Photos taken at our family reunion on new Year's Day 2001:

Billy Will Lisa Heather			Ann Dorris Chris Olive
Lisa Heather Stephen			Bill Molly Ann

In my last email I did not tell you exactly where Stephen and I live. We actually live in a market town called Chester-le-Street which is situated in County Durham (www.countydurham.com)

Last year when we were in Edinburgh we commissioned a company to find out more about the 'Overall' crest. The company will do some research and will produce an embroidered picture of your family crest. If you are interested in obtaining a crest then their website is www.heraldry.co.uk. I understand from our literature that Quote: "If by chance you - or a friend - would like to order another such item we will offer you a 10% discount on the original price. To take advantage of this please quote the following reference number (S3/0644) - and contact us". (Please note I am not advertising this for any personal gain but to help all fellow Overalls who may be interested).

I have not displayed this crest on my website as it may infringe on any copyright issues however I can contact the company above to enquire. (This is where the family motto comes in HONESTAS OPTIMA POLITIA "HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY")

And finally here is some more information that I managed to obtain. I also have not displayed this encase this infringes any copyright issues. Source - Family Name History - The Historical Research CenterTM - Overall
"The English surname Overall is local in origin, being one of those names derived from the place where a man once lived or where he once held land. In this instance the name referred originally to one who lived in or near the 'hall by the shore of the sea or near the bank of the river' or to one who was a 'dweller of the upper hall'. Early ancestors may have come from the place called Overhill in Worcestershire. Finally, the name may find it's source in the Nornan-French name Avril from Avrilla in France, bought to England by the Normans during the Conquest in 1066.

Documented evidence of this name dates back to the thirteenth century, to one William Overal listed in the Calendar of Patent Rolls in 1217. In the following century there is reference to one William del Overhall of Worcestershire in the studies on Middle English Local Names in 1217.

Blazon of Arms: Or, a lion azure, armed, langued and crowned argent, beneath the sinister paw a crescent of the second.
Translation : Or (gold) denotes Generosity and the lion is symbolic of Strength, Courage and Majesty.
Crest: A lion as in the arms.
Origin: England".