[1] The genus was circumscribed by Heinrich Simon Ludwig Friedrich Felix Rehm in Hedwigia vol.40 on page 100 in 1901.

The genus name of Vestergrenia is in honour of Jacob Tycho Conrad Vestergren (1875–1930), who was a Swedish teacher and botanist (Mycology).

He taught chemistry und botany at various schools and university institutions in Stockholm.

[5] The genus has almost cosmopolitan distribution,[2] for example species Vestergrenia multipunctata (G. Winter) Arx & E. Müll.

[7] While specimens of Vestergrenia nervisequia Rehm were found in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.