The Domesday Survey does not distinguish between Great and Little Maplestead, and identifies three holdings in the two villages. Half a hide was held by Osmund from John FitzWaleran in 1086, that belonged to Grim as a manor in 1066. Ilger held half a hide from Robert Gernon, that belonged to Wulfwine in 1066, and the wife of Aubrey de Vere appropriated 5 free men with 1¼ acres here, that Tidbald held under her. In addition, and perhaps of more significance, is the manor of ‘Napstead’ in Little Maplestead, which was held by the wife of Aubrey de Vere from the Bishop of Bayeux in 1086, and by 8 free men in 1066, and was assessed at 22½ acres. It is not clear which of these holdings is relevant to the later history, which is that the village and the church were given by Juliana FitzAudelin, the daughter of Robert Dosnel and wife of William FitzAudelin, Henry II’s steward, to the Knights Hospitallers, a grant confirmed by her husband in 1186.