The surname Fischer is of English, German and Jewish origin. It was an occupational name for a fisherman, derived from the Middle English ‘fischer’ and the Old English ‘fiscere’; derived from ‘fiscian’ to catch fish. The name thus signifies ‘the fisher’, from one who obtained his living by fishing. The name has also been used in Ireland as a loose equivalant of Braden. It can also be a topographical name for someone who lived near a fish weir on a river, from the Old English ‘fisc’ fish and ‘gere’ weir; dweller by an enclosure for catching fish. It is also a surname used by Jewish people as an occupational name, from the Yiddish, ‘fisher’. Jonah, in the book of the bible that bears his name, was swallowed up by a ‘great fish’. Jacob blessed his son with the words ‘veyidgu larov’, “Let them grow into a great multitude”, the verb ‘yidgu’ containing the root letters of Hebrew ‘dag’ fish. The surname dates back to the twelfth century were a Richard le Fischer is recorded in historical archives. The name was brought to America by English, German and Jewish immigr…
Coat of arms: Argent, a fesse counter-embatt…