This is the same word as Mid. Eng. mai, relative, cognate with maid and Gaelic Mac- (Chapter VI). A form of it survives in the Nottingham name Watmough and perhaps in Hickmott—
"Mow, housbandys sister or syster in law" (Prompt. Parv.).
I imagine that William Echemannesmai, who owed the Treasury a mark in 1182, was one of the sponging fraternity.
Virgoe, a latinization of Virgin, is perhaps due to a shop-sign. Rigmaiden, explained by Lower as "a romping girl," is local, from a place in Westmorland. Richard de Riggemayden was living in Lancashire in 1307. With this group of names we may put Gossip, originally a god-parent, lit. related in God, from Mid. Eng. sib, kin.
With names like Farebrother, Goodfellow, we may compare some of French origin such as Bonser (bon sire), Bonamy, and Bellamy
"Thou beel amy, thou pardoner, he sayde,
Telle us som myrth, or japes, right anon."
(B, 318.)
Beldam (belle dame), originally a complimentary name for grandmother or grandam, has become uncomplimentary in meaning—
First Witch. "Why, how now, Hecate! you look angerly."
Hecate. "Have I not reason, beldams as you are,