Recorded in many forms including Marsay, Marsie, Marsy, Marsee, Mercie, Mercey, Mercy, Mersey, and Morsey, this very interesting surname is English, but ultimately of French origins. It is locational from the place called Marcy, in the departement of La Manche, in the province of Normandy. First recorded in the famous Domesday Book of 1086, (see below), it was introduced into England by one of the followers of Duke William of Normandy during the Norman Conquest of 1066. Marcy is one of a number of similar formations found in Northern France, such as Macey, Massy and Mace. All share the same meaning and derivation, which is 'Maccius's settlement', from the Gallo-Roman personal name Maccius, with sometimes the Latin suffix of '-acum', indicating the place of the Maccius tribe. The surname is one of the very first every recorded anywhere, and and amongst these early examples are the recordings of William de Marsei in the Pipe Rolls of the county of Nottinghamshire in the year 1180, Allan Macy in the Hundred Rolls of Suffolk in 1275 and William Massy of Nottingham in 1330. Robert Marsye was recorded at the church of St Mildred Poultrey in the city of London in 1559, John Mersey at the church of St Katherines by the Tower (of London) in 1602, and John Mercy at St. Bartholmews Hospital, in 1619. The first recorded spelling of the family name is believed to be that of Ralph de Marcei. This was dated 1086, in the Domesday Book for the county of Essex, during the reign of King William 1st of England, 1066 - 1087. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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