This unusual and interesting surname is a dialectal variant of the name Overhall meaning "dweller at the upper hill". It may also be an Anglicization of a Huguenot name Overstolz. The surname dates back to the mid 16th Century, (see below). Variations in the idiom of the spelling include Overstal, Overstale, etc.. One Mary, daughter of Robert and Susannah Overstall was christened on October 8th 1695 at St. Mary Whitechapel, London. Anthony Overstal married Mary Clinch on January 28th 1720 at St. Vedast Foster Land at St. Michael le Querne, London and Mary, daughter of Anthony and Mary Overstall, was christened on July 6th 1726 at Dunstan, Stepney. One Elizabeth Overstall married Benjamin Rutland at St. Vedast Foster Lane and St. Michael le Querne, London on September 13th 1740. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of John Overstall, christened, which was dated 1659, St. James, Colchester, Essex, during the reign of Commonwealth, 1649 - 1660. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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