Recorded in many forms including Missenden, Mosenden, Mussenden, Masington, Misington, Missington, and Mussington, this is an English surname. It is locational from either the villages of Great Missenden in Buckinghamshire, the home of the Victorian Prime-Minister Disraeli, or from a similarly named village in Hertfordshire, or from Mussenden in the county of Kent, or possibly from some now 'lost' medieval village. The orgin is pre 9th century, and the name is tribal, and translates as the wood (denu) of the Messini people. These were a tribe found in various parts of the south east of England and into the East Anglia region. Early examples of the surname recording have included Hugo de Messenden of the town of Northampton in 1290, and Roger Messingeden of Middlesex in 1306. Later examples taken from surviving church registers of the diocese of Greater London include Robert Missington, who was christened at St Bridews church, Fleet Street, on September 29th 1712, Sarah Messeldien at St James Clerkenwell, on January 1st 1727. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Roger de Messindene. This was dated 1273, when he was lord of the manor of Missenden,. during the reign of King Edward Ist of England, 1272 - 1307. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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