This is an interesting English name which originated in Normandy, France, and came over with William the Conqueror, in 1066. It is locational from places so called in Northern France e.g., Mace - sur - Orne, or Massy (Seine - Inferievre) which get their name from the Gallo - Roman personal name 'Maccius' of uncertain origin. In the modern idiom the variants include Masey, Mazey and Mac(e)y. One Martha Mazey was christened on November 5th 1637 in St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Westminster, London. On March 1st 1675, in St. Marylebone, London, Thomas Mazey married Grace Sizbey, James Mazey was christened on December 20th 1745, in St. Mary's, Whitechapel, Stepney, London. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Ralph Marci, which was dated 1086, Domesday Book, Essex, during the reign of King William 1, 'The Conqueror', 1066 - 1087. 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.