The English surname Maxted is of locative origin, being the name of a place in the county of Kent in medieval times. Locative origin seeks to associate the individual with the name of the land upon which he resides, in providing him with a clear identity in the local community. Translating literally from the Anglo Saxon words, "Macca, Mack", and "Sted", the first being an ancient personal name, and the latter meaning "farm or homestead", we have "one who dwell at or near to Macca's or Mack's homestead or farm". The place name no longer exists, consequently references to the surname are extremely scarce, and here, as is frequently the case, a name will disappear entirely from the records of its home country, but having been introduced into another through immigration, it has been preserved there in its original form. A small village exists in the county of Kent today, bearing the name Maxted Street, so called for its proximity to Stone Street, a Roman Road stretching from Canterbury south to the coast.
Earliest references to the surname or a variant date back to the Pipe Rolls for the year 1176 which mention one Maccus de Leum, and again in the year 1188 reference is made to Hugo Mac. In the year 1327, the Subsidy Rolls for Somerset list the residence there to John Mack. The surname Mack appears in many forms in most records in Scotland, and its origin, from the Old West Scandinavian personal name "Makr, Maki" is common with the origin of the Anglo Saxon "Macca" aforementioned, indicating that it was introduced into Britain by the Norse invaders"