Massey

Recorded in the various spellings of Macy, Massy, Massey, Massie and Macey, this very interesting surname is of pre 8th century Old French origins. Introduced into England after the Norman Conquest of 1066 in some numbers, many of whom received significant land grants, the ultimate surname has two possible origins. Firstly and most likely, it is a locational surname from one of the many villages in Normandy who provided the bulk of Duke William's 1066 expeditionary force. These include such places as Macey in La Manche, Massy in Seine-Inferieure, and Mace-sur-Orne, in the department of Orne itself. A second possible origin is as a short form of the Roman personal name 'Massius', itself a development of the original Matthew. It is quite impossible in the 20th century to tell which origin applies to a modern surname holder. The development in both cases includes: Hugo Mascy of Huntingdonshire and John de Maci of Middlesex, both in the year 1221; and William Massy of Nottinghamshire in 1330. Later recordings of the surname from surviving early church register lists include the marriage of John Massey and Mawde Fothergell at St. Margaret's, Westminster, on September 22nd 1571, and in Lancashire where the name has been prominent since medieval times, that of Robert Massye, a christening witness at Manchester Cathedral on June 11th 1583. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Hamo de Masci, which was dated 1086, in the Domesday Book of Essex. This was during the reign of King William 1st, 1066 - 1087.