About

History

The name is tribal and probably Anglo-Saxon, and translates as the 'hamm' (place or village) of the Maessa (Mass) tribe (ing). These people are also recorded in Lincoln, as 'Massingberd', the castle (berg) of the Maessa tribe.

Spelling

The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Walter de Massingham, which was dated 1272, in the Hundred Rolls of the county of Cambridge, during the reign of King Edward 1, known as 'The Hammer of the Scots', 1272- 1307. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as the Poll tax. Other examples of the recordings showing the surname development are those of William Messengham, christened at Sharrington, Norfolk, on July 1st 1691, and Mary Massingham who married Thomas Wilson at Norwich Cathedral, on October 14th 1701, in the reign of William of Orange (1689 - 1702).

Massingham Family History

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About

History

Spelling

The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Walter de Massingham, which was dated 1272, in the Hundred Rolls of the county of Cambridge, during the reign of King Edward 1, known as 'The Hammer of the Scots', 1272-1307. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as the Poll tax. Other examples of the recordings showing the surname development are those of William Messengham, christened at Sharrington, Norfolk, on July 1st 1691, and Mary Massingham who married Thomas Wilson at Norwich Cathedral, on October 14th 1701, in the reign of William of Orange (1689 - 1702).