This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Ovington family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Ovington Family History

Ovington Surname Meaning

English (Durham) is a habitational name from Ovington (Durham). The placename derives from the Old English personal name Wulfa + connective -ing- + Old English tūn ‘farmstead settlement’. It is possibly a variant of Ovenden, a habitational name perhaps derived from Ovingdean (Sussex) or Ovenden (Yorkshire).

The placename Ovingdean derives from the Old English personal name Ofa or Ūfa + the Old English group name suffix -ingas (genitive -inga-) + Old English denu ‘valley’.

The placename Ovenden derives from Old English ofen ‘furnace’ or ofan ufan ‘over above’ + denu ‘valley’.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: 

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Ovington family from?

You can see how Ovington families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Ovington family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Ovington families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 110 Ovington families living in Durham. This was about 40% of all the recorded Ovington's in United Kingdom. Durham had the highest population of Ovington families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Ovington surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Ovington ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Ovington. 34% of Ovington men worked as a General Labourer and 82% of Ovington women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Ovington were Builders Labourer and Unpaid Household Duties.

View Census Data for Ovington | 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

  • General Labourer
    34%
  • Bank Clerk
    17%
  • Sand Quarryman
    17%
  • Builders Labourer
    17%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    82%
  • Household Duties
    9%
  • Housewife
    4%
  • Unpaid Household Duties
    4%

What Ovington family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 6,000 census records available for the last name Ovington. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Ovington census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Ovington

Passenger Lists

There are 730 immigration records available for the last name Ovington. 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 Ovington immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 637 military records available for the last name Ovington. For the veterans among your Ovington ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Ovington military records

You've only scratched the surface of Ovington family history

Discover More

What is the average Ovington lifespan?

Between 1964 and 2002, in the United States, Ovington life expectancy was at its lowest point in 2002, and highest in 1981. The average life expectancy for Ovington in 1964 was 80, and 45 in 2002.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Ovington

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Ovington 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.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Ovington family tree

Explore Your Tree
Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial