54 



Gleanings from the Wiltshire Domesdag. 



tells us is derived from the German, where in the old 

 dialects Marah-scalc meant a farrier, from mar ah, a mare, 

 and scale, a servant. The care of the royal stables, 

 whether in person or deputy, would seem to have been the 

 duty of the Marescallus at the time of Domesday. 



Payne ; — this may be the modern form of the name Pagen, which 

 was that of the Domesday tenant of Contone (Compton 

 Basset). W. Domesd. 85. 



Pinchin; — this, not uncommon name in the neighbourhood of 

 Bradford, may possibly have a Norman origin. It would 

 easily be derived from that of Richard Puingiant, i.e. 

 literally, the " fighting 33 or " valiant/'' 



Pinkney; — -in this case without doubt, this very well-known name 

 is derived from that of William de Pinchengi, who held a 

 small portion of what is in Domesday called Stoche 

 (— Bradenstoke) . W. Domesd. 233. See a few pages 

 below under Tockenham Pinkney. 



Spencer ; — Robert " Dispensator 33 i.e. the " Steward/' is recorded 

 as interested in lands at Dechementone (Ditchampton) 

 W. Domesd. 184. This officer corresponded with the Anglo- 

 Saxon ee Stiweard 33 who had the care and distribution of the 

 provisions,— in short was the manager of the household 

 expenses. Hence in the Latin of the early ages he was 

 called a dispensator. From this came the names Le Des- 

 pencer, and Spencer. 



(b) Names of Places. 



These are not numerous, and the examples we have chiefly consist 

 of those, in which we have the name of the Norman owner, or tenant, 

 added to the original English name. 



Ashton Gieeoed ; — this is a tithing in the parish of Codford St. 



Peter. It is accounted for in Domesday Book under Cote- 

 fokd (W. Domesd. pp. 117, 210), an estate which in the 

 eleventh century belonged to Osbern Gifard, from whose 

 family it derives its distinctive appellation. 



