My research indicates :-
The family name originates from a Robert de Vaci who was one of William The Conqueror's knights when he invaded
England in 1066. The Doomsday Book of 1088 records that "Robert de Veci, another of the Norman's who assisted William the
Conqueror in his expedition, was rewarded with the lordships of
Morton, Scentone part of Cleveliorde, Gumley, Shankton,
Thorpe, Basurde,
Cliborne and
Newton in Leicestershire; and with other great estates in the counties of Northampton,
Warwick and
Lincoln. From Ivo, called also John de Vesci, a great baron, either brother or nearly allied to Robert, the present lord vesci claims his decent by the female line." The land in
Leicester was previously held under Edward the Confessor by Aelric the son of Meriot.
At the time it was common for names de to indicate where the person was born i.e. a local surname which traces its origin to a particular place name. In this instance the surname is likely to derive from the place-name
Vessy which is the name of two places in France (
Normandy - Burgundy). According to etymologists, the place name
Vessey is derived from the Old French meaning "estate of Vitius". Robert de Vaci, therefore was from either the
Vessy area in
Normandy or
Burgundy, France.
Send me an e-mail if you would like more.
Terry
Vasey