Surname Vissering - Meaning and Origin
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Vissering: What does the surname Vissering mean?
The last name Vissering is of Dutch origin, and it's believed to have derived from a geographic location. Vissering is thought to be a toponymic surname, which means it was derived from a place-name. Specifically, it's thought to be derived from a place called Visserij, meaning ‘fishery’, which suggests the surname originated from someone who either lived by or worked in a fishery. In some cases, it could also refer to a person from the area of Visserij.
The surname Vissering is particularly common in the Dutch provinces of South Holland and North Brabant, and it has spread to other parts of the world. In the United States, the surname is relatively uncommon, although over the years the Vissering family has grown to have members living all over the world.
In addition to its geographic meaning, the surname Vissering could also refer to someone who works as a visser, which is Dutch for ‘fisherman’. However, this is not as likely an origin as the toponymic explanation.
The surname Vissering is a unique legacy of Dutch culture and history, carrying the story of an area now lost to time and connecting generations of a family from all over the world.
Order DNA origin analysisVissering: Where does the name Vissering come from?
The Vissering family name is found mainly in The Netherlands. Visser is the Dutch word for fisherman, so the surname most likely originated from a profession – someone who had a fishing business.
There are still many Visserings living in The Netherlands today. According to Geneanet, 382 people with the surname live there, and a further 88 in Belgium. The Netherlands is the country with the highest concentration of Visserings in Europe, although there are also family members living in the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and other countries such as Spain, Austria, Switzerland and Romania.
About 200 Vissering family members are also living in the United States, mainly in the states of California, Florida and Minnesota.
The Vissering family appears to be scattered throughout the world, having spread out from the small European country where the surname originated. Vissering is a very uncommon name today, with only a few thousand people worldwide bearing the name. Each generation, however, adds to the numbers, and the surname is likely to survive for generations to come.
Variations of the surname Vissering
The surname Vissering comes from the Middle Dutch area of origin, the Netherlands. It is a patronymic surname, and can be spelled many ways. Variants of the surname Vissering include Visseren, Visserman, Vischer, Vischre, Visserette, Visser, Vissers, Visserink, Visjering, Visker, Viskerink, and Wisselink.
The surname Vissering is generally thought to have evolved from the Middle Dutch given name Vissere, which is thought to have originally been derived from the Middle Dutch word vissheer, meaning “fisherman”. The surname could also have Latin roots, as there is a prominent Roman-religious organization called Viscera, in which the meaning of viscera is “inner organs.” This suggests that the surname Vissering might be traditionally associated with a fish farming family.
Another possible origin of the surname Vissering is the given name Visserede, a name which could have derived from the Middle Dutch vis, meaning ‘fish’ and reed, meaning ‘one who catches’. This suggests that the surname may have been used to denote someone who was a fisherman or fishmonger.
Lastly, the surname could have derived from the Old Dutch given name Visse, which is thought to have arisen from the Old Germanic name Vistari, meaning “plank or battle-axe.” This suggests that the name may have traditionally belonged to a family of warriors or axe-makers.
Overall, the surname Vissering comes from various origins, and its multiple variants and spellings reflect this. Generally, the surname denotes someone who was either a fisherman or axe-maker, although the exact origin will depend on your family's particular history.
Famous people with the name Vissering
- Guilliam Vissering: Guilliam Vissering (1925–1994) was a Dutch physicist and engineer, and the first Professor of Radar and Radio Navigation at the Delft University of Technology.
- Mathijs Vissering: Mathijs Vissering (born 1934) is a Dutch jurist, who is professor emeritus of international coordination of national legal systems at the University of Amsterdam.
- Willem Vissering: Willem Vissering (born 1957) is a Dutch photographer with an emphatical style, whose photographs focus on human behaviour in urban spaces.
- Floris Vissering: Floris Vissering (1826–1896) was a 19th century Dutch tradesman and politician, and the mayor of Amsterdam from 1858 to 1883.
- Roel Vissering: Roel Vissering (born 1975) is a Dutch football manager, who is currently the head coach of Fortuna Sittard in the Dutch Eredivisie.
- Dirk Vissering: Dirk Vissering (born 1947) is a Dutch entrepreneur and politician, who served as member of the Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament for the centrist Christian Democratic Appeal from 1998 to 2006.
- Cornet Vissering: Cornet Vissering (1700-1784) was a captain in the Dutch army, and a member of the States of Friesland from 1744 to 1768.
- Jan Vissering: Jan Vissering (born 1935) is a retired Dutch physician, who specialised in endocrinology, and was advisor to the Royal Dutch Academy for Arts and Sciences from 1998 to 2006.
- Wessel Vissering: Wessel Vissering (1782-1839) was a 19th century Dutch linguist, who researched the origins of the Frisian language.
- Theo Vissering: Theo Vissering (1913-1985) was a Dutch chess player, and two-time Dutch Chess Champion in 1939 and 1948.