Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Mascewelle, Missewelle 1086 DB

• Messewella 1176 P t.Hy2 Dugd

• Mess(e)welle 1204–12 Fees 1229 Cl 1272 Misc 13th ADii

• Missewella c.1180 BM

• Mossewell 1231 Ch

• Mosewell 1296 SR

Etymology

This is a difficult name. The forms suggest that it should be associated with the first element in Misbourne R. (PN Bk i) and Missenden (ib. 153), which is on the Misbourne. Ekwall (RN 294) suggests that these may contain a lost OE  stream-name mysse , a derivative of mos , 'moss, bog.' See further Studies 113–4. There is no stream now at Miswell, but the water level may have fallen (cf. Salisbury in HNHS (1924), p. 51) or we may have a 'moss-spring,' with the same element mysse .