Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Martinestorp' 1206 Cur 1211 P 1218 For 1230 Cur 1250 Cl

• Martinesthorp(e), Martynesthorp(e) 1209 For 1272 FF 1274 RGrav 1296 SR 1428 FA

• Martinstorp' 1254 Val 1286 Ass

• Martinsthorp(e), Martynsthorp(e) 1286 1327 SR 1463 FF 1610 Speed

• Martensthorp(e) 1497 Braye 1510 LP 1536 Denb

• Mastorpe 1510 LP

• Mastroppe 1598 FF

• Mastrop 1720 Recov

• Masthorp 1463 FF 1506 Cl 1510 LP

• Masthrope 1608 Bir

• Martinestoch 1176 P (p)

• Martinstok 1286 Ass, 1286 QW

Etymology

The name's present form means 'Martin's outlying farmstead', v. þorp . However, recorded also are the spellings Martinestoch 1176 P (p) and Martinstok 1286Ass , 1286 QW, which probably represent an earlier name for the same settlement site, with OE  stoc 'a place, a religious place, a secondary settlement' as the generic. If so, this name was later reshaped through Scandinavian linguistic influence. The pers.n. Martin , originally MedLat  Martinus and entering OE via the Church, also appears in Martinsley infra and in Martines hó in the 1046 A.D. charter bounds of Ayston, a village lying some three miles to the south-west. These names clearly represent the same Martin. The earthworks of the deserted medieval village are sited at SK 867 047, v. MER 27–8, BrownArchSites 19.