Meschin

Meschin is a surname of Norman origin, often written as de Meschin in early sources. The name is associated with a medieval Norman noble family that acquired lands in the northwest of England soon after the Norman Conquest. The de Meschin line played a significant role in the formation of the medieval earldom of Chester; its most prominent member, Ranulf le Meschin, became the 1st Earl of Chester in the late 11th century, establishing the family’s prominence in Cheshire and surrounding counties. Through the following decades, members of the family held lordships and influence in the region, with lands passing through marriage or royal grant.

The fortunes of the de Meschin line declined in the later Middle Ages, and the estates eventually passed to other noble houses. The surname Meschin continued to appear in historical records and genealogies, reflecting the common practice of adopting the “de” prefix to indicate origin. In modern times the name survives as a surname and, less commonly, as a given-name element in some families. Variants found in historical documents include de Meschin and occasionally Mascin or Meschey, reflecting shifts in spelling and pronunciation over time.

In contemporary contexts, Meschin is primarily of genealogical and onomastic interest, illustrating patterns of Norman settlement and aristocratic lineage in medieval England.