English Place-name Society

Survey of English Place-Names

A county-by-county guide to the linguistic origins of England’s place-names – a project of the English Place-Name Society, founded 1923.

Must Fm

Early-attested site in the Parish of Whittlesey

Etymology

Must Fm. Cf. Roughmust 1398Ct and Rough Musts (10 closes) 1829 Wells, Thakmust 1402Ct , Blemust 1430ElyCh and Blea Musts (4 closes) 1829 Wells, Musts ib., and Mustee (herbag') 1402Ct . All are clearly to be associated with Must , the old name for Muscat (supra 7), which must have been used both of a muddy stream and of a marsh. Roughmust is probably self-explanatory, thak for thatching came from Thakmust , Blemust was probably dark in appearance, cf. OE  blǣ -hǣwen (BT), while Mustee is from Mustea . v. ēa .