Viggears History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

Viggears is a name of ancient Norman origin. It arrived in England with the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Viggears family lived in Cornwall. Their name, however, is a reference to St. Vigore Des Montes, Normandy, the family's place of residence prior to the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. Now known as Saint-Vigor, the Eure department is approximately 120 square miles.

Early Origins of the Viggears family

The surname Viggears was first found in Cornwall. They were originally from St. Vigore Des Montes in the arrondisement of St. Lo in the canton of Tessy, in Normandy. They were neighbors of the Traceys who also settled in the west country at Barnstaple in Devon.

Not all of the family left Normandy for England as Simon Vigor (c.1515-1575) from Evreux, Normandy was a French Catholic bishop and controversialist.

Early History of the Viggears family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Viggears research. Another 50 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Viggears History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Viggears Spelling Variations

Endless spelling variations are a prevailing characteristic of Norman surnames. Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules, and the introduction of Norman French added an unfamiliar ingredient to the English linguistic stew. French and Latin, the languages of the court, also influenced spellings. Finally, Medieval scribes generally spelled words according to how they sounded, so one person was often referred to by different spellings in different documents. The name has been spelled Vigors, Viggars, Vigars, Viggors, Viggers, Vigures, Vigours and many more.

Early Notables of the Viggears family

Another 30 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Viggears Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Viggears family to Ireland

Some of the Viggears family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 44 words (3 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Viggears family

To escape the political and religious persecution within England at the time, many English families left for the various British colonies abroad. The voyage was extremely difficult, though, and the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving. But for those who made it, the trip was most often worth it. Many of the families who arrived went on to make valuable contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families reveals a number of immigrants bearing the name Viggears or a variant listed above: James Vigures settled in New England in 1771; John, Lewis, George, and Robert Vigours sustained losses when St. Pierre surrendered to the French in 1763..

The Viggears 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: Spectemur agendo
Motto Translation: Let us be judged by our actions.