Maresfield
Major Settlement in the Parish of Maresfield
Historical Forms
- Mersfeld(e) 1234 Cl 1243 Misc 1316 FA 1368 IpmR
- Marsefeld 1240 FF 1323 Ipm 1327 SR
- Marsefeud 1291 Tax
- Marsevelde 1374 Pat
- Marsfeld 1243 Misc 1377 Ch 1462 LewesDeeds
- Mersefeld 1260 FF 1291 MinAcct 1308 Cl
- Merssefeud 1291,1295 MinAcct 1301 SAC49,14
- Meresfeud 1248 Ass
- Meresefeud 1279 Ass
- Meresefeld 1293 Cl
- Merisfeld c.1490 ADiv
- Maresfeld 1340 NI 1377 Pat
- Marysfeld 1552 Ct
- Masefield 1487 SRS14,116
- Masefyld 1564 CtRequests
- Meiysfelde 1594 ParReg
- Maierisfelde 1500 ADiii
- Mershfeild 1704 MarC
Etymology
The most likely suggestion for this difficult name is that it is from OE meres-feld , 'open land of (or by) the pool.' There is more than one pool in the immediate neighbourhood of the village, including an extensive one which used to provide the water-power for the iron-mill. mere and mare are regular Sussex developments of OE mere.