Surname Visscher - Meaning and Origin
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Visscher: What does the surname Visscher mean?
The last name Visscher is a Dutch patronymic surname derived from the name Vincent. The name Visscher is derived from the word 'visser', meaning 'fisherman' or 'angler'. The surname is most commonly found in the Netherlands and means 'son of Vincent'.
The first recorded use of the name is thought to be from 15th century Holland. People bearing the name were originally fishermen or fishmongers from a coastal area. It is also possible that the name Visscher derived from a term to describe people who lived near wetlands, referred to as 'visscherijen' in Middle Dutch.
Throughout Dutch history, the name has been associated with notable figures, including merchants, mayors and military leaders.
In modern times, the surnames Visscher and Vischer have become popular across the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, and the United States.
The surname Visscher can often be found in records regarding the Dutch migration of the 19th century. During this period, many Dutch migrants emigrated to the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. This migration resulted in the spread of the name to other parts of the world. This has resulted in the self-identification of many modern families with the name Visscher.
Order DNA origin analysisVisscher: Where does the name Visscher come from?
The last name Visscher is most commonly found in the Netherlands, where over 10,000 people are currently using the surname. This is unsurprising given the Dutch origin of the surname, which comes from the Dutch words “Vis” meaning “Fish” and “Scher” meaning “Seller”. The original family likely sold fish within their local area, and over time this resulted in the surname Visscher becoming widely used.
In addition to the Netherlands, the last name Visscher is also quite common in the United States and Canada. In the US, the last name is most commonly found in Michigan, with there being around 4,000 people using the name in the state. Canada also has a significant Visscher population, with the last name being most common in the province of Ontario.
Outside of these countries, the last name Visscher is also found in South Africa, Germany, France, Australia, and other areas of Europe. In South Africa, the surname is often used as a shortened form of the longer surname Visser, after many of the original Visschers emigrated there in the 19th century.
Overall, the last name Visscher is most commonly found in the Netherlands and other areas of Europe, with there also being a significant population of the surname in the US and Canada.
Variations of the surname Visscher
The surname Visscher is commonly accepted as having Dutch or Flemish origins. It is derived from the Middle Dutch word “visscher” meaning "fisherman". The name is then usually spelled with a double ‘s’ and ending with ‘er’.
Other variants and spellings of the surname Visscher include: Visschers, Fisscher, Fujscher, Visschher, Vrescher, Fijscher, Visschert, Visschier, Visscheri, Vissgers.
It is also commonly Anglicised as Fisher, Fishers, and Fishes.
Surnames that are associated with the same lineage include: Visser, Vischer, Vische, Vishes, Visschers, Vischeri, and Vicher.
The name Visscher has been widespread across the Netherlands since the 17th century and is most closely associated with the province of North Holland. Today, it remains one of the most commonly occuring surnames in the Netherlands, Belgium, and parts of Germany.
Famous people with the name Visscher
- Hans Visscher: A Dutch landscape painter, draughtsman, engraver and architect active in Amsterdam during the Dutch Golden Age.
- Abraham de Visscher: A Dutch Golden Age painter who specialized in landscapes and genre pieces.
- George Visscher: An American jurist, poet, and author, best known for his work on natural law and legal philosophy.
- Jan Visscher: A Dutch Golden Age painter best known for his Italianate landscapes.
- Adriaen Visscher: A Dutch Golden Age engraver and painter who specialized in scenes from the Bible and 1870s Paris street scenes.
- Jacob Visschera Dutch Golden Age painter and engraver from Amsterdam, who is remembered for his landscapes, still lifes and Biblical scenes.
- Pieter Jansz Visscher: A Dutch painter of portraits, genre works and still lifes.
- Samuel Visscher: A Dutch engraver, bookseller and publisher who lived and worked in the Dutch Golden Age.
- Isaak Visscher: A Dutch post-Impressionist painter who is known for his vivid color palette and energetic brushstrokes.
- Moses Visscher: A Dutch engraver and etcher who is remembered for his architectural prints and etchings.