I can discover nothing satisfactory with regard to this name. I suspect it came at some fairly early period from the Low Countries. As Massingham (which see), however, is a parish in Norfolk, it may be that Massingberd was originally some spot called Massingbergh in Lincolnshire.

1581. Thomas Massingberd, Lincolnshire: Register of the University of Oxford.

1681. Married — William Ash and Elizabeth Massinbird, of Northampton: St. Peter, Cornhill.

1701. Buried — Daniel, son of John Masingbard, gent.: History of Norfolk.

1774. — Charles Burrell Massingberd and Ann Blackall: St. George, Hanover Square.

A very old Lincolnshire family, dating from temp. Henry II. with the present orthography, though in the XVII. cent. the final syllable was sometimes written beard, in order to preaerve the pronunciation-that syllable clearly having reference to the appendage of the masculine chin. The meaning of the other portion of the name is notao obvious, as no word resembling massing is found in early English or Anglo-Saxon. In some Teutonic dialecta, however, that or a similar form means brass, and hence Massingberd may signify Brazen-beard, with reference to the personal peculiarity. Inf. Rev. F. C. Massingberd, M.A. See Beard.