Vassell History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Early Origins of the Vassell family

The surname Vassell was first found in Gloucestershire, where Hugo Vassal was listed in the Pipe Rolls of 1202. A few years later, the Latin form of the forename Vassallus de Aundfoilliis was listed in the Curia Regis Rolls of 1221 for Rutland. In the same year, Henry Vassal was found in the Assize Rolls of Worcestershire. 1

Originally Norman French, derived from word "vassal," it probably figuratively means "young noble man", "valiant". The name was local to "De Lassales, Hautes-Pyrénées, in the Hautes-Pyrénées department Vassal." 2

Early History of the Vassell family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Vassell research. Another 110 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1586, 1625, 1628, 1630, 1667 and 1723 are included under the topic Early Vassell History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Vassell Spelling Variations

The first dictionaries that appeared in the last few hundred years did much to standardize the English language. Before that time, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. The language was changing, incorporating pieces of other languages, and the spelling of names changed with it. Vassell has been spelled many different ways, including Vassell, Vassel, Fassel and others.

Early Notables of the Vassell family

Notables of the family at this time include Samuel Vassall (1586-1667), an English parliamentarian, second son of John Vassall, by his second wife, Anna Russell. He became a merchant in London, and traded to New England, the West Indies, and Guinea. He was one...
Another 44 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Vassell Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Vassell migration to the United States +

Thousands of English families in this era began to emigrate the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. Although the passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe, those who made the voyage safely were rewarded with opportunities unavailable to them in their homeland. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first Vassells to arrive in North America:

Vassell Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Leonard Vassell, who settled in Boston Massachusetts in 1712 with his wife, son, and daughter
Lenord Vassell, who landed in Boston, Massachusetts in 1712 3
Leonard Vassell, who settled in Boston Massachusetts in 1723

Vassell migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 4

Vassell Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

Mathew Vassell, who settled in Barbados in 1669

The Vassell Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Sæpe pro Rege, semper pro Republica
Motto Translation: Often for the king, always for the state.

Citations +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Dionne, N.-E., Les Canadiens-Francais Origine Des Familles. Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 1969. Print
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies