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.

Midgehall

Early-attested site in the Parish of Lydiard Tregoze

Historical Forms

  • (to) micghæma gemære 983 KCD636 c.1150
  • Mighal' 1165 P
  • Migghale 1228 For
  • Migehale 1245 WMxvi
  • Miggehale 1257 For 1320 Pat
  • Michehale 1268 Ass
  • Midgehall 1558–79 ECP
  • Mudghill al. Midghill al. Mygehale 1686 Recov

Etymology

'Corner of land frequented by midges' (OE  mycg ), v. healh .Cf. Midge Hall (PN La 133, 148). In the earliest form we have the OE  hæme added as usual to the first element of the place- name to denote the inhabitants of the place, hence 'boundary of the people of Midgehall,' v. (ge)mære.