Vatcher History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland
Scotland

Vatcher Coat of Arms Creation

Veitch was a name common in Tweeddale, Scotland and the spelling to begin with was Vaca or Vach. Some assert that the Veitches got their crest-a bullock's head-from the Latin ,word for a cow, but it is more likely that it was because they were of much assistance to Robert the Bruce in bringing in from the enemy a herd of bullocks or cows when he was in dire need of supplies, and their motto; "Famam extendimus factis " (We extend our reputation by deeds), would seem to justify this second surmise. 1

Early Origins of the Vatcher family

The surname Vatcher was first found in Berwickshire, Scotland where they were first recorded when Randolph Veitch (Radulphus uacca) witnessed a charter by Henry de Graham c. 1200. A few years later, Alexander la uache witnessed a charter of the church of Driuesdale between 1214 and 1219 and Dominus Alexander de (for le) Vacca, witnessed a grant by Richard Germyn to the House of Soltre between 1235 and 1258. 2

Early History of the Vatcher family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Vatcher research. Another 164 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1214, 1296, 1348, 1378, 1387, 1388, 1390, 1393, 1397, 1399, 1408, 1473, 1474, 1484, 1494, 1566, 1567, 1628, 1640, 1679, 1681, 1683, 1685 and 1722 are included under the topic Early Vatcher History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Vatcher Spelling Variations

The name, Vatcher, occurred in many references, and from time to time, it was spelt Veitch, Veach, Vitch and others.

Early Notables of the Vatcher family

Sir Philip de la Vache (c. 1348-1408), an English courtier, fought in the French wars and was made Knight of the Chamber in 1378, keeper of the royal park at Chiltern Langley and was a knight of the shire in the Parliament of 1387, appointed captain of the castle of Calais (1388), negotiated a truce with king of France, count of Flanders and the cities of Ghent, Bruges and Ypres (1390), served in Calais until 1393, when he was transferred to Guines, during the Parliament of 1397, he was one of the pledges for the prosecution of Thomas, Duke of Gloucester...
Another 162 words (12 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Vatcher Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Vatcher family to Ireland

Some of the Vatcher family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Vatcher migration to the United States +

The New World beckoned settlers from the Scottish-English borders. They sailed aboard the armada of sailing ships known as the "White Sails" which plied the stormy Atlantic. Some called them, less romantically, the "coffin ships." Among the early settlers bearing the Vatcher surname who came to North America were:

Vatcher Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Mary Vatcher, aged 46, who arrived in New York in 1904 aboard the ship "Majestic (1890)" from Liverpool, England 3
Louis Vatcher, aged 28, who arrived in New York in 1919 from Bordeaux, France 3
Saudy Vatcher, aged 24, who arrived in New York in 1921 from Bridgetown, Barbados 3
John Vatcher, aged 22, who arrived in New York in 1922 aboard the ship "A. B. Barteaux" from Harwood Bay, Newfoundland 3
Susie Vatcher, aged 24, originally from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, who arrived in New York in 1922 aboard the ship "Rosalind" from Halifax, England 3
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Vatcher migration to Canada +

Vatcher Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Philip Vatcher, Newfoundland fisherman of Freshwater in 1818 4
Charles Vatcher, Newfoundland fisherman of Merritt's Harbour in 1851 4
Joseph Vatcher, Newfoundland planter at Crocker's Cove in 1854 4

Contemporary Notables of the name Vatcher (post 1700) +

Jim Ernest Vatcher (b. 1966), American former Major League Baseball outfielder who played from 1990 to 1992

The Vatcher 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: Famam extendimus factis
Motto Translation: We exceed our reputation by deeds.

Sources +

Polson, Alexander, The Romance of Scottish Crests and Mottoes. Inverness: Walter Alexander, Inglis Street 1929. Print
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
Ellis Island Search retrieved 15th November 2022. Retrieved from https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/passenger-result
Seary E.R., Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland, Montreal: McGill's-Queen's Universtity Press 1998 ISBN 0-7735-1782-0