Surname Vicer - Meaning and Origin

Vicer: What does the surname Vicer mean?

The last name Vicer is of English origin and is believed to be an occupational name derived from the Latin vicecomes, meaning lieutenant for a nobleman or sheriff. It could also have referred to a subordinate judge.

The surname Vicer likely took several forms over the centuries before eventually becoming the last name it is now. During the Middle Ages, many landowners and large landowners owned both farms and manors and each had a lieutenant who was their manager or supervisor, referred to as a vicecomes. Some of the spelling variations of this name were Vicecomitis, VisaCount, Vizcaronda and Vicer.

The first recorded spelling of Vicer was found in the 1379 Durham County Court Rolls, with Thomas Vicer of Durham. Vicer is a rare surname and is not found as widely as other surnames, even today. Despite its rarity, the distribution of the Vicer surname is relatively widespread, with records found in England, the U.S., Australia, Canada and Ireland.

Over the centuries, the Vicer name has become synonymous with loyalty and honour. It is also a name that is associated with a strong sense of tradition and leadership, qualities which are seen even today in members of the Vicer family.

Vicer: Where does the name Vicer come from?

The last name Vicer is most commonly seen in the Spanish-speaking countries of Spain and Latin America. It is quite a rare surname and its origins are disputed. In parts of Spain, it is believed to be of patronymic origin, derived from the name Vicente, though its specific origin is unknown. In Latin America, it has an Italian origin from the word vicario meaning ‘vicar,’ likely originating from Italian immigrants during the 19th century.

In Spain, the surname is most common in the Catalan region of north-western Spain, where the town of Vic is located. It is also found throughout neighbouring Aragón and Madrid, and can be seen scattered throughout other regions of Spain. In Latin America, the name Vicer is most common in countries such as Argentina, Peru, and Colombia.

More generalized Spanish-language countries, such as Mexico, may also contain pockets of Vicer’s present, though it is not as heavily concentrated. In the United States, the last name can be seen throughout the United States, particularly in communities with high Spanish-speaking populations.

Variations of the surname Vicer

The surname Vicer is derived from a western European language, likely either French or Italian, and may have originally been spelled Vicier. Variants of the surname would include Viceur, Viseur, Visor, Vyseur, Viseur, Visseur, Vyser, Visser, and Veisser. The surname Vicer is also occasionally spelled Vyser or Visser, but these two spellings are less common.

The surname Vicer is thought to have originated as an occupational name deriving from the old French word 'vice', which means vice, or a vise. The surname was likely originally borne by someone who was a manufacturer of vises, or held a job in forestry which involved the use of large vises.

Surnames with origins derived from the Vicer surname include Visar, Viser, Visser, Veisser, Vyser, and Viseur. Similarly spelled surnames may be forms of Vicer, including Visa, Vysar, Visor, Vieser, Vyseur, and Viseur. Occasionally, the surname Vicer is Anglicized to Vyser.

In some cases, the surname Vicer is also connected with the Scandinavian Visker surname, which is derived from the Old Norse personal name Vishka, itself derived from the word 'viska', which means 'to wander' or 'to travel'. In this case, the surname would have been borne by one who frequented far-off places.

Famous people with the name Vicer

• Sir William Vycers, the Lord Admiral of England in the late 16th Century
• François Vicer, French painter
• Balthasar Vicer, German baroque sculptor
• Mary Vicer, Australian singer-songwriter
• William Vicer, Canadian actor
• Lavell Vicer, American professional basketball player
• Ramón Vicer, Spanish footballer
• Miles Vicer, American actor
• Anthony Vicer, British actor
• Ferdinand Vicer, Austrian architect

Other surnames

ViceVicery