Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Mæssingaham 1066–68 ASWills 12

• Messingahame 1067–69 HC c1150

• Messingeham 1086 DB 1181,1182 P 1188 1193,1194,1195 1196 ChancR 1197,1198 P 1209–35 LAHW 1219 Ass 1220,1221 Cur 1236 Cl

• Massingeham c1115 LS 1166 RBE 1220 Cur

• Massingham c1115 LS 1189–95 RAiv 1206 Ass 1265 Ch 1293 Abbr 1298 Ass

• Messingham 1066–87 Dugdi m12 RRAN 1067 YChvi 12 AD 1166–74 Ch c1140 RAiv Hy2 P 1314 Ass 1184–89,lHy2 P 1199,1200,1201,1202 Fees 1202,1206 Cur 1210,1211 FF 1212 Cur 1214 Cl 1226 FF 1228,1229 1229 1242

• Messincham 1212 Fees

• Meshingham 1275 RH

• Messyngham c1216(m14),1250–84(m14) CNat 1291 Tax 1303 FA 1327 Pat 1327 Banco 1332 SR 1340 Ipm 1343 NI 1346 FA 1347 Pat 1354 Ipm 1573 Hall

Etymology

The homestead, the estate of the people of Mæssa', from the gen.pl. Mæssinga of the OE  group name Mæssingas 'the family, the dependents of Mæssa ', identical in etymology with Massingham Nf, and OE  hām 'a homestead, an estate'. The OE  pers.n. *Mæssa is a hypocoristic form of OE  Mǣrsige , *Mǣrstān or the like.