Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Merc(c) 1086 InqEl

• Merche, Mercha 1086 DB

• Merch(e) 1170 LibEl 1355 Walden

• Merch 1819 Carter

• Merk(e) 1236 Ch 1298 Ass

• March(e) 1286 MinAcct 1554 Pat

• March(e) by Welle 1346 ib

• Mersh 1576 Saxton

• Marsh 17th AdvL

Etymology

Probably, as suggested by Ekwall (DEPN), OE  mearc , 'boundary,' with mutated a and palatal c from a locative form in -i . March was originally a hamlet of Doddington and was situated some two miles to the south of the modern town, near the old church of St Wendreda.