Veck

This very interesting surname, recorded in the spellings of Veck and Vick, is of Norman-French origin. Derived from the pre 9th century Olde French "Le Eveske" meaning the bishop, the surname was originally a nickname for a person who was considered to behave like a bishop, or who played the part of a bishop in the famous travelling theatres of the medieval period! The spelling probably through dialect, being shortened to 'Vesk' in the 13th century, the form in which it became a surname. The full form of the surname also survives as Levesque and Levick. It is an example of the estimated 20% of all European surnames, that were created from the habitual use of nicknames. The nicknames were given in the first instance with reference to a variety of characteristics, and it is clear by their survival that the original holders of these names, some of which to 20th century sensibilities are extremely rude or even lewd, were not so regarded in their early days! The early surname development with this surname included Robert Vesk in the Hundred rolls of Worcestershire for the year 1275, and Robert le Veck in the 1279 Hundred rolls of Cambridgeshire. Among the early church recordings are the marriages of John Vick and Judith Rogers on June 14th 1674 at St. Marylebone, London, and of Philip Veck and Rebecca Hoinde on October 26th 1703, at St. Benet's church, Paul's Wharf, London. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.