Visser is used as a family name or surname in Netherlands. It is 6 characters long in length.

Family Name / Last Name: Visser
No. of characters: 6
Origin: Netherlands
Meaning:

One who caught, or sold, fish.

Lastname Visser is a variant of Vavasour. A dignity of somewhat doubtful origin and import. Sir John Ferne regards it as the equivalent of Banneret. "These Vavasours," says he, "were called by an ancient English lawyer (Bracton), Viri magnæ dignitatis: men of great dignitye. And this worde Vavasor he interpreteth to be this: Vas sortitum ad valetudinem, a man chosen for his valour and prowesse, placinge them above the dignitye of knighthood." Vavasores Regis, who occur in Domesday Book, "are much the same with Liberi homines Regis." Chaucer, in his description of the Frankelein, or great freeholder, says, there-
"Was no wher swiche a worthy Vavasour."

The Vavasours of Yorkshire have held their estate uninterruptedly from Mauger, the founder of their race, who was one of the Conqueror's vavasores, except a short time in the reign of Henry III, when it is said to have been pledged to a Jew for £350. "It is observed of this family," says Fuller, "that they never married an heir, or buried their wives." The male line has failed since Fuller's days, and more than once the estate has been carried to other families by a sole-heiress, whose husband has, however, adopted the ancient surname.

How popular is Visser?

Visser is common in Netherlands, South Africa, United States, Mozambique, Canada, Australia, Germany, England, New Zealand, Belgium, Ghana, France, Namibia, Thailand, Saudi Arabia, Argentina, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden, Botswana, Malawi, Suriname.

Visser is ranked 4762 on our list.

As per 2010 US census, number of Vissers grew by 8.71 per cent to 5231 since 2000 and ranked 6490 after elevating 15 spots. The last name was found in around 2 per hundred thousand population. Please refer to following table for race and ethnicity.

Race 2010 2000
White 94.82 95.45
Hispanic or Latino 2.54 2.16
Others 1.13 1.29
Asian and Native Hawaiian
& Other Pacific Islander		 0.71 0.54
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.48 0.29
Black 0.32 0.27
Visser is quite popular last name mostly concentrated in Netherlands which signifies its Netherlands provenence. Around 118502 people have been found who wears Visser as their family name. Visser is used widely across the globe. More detailed information can be found below:
RankCountryCount
Countries with ten thousands of Visser:
7 Netherlands55,804
164 South Africa37,745
Countries with thousands of Visser:
6,320 United States6,891
1,220 Mozambique4,944
1,816 Canada3,004
1,565 Australia2,554
5,598 Germany1,891
Countries with hundreds of Visser:
9,600 England629
1,467 New Zealand533
3,527 Belgium510
5,980 Ghana485
24,084 France428
1,120 Namibia417
40,154 Thailand298
14,774 Saudi Arabia278
14,420 Argentina249
15,384 Spain199
8,557 Switzerland114
6,513 Sweden111
4,170 Botswana105
16,499 Malawi105
1,247 Suriname102
Countries with low frequency i.e., 50 - 100:
70,623 Brazil94
130,958 Russia67
4,582 Bahrain59
9,225 Denmark58
Countries with very low frequency i.e., 10 - 50:
33,247 Zimbabwe44
80,856 Italy41
8,115 Scotland41
16,659 Norway40
723 Malta36
32,024 Papua New Guinea35
11,471 Dominican Republic31
7,666 Singapore30
14,967 Kuwait29
9,364 Lesotho29
529 Aruba28
12,265 Portugal28
10,875 Qatar25
197 Curaçao23
10,794 Estonia23
8,362 Ireland22
267,290 Indonesia22
41,758 Austria21
145,665 DR Congo21
25,366 Finland15
78,777 Malaysia15
23,887 Chile13
Countries with very very low frequency i.e., 6 - 10:
43,480 Mexico10
9,186 Sri Lanka9
719 Swaziland9
714 Vanuatu9
40,289 United Arab Emirates8
19,671 Wales8
10,125 China7
786,157 India7
47,869 Japan7
15,541 Lebanon7
39,591 Venezuela7
238,248 Philippines7
105,647 Czechia6
10,500 Paraguay6
Show Full Last Name Distribution

Immigrants to US

From Germany

Johann Visser was 22 years old when he migrated to USA on May 28, 1858. He lived in Germany where he worked as farmer and took Athena from Bremen. 14 years old Johanna Visser, Vieternella Visser, aged 20, Anna Visser, aged 11, Arnold Visser (39) Laborer, Henak Visser (9), Herman Visser (7), Joh. Visser, Marg Visser, aged 34, and 7 other Visser around 45.45% of whom were farmer while others worked as laborer migrated to US from Bremen, Rotterdam and Liverpool.

Visser Namesakes

  • Margaret Visser, writer and broadcaster who lives in Toronto, Paris
  • Willem Jacob Visser, worked to unite the organizations of different auxiliary languages
  • Peter Visser, former New Zealand cricketer
  • Adrie Visser, Dutch track and road racer
  • Danie Visser, former professional tennis player
  • Lesley Visser, American sportscaster
  • Angela Visser, Dutch actress
  • Leo Visser, Dutch former speed skater
  • Ria Visser, former ice speed skater from the Netherlands
  • Tim Visser, Dutch rugby union player
  • Kyle Visser, American former professional basketball player

Visser Namesakes

  • Margaret Visser, writer and broadcaster who lives in Toronto, Paris
  • Willem Jacob Visser, worked to unite the organizations of different auxiliary languages
  • Peter Visser, former New Zealand cricketer
  • Adrie Visser, Dutch track and road racer
  • Danie Visser, former professional tennis player
  • Lesley Visser, American sportscaster
  • Angela Visser, Dutch actress
  • Leo Visser, Dutch former speed skater
  • Ria Visser, former ice speed skater from the Netherlands
  • Tim Visser, Dutch rugby union player
  • Kyle Visser, American former professional basketball player

Related Family Names: