via broadcast Teletext
Caroline Overington, Australian journalist and author awarded the Sir Keith Murdoch Prize for Journalism, the Walkley Award for Investigative Journalism (twice) and the Blake Dawson Prize
Karen Marie Overington (1951-2011), Australian politician, Member of the Victorian Parliament for Ballarat West (1999-2010)
Sir Philip Overington Blunden (1922-2007), 7th Baronet

Historic Events for the Overington family +

HMS Repulse

Mr. Norman Henry Overington, British Corporal, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking 9

Citations +

Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) MORLEY 1840. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1840Morley.htm
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html