Mechem - Name

Recorded in many forms as shown below, this is a good example of a medieval English surname. It has two possible origins. Firstly it may be occcupational and describe a stone mason. This is from the Norman French word "macon" introduced into the British Isles after the famous Conquest of 1066, with an example being Richard Machun in the pipe rolls of the city of Lincoln in the year 1250 a.d. The second is locational and from the village of Measham in Leicestershire. This village is recoded in the famous Domesday Book of 1086 as Messeham and later as Meisham, meaning the homestead or settlement on the River Mease. It is almost impossible today to decide which origin fits any particular surname spelling as there are so many and include Machun, Mason, Masson, Meccam, Mecham, Mechem, Mechum, Meacham, Meachem, Meecham, and Measham. Examples of recordings include William Mecham, who embarked from Gravesend on April 3rd 1635 on the ship "Peter Bonaventure" of London, bound for the Barbadoes Island of the West Indies, and Benjamin Meachum, christened at Southwalk, city of London, on March 17th 1658 and Abigale Meacham christened at St Sepulchre Church, also city of London, on September 25th 1733. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of John Macun. This was dated 1130, in the pipe rolls of London, during the reign of King Henry 1st, known as "The Good" 1100 -1135. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.