As described in historical dictionaries

Patronymica Britannica (1860)

MASSINGHAM. Two parishes in Norfolk. MASTER. The social position ; to distinguish the individual from another of the same Christian name, but in servile condition. The equivalent Fr. name, Lemaitre, is very common. Or perhaps the Gaelic Mac Master, sans Mac. MASTERS. Apparently a Xorman local name. Robt. de Mosters occurs in Domesd.

Lower, Mark A (1860) Patronymica Britannica: a dictionary of the family names of the United Kingdom. London: J.R. Smith. Public Domain.


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