An anglicized variant spelling which derives from the Dutch-Huguenot 'Overschie' a name found also in Prussian Germany. After the revocation of the Edict of Nantes in 1685 and the successful (and peaceful) invasion of England by William of Orange in 1689 over one hundred thousand persons of European origin came to England. In the next two hundred years they were gradually assimilated into English society and their names 'converted' to near English. In this case the original meaning was 'a residence by the sluice (gate)'- the coat of arms being a raven on a gold field. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Wilhelm van Overshie which was dated C. 1680 Delft, Nederlands during the reign of King William 111 of Orange 1651 - 1704. 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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