Veysey History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The ancestors of the Veysey family brought their name to England in the wave of migration after the Norman Conquest of 1066. They lived in Northampton. The name, however, derives from the family's place of residence prior to the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, Vassy, Normandy. One of the first records of the name was Robertus Invesiatus, Lascivus which appeared in the Domesday Book 1 in Essex 2. Other records show the name was originally De Vesci, which was a baronial name, a branch of the De Burgh family. 3

Eustace de Vescy or Vesci, Baron Vesci (1170?-1216), "son of William de Vesci and Burga de Stuteville, paid his relief on coming of age in 2 Richard I (1191-1192). He was with the king in Palestine in 1195. John de Vescy (d. 1289) was eldest son of William de Vescy (d. 1253), and elder brother of William de Vescy. In 1253, on the death of his father in Gascony, he succeeded to the family estates. These included the barony of Alnwick and a large property in Northumberland." 4

Early Origins of the Veysey family

The surname Veysey was first found in Northampton where Robert de Vassy (Veci) and his brother Ivo were granted nineteen Lordships in that county and overlapping into Warwick, Lincoln, and Leicester, by Duke William of Normandy, their liege Lord, for their distinguished assistance at the Battle of Hastings in 1066 A.D.

"The 'Sires de Waacie,' spoken of by Wace at the battle of Hastings, were Robert, who in 1086 held a great barony in Northants, Warwick, Lincoln, and Leicester; and Ivo, who does not appear even as a mesne-lord in Domesday. Yet we hear nothing more either of Robert or his possessions, and the whole history of the family centres on Ivo, and Ivo's posterity." 5

Ivo (John) won the hand of Alda, daughter of Gilbert, Lord of Alnwick in Northumberland and the family claim considerable prominence as the Lords of Vesey from which Lords Fitzgerald and Vesei claim descent.

Further to the south in Tamerton, Cornwall, "Vacye was for some time the seat of a family of this name; but it is at present the property and residence of George Call, Esq. The church of Tamerton contains several memorials for the family of Vacye." 6

Early History of the Veysey family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Veysey research. Another 204 words (15 lines of text) covering the years 1296, 1313, 1462, 1470, 1500, 1554, 1589, 1661, 1674 and 1746 are included under the topic Early Veysey History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Veysey Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years the English language had no fixed system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations occurred commonly in Anglo Norman surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Veysey were recorded, including Feasey, Feasy, Fessey, Fassey, Fessys, Fressis, Veasey, Vassey, Vassy, Vesci, Vezey, Vezay, Vesey, Vessey and many more.

Early Notables of the Veysey family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

John Vesey or Veysey (1462?-1554), born John Harman, an English bishop of Exeter, the eldest child of William Harman of Sutton-Coldfield, Warwickshire (d. 31 May 1470.) 4

Migration of the Veysey family to Ireland

Some of the Veysey family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 35 words (2 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Veysey migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Veysey Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Charles Veysey, aged 21, a carpenter, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "S.S. Arawa" in 1884
Fanny Veysey, aged 18, a servant, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "S.S. Arawa" in 1884
Elizabeth Grace Veysey, aged 18, a servant, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "S.S. Arawa" in 1884
Charles Veysey, aged 21, a carpenter, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Arawa" in 1884
Fanny Veysey, aged 18, a servant, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Arawa" in 1884
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Veysey (post 1700) +

Victor Vincent Veysey (1915-2001), American Republican politician, Member of California State Assembly, 1963-70; U.S. Representative from California, 1971-75; Delegate to Republican National Convention from California, 1972 7

The Veysey 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: Sub hoc signo vinces
Motto Translation: Under this sign we shall conquer.

Citations +

Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
Cleveland, Dutchess of The Battle Abbey Roll with some Account of the Norman Lineages. London: John Murray, Abermarle Street, 1889. Print. Volume 3 of 3
Hutchins, Fortescue, The History of Cornwall, from the Earliest Records and Traditions to the Present Time. London: William Penaluna, 1824. Print
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 11) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html