Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Gingā 1086 DB

• Ging(e) Regine 1240 FF

• Gyng(g)e Reyne 1285 Ass

• Gyng(g)e Margarete 1328–30 Londin

• Gyng(g)e Reginne 1428 FA

• Gynges, Ginges Regine 1238 SR 1241 For 1248,1255 Ass

• Genges Sce Margar' 1285 Ass

• Gyngen Margaret 1312 Ipm

• Yenge, Yngemergerete 1331 Pat

• Ynge Marg(a)rete(s) 1377 ib

• Yng(ge) Marg(a)rete, Yng(ge) Seint Marg(a)rete 1386 Cl 1387 Pat

• Ingemergrete 1397 ib

• Margaretesyngge 1345 Pat

• ynge 1349 Hustings

• Margretyinge 1408 Pat

• Margaret(e) Guy(i)ng(e) 1428,1441 1491 Ipm

• Margaretyenge 1450 IpmR

• Margaretyinge 1587 BM

• Margettyng 1500 Bodl

• Gyngemargeret(t), Gyngemargeret(t) alias Tuhfant 1509–47 Dugdvi

• Gyngemargeret(t) alias Margetting 1575 BM

• Gyngemargeret(t) vulgo Margeting 1768 M

• Margrat-end 1633 EssPRii

• Margett-Inn 1657 ib

Etymology

The Essex names in Ginge , Inge form a group south-west of Chelmsford, in the valley of the Wid—Margaretting, Ingatestone and Fryerning, Buttsbury and Mountnessing. South of the latter, and separated from it by Hutton, is Ingrave, and further south still, is Fouchers, earlier Gynge Puelle supra 159.This extensive district must once have had a single name, which Ekwall (PN in -ing 46) suggests was *Gīgingās or *Gēgingās and he would connect this folk-name with OE  gē , Goth. gauja , 'district,' and in that case compare Gauingen in Germany (Förstemann ON i, 1025). This might however be either a toponymic denoting the dwellers in a gau , or the people of one Gawo (cf. Förstemann PN 622). In the case of the Essex names, the former is the more probable, considering the size of this particular settlement. Cf. further PN Sr 1–2 and Introd. xxi, xxii.

In 1284 Robert de Vere, Earl of Oxford, and Maud, his wife, held the manor of Ginge Reginae by serjeancy “custodiendi cameram Domine Regine die coronationis sue,” i.e. being the Queen's chamberlain (M ii, 53). The church is dedicated to St Margaret .