Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Magavelda 12th Dunst

• Magefeud, Magefeld c.1200 FM 1248 Ass 1340 NI

• Maghenfeld 1270 Pat

• Maghef(f)eld 1271 Pat 1342 Ipm

• Maghfeud 1272,1302 RH 1394 Ch

• Maggefeld 1277 Pat

• Maugefeud 1248 Ass

• Mawefeld 1253 FF

• Maufeld 1255 FF 1314 Ch

• Maunelde 1332 Cl

• Maughfeld 1438,1462 LewesDeeds

• Mathefeud 1263 Ass

• Makefeld, Makefeud 1279 Ass

• Megthefeud 1279 Ass

• Meghfeld 1418 IpmR

• Maighfelde al. Mawghfelde 1547 Pat

• Mavill c.1550 SRS16,82

• Mavell al. Mayfyld 1570 SRS19,83

Etymology

This is a compound of OE  mægþe , mageþe , 'mayweed, stinking-camomile' and feld, hence 'open land where mayweed grows.' For the topographical appropriateness of the name, and for the first suggestion as to the etymology—since confirmed by the discovery of forms with medial th -, v. Mr Macleod's note in SxNQ 1, 228. The ME  Mey - and Maw - forms are the regular developments of the alternative OE forms of the word, v. NEDs. vv . maythe , mawthen . For the loss of medial th , cf. Maytham (K), which in early documents is Mayhamme 1290 Pat, Meyham (m )e 1316 FA, Mayham 1401 FA, and the plant- name mayweed itself. In the sound-combination gthf , th was bound to disappear early.