Varsey

Recorded in many forms as shown below, this is an English surname, but one of Norman-French origins. It is either locational from a place in Normandy called Vesci, or it is a medieval nickname derived from the pre 7th century word 'envoisier, meaning to enjoy oneself. However if a nickname, and given the robust humour attached to surname nicknames, then it may well mean the complete opposite of what it purports to say! In our opinion in most cases the surname is locational as it is known that many called 'de Vesci' did come over with William the Conqueror, in 1066. This is born out by recordings such as Willelmus de Vesci in the pipe rolls of London in the seventh year of the reign of King Henry 11nd in 1161, whilst Richard de Vescy appears in the rolls of the Hundred of the city of York in 1273. The spellings include Vaisey, Vasey, Veasy, Veysey, Vezey, Voisey, Varzey, Varsey, Versey, Versy, Verzey, Feasey, Feesey, Phaisey, Pheazey, and Lenfestey. Amongst the recorded examples are Francis Versy, a christening witness at St Giles Cripplegate, in the city of London, on January 5th 1595, James Voysey of Devonshire in the register of the students of Oxford University in 1602, and Augustine Veasey, who was christened on July 11th 1678 also at St. Giles, Cripplegate. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Thomas le Envaiset, which was dated circa 1150, in the chartulary of the abbey of Rievaulx, Yorkshire. This was during the reign of King Stephen of England, 1135 - 1154. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.