Show ContentsOvery History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Overy family

The surname Overy was first found in Norfolk where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor. The Saxon influence of English history diminished after the Battle of Hastings in 1066. The language of the courts was French for the next three centuries and the Norman ambience prevailed. But Saxon surnames survived and the family name was first referenced in the 13th century when they held estates in that county.

Early History of the Overy family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Overy research. Another 70 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1455 and 1487 are included under the topic Early Overy History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Overy Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Overman, Overer, Overy, Offerman, Oferman and others.

Early Notables of the Overy family

More information is included under the topic Early Overy Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Overy migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Overy Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Mathew Overy, who arrived in Virginia in 1649 1
  • Mary Overy, who landed in Maryland in 1656 1
  • William Overy, who arrived in Virginia in 1657 1
  • Ed Overy, who landed in Virginia in 1664 1
Overy Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Ann Overy, who arrived in Virginia in 1700 1
  • Richard Overy, who landed in Virginia in 1700 1
  • Isaac Overy, who arrived in South Carolina in 1743 1

Overy migration to Australia +

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

Overy Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Thomas Overy, English convict who was convicted in Dover, Kent, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Eliza" on 2nd February 1831, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 2
  • Mr. William Overy, (b. 1816), aged 21, English convict who was convicted in London, England for 7 years for larceny, transported aboard the "Charles Kerr" on 6th June 1837, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 3
  • Mr. Charles Overy, English convict who was convicted in London, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Elphinstone" on 28th July 1842, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 4

Contemporary Notables of the name Overy (post 1700) +

  • Mike Overy (1951-2021), born Harry Michael Overy, American Major League Baseball pitcher who pitched in five games during the 1976 season for the California Angels
  • Thomas Overy, British co-founder of Allen & Overy LLP in 1930, a British multinational law firm headquartered in London, now with 590 partners and over 5,800 employees worldwide
  • Richard James Overy (b. 1947), British historian of World War II and the Third Reich


  1. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  2. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 28th February 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/eliza
  3. Convict Records of Australia. Retrieved 1st February 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/charles-kerr
  4. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 23rd March 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/elphinstone


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