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.

Mathon

Major Settlement in the Parish of Mathon

Historical Forms

  • Matma 1086 DB
  • Mathine 1251 Ch 1270–1300 Wigorn 1275 SR
  • Madine 1275 Heref
  • Matheme 13th ADii 1332 1364 Wigorn
  • Maham 1315 Ipm
  • Mathon 1332 SR 1484 Pat 1535 ADiii 1542 LP
  • Matham 1467 Pat
  • Mathern 1577 Saxton 1787 Cary

Etymology

It is clear that the correct ME  form for this name is Mathme or Matheme . The only parallel to this name that has been observed is in a 12th cent. Lincs charter (in the possession of Mr Langton of Langton) relating to Bulby, where certain lands abut super Matheme ac Harepol . The possibility presents itself that OE  maþ (þu )m , 'treasure,' might have been applied to a piece of land. It is fruitless to speculate about the circumstances in which such a name might have arisen. Professor Ekwall suggests that OE  maþþum may have originally meant 'gift,' like the Gothic cognate maíþms .