Surname Veasey - Meaning and Origin
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Veasey: What does the surname Veasey mean?
The last name Veasey is derived from the Old French personal name Vescey, from a diminutive of veis, meaning “ferryman”. This occupation would have been important at a time when travel across bodies of water was one of the only ways to access many areas of Britain. Therefore, Veasey was likely the surname of a long line of ferrymen.
The name is most commonly found in southwestern England and is most common in Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, and Wiltshire. It may have even been found in parts of Scotland in the 12th century.
The Veasey name is believed to be a patronymic surname, meaning it is derived from the father’s given name, in this case Vesey. The family is likely descended from a man named Vesey who was a prominent ferryman.
The Veasey name is still quite common in the UK today, with a number of bearers still living in parts of Britain with a long history of ferrymen. The name may also be found in other English-speaking countries such as the United States, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia.
Order DNA origin analysisVeasey: Where does the name Veasey come from?
The last name Veasey is most commonly found in the southern U.S. states, as well as in the Commonwealth of the Bahamas. In the United States, the largest concentration of the Veasey surname is in the North Carolina counties of Guilford, Halifax and Wayne. It is also common in the neighboring states of South Carolina, Georgia, and Virginia.
In terms of international distribution, the surname is most common in the Bahamas, where it ranks within the top 100 surnames according to Bahamian population statistics. These Bahamian Veaseys are descended from African Americans who were originally enslaved on Caribbean plantations but acquired their freedom, often in the early 19th century. It is likely that these families followed the Underground Railroad to the Bahamas to escape the oppressive conditions in the southern United States.
It is difficult to precisely trace the origin of the Veasey name, but a plausible hypothesis suggests a West African origin. In the late 17th century, when the transatlantic slave trade was still in force, the most common last name for African American slaves was Veasey, derived from a West African name meaning “god is great.” Similarly, the surname is still common among African Americans today, and many still embrace its African origins.
Variations of the surname Veasey
The surname Veasey is derived from the places Veazey and Vazey in Norfolk, England. It is also spelt as Vasey and Veazy. Over time, the surname has changed through different spellings, such as Vecey, Veeeezy, Vizi, Veesy, Vycey, Veazey, and Veezy.
Variations of Veasey include Veazey, Vecey, Veazy, Veesy, Vycey, Veezy, and Vizi. Common spellings of Veasey include Veasey, Veasy, Vesey, Veasie, Vasey, and Vassey.
Variants of the surname Veasey are commonly found throughout England, the United States, Canada, and Australia, with the majority of entries being in the United States and Canada. In the US, the census 2000 listed Veasey as the 676th most common surname.
Alternate surnames that are related to Veasey include Visse, Vase, Vissey, Visly, and Visel. Other surnames related to Veasey include Veazea, Veazlee, and Veazle.
In some instances, Veasey may be a given name rather than a surname. People may be surnamed Veasey due to adopting the name of a relative or ancestor. Veasey can also be an Americanized surname for people with Germanic ancestry whose original surname may have been Vase, Fasse, Fasz, Feaz, or Feasel.
Famous people with the name Veasey
- Ryan Veasey: an English television presenter best known for hosting the children's television series "In the Night Garden"
- Jesse Veasey: a former professional football player who played guard for the Oakland Raiders
- Matthew Veasey: an American professional swimmer and two-time Olympic medalist
- Mike Veasey: an American professional wrestler
- David Veasey: an American-born English keyboardist and composer
- Mary Louise Veasey: an American actress known for roles in movies such as “A Few Good Men” and “Big Momma’s House”
- Kara Veasey: noted American jewelry designer and philanthropist
- Victoria Veasey: a British reality television personality famed for her appearances on the talent show "The X Factor"
- Jimmy Veasey: a former professional American football player who played cornerback for the Denver Broncos
- Frank Veasey: a popular Jamaican reggae musician and recording artist