Map of England showing where the Overby arms are recorded
The Overby arms were recorded in Gloucester, c. 1620.
Gloucestershire had good farmland, a cloth trade in its valleys and a river carrying goods to Bristol. All three made money, and money bought the estates that brought arms with them.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
The body that granted and recorded arms in England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Overby arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Gloucester.
Origin & History of the Overby Family in England
The Overby surname is rooted in the landscape of Northern Europe, specifically within the regions of Denmark and England. The name itself is derived from the Old Norse words "over," meaning upper, and "by," meaning a farmstead or village. This suggests that the earliest ancestors were likely farmers who lived on the higher ground of a settlement. By the early 17th century, members of the family had crossed the Atlantic to establish themselves in the American colonies. Records confirm that the Overby family was present in Gloucester County, Virginia, as early as 1620. These early settlers were among the pioneers who helped shape the social and agricultural foundations of the Tidewater region during the colonial period.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
ofer + by
Old English and Old Norse for over or edge and farmstead.
This name
OverbyRefers to someone who lived at a farmstead situated on a ridge or bank.
also spelled
Overbery
Overberry
Overburie
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Crozier, William Armstrong. Virginia Colonial Militia, 1651-1776. 1905
Nugent, Nell Marion. Cavaliers and Pioneers: Abstracts of Virginia Land Patents and Grants, 1623-1666. 1934
Library of Virginia, Gloucester County Records, 1651-1865
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mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
