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Ovey Family History

Ovey Surname Meaning

Historically, surnames evolved as a way to sort people into groups - by occupation, place of origin, clan affiliation, patronage, parentage, adoption, and even physical characteristics (like red hair). Many of the modern surnames in the dictionary can be traced back to Britain and Ireland.


Similar surnames: Over, Overy, Vey, Avey, Tovey, Oley, Dovey, Bovey, Sovey, Covey

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Ovey family from?

You can see how Ovey families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Ovey family name was found in the USA, the UK, and Canada between 1840 and 1920. The most Ovey families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 14 Ovey families living in Devon. This was about 50% of all the recorded Ovey's in United Kingdom. Devon had the highest population of Ovey families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Ovey surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Ovey ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Lace Twister and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Ovey. 50% of Ovey men worked as a Lace Twister and 65% of Ovey women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Ovey were Dental Surgeon and Private Means Unpaid Domestic Duties.

View Census Data for Ovey | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • Lace Twister
    50%
  • Dental Surgeon
    50%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    65%
  • Private Means
    15%
  • Stenographer
    10%
  • Private Means Unpaid Domestic Duties
    10%

What Ovey family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 1,000 census records available for the last name Ovey. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Ovey census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Ovey

Passenger Lists

There are 244 immigration records available for the last name Ovey. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Ovey immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 129 military records available for the last name Ovey. For the veterans among your Ovey ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Ovey military records

You've only scratched the surface of Ovey family history

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What is the average Ovey lifespan?

Between 1980 and 2003, in the United States, Ovey life expectancy was at its lowest point in 2002, and highest in 1982. The average life expectancy for Ovey in 1980 was 83, and 79 in 2003.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Ovey

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Ovey ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

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