Feminine Given Names in A Dictionary of English Surnames

Part Three: The Names H-Z

Talan Gwynek, Fause Losenge Herald Extraordinary
(Brian M. Scott, scott@math.csuohio.edu)
© 1994 by Brian M. Scott; all rights reserved.

Go to Part One: Introduction
Go to Part Two: The Names A-G

The Names, H to Z

Hawis < OFr Haueis < CG Hadewidis. [Hawes]

*Hehild < OE *Héahhild; the head-word is reconstructed from the cited form.

Helen See also ELLEN. [Ellen]

Helewise < OFr Heluïs, Heloïs < CG Heilwidis, Helewidis. [Elwes]

Helmith < OE *Helmgýð.

Hendina Perh. a dim. of an orig. byname < OE (ge)hende `courteous, handsome'?

Henna Fem. of Henn, a hyp. of Henry.

Hereburg < OE Hereburg or CG Heriburg.

*Herith < OE Heregýð. (Heriht is from Herith by transposition of letters.)

Hersent OFr, also Hersant, < CG Herisint.

Hilary See EULALIA.

Hilda Hyp. of some name in Hild-, e.g. CG Hildigard or OE Hildgýð. [Hild]

Hildiard < CG Hildigard, Hildiardis; DECN HILDEGARD.

Hildith < OE Hildgýð.

Hodierna < OFr Odierne, Hodierne < CG *Audigerna. [Odierne]

Hosanna See OSANNA.

Hugolina Fem. of Hugolinus, Latinized from OFr Hugelin, Huelin, Hulin < CG Huglin; a dim. of Hugo (DECN HUGH).

Hunild < OE *Húnhild.

Husewyf ME hus(e)wyf `mistress of a family; wife of a householder; domestic economist', used as a fem. name.

Ida CG. [Ida, Hide]

Idemay Perh. < OE *Idmæg.

Idonea Prob. < ON Iðunnr, Latinized as Idonea `suitable'; the vern. form is Idony. [Iddon, Edney]

Imagantia App. related to Lat imago `picture', but I am unable to determine the precise derivation.

Imedia App. < Lat, but I am unable to arrive at a convincing hypothesis.

Inga ON, ODa, OSw hyp. of names in Ing(i)-; v. INGRID.

Ingrid < ODa Ingrith, OSw Ingridh, ON Ingiriðr.

*Instancia Lat instancia `perseverance'.

Isabel Belet and Belot are dims. of Bel(l), a hyp. form. Bibb is another hyp. form with several dims., as are Tibb and Ebb < Ibb. The citation Ibbe may also be for masc. ILBERT. Tibb was also a hyp. for Tibald (THEOBALD). [Isabel, Bellett, Bibbey, Bible, Ebbets, Ibbs, Ibbott, Ibbelot, Libby, Libbet, Tibbets]

*Ismay Perh. < CG *Ismagi, *Ismegi; prob. not the same as ISMENA.

Ismena A fem. name of obscure origin; prob. not the same as ISMAY. [Emeney]

Isolda OFr Iseut, Isalt, Isaut, Ysole, perh. < CG *Ishild. Iselota seems to be a dim. in -ot. [Issard]

Iva OFr, fem. of Ivo; all forms shown are dims. [Ivatt]

Jakemina Fem. of Jakemin, a dim. of Jacqueme, a Picard form of *Jacomus > JAMES; see JEMMA. [Jackaman, Jackett, James, Gem]

Jane A later fem. of JOHN; see JOAN. The dims. are likely to be fem. in 16°; in 13° and 14° they could as well be masc. (and in written record prob. would be, the fem. forms being lightly Latinized as e.g. Janeta). See DECN Janet.

Jemma Prob. the vern. pronunciation of James, used for both men and women, rather than Ital gemma `gem', as DECN (GEMMA) would have it.

Johanna See JOAN.

Jennifer < Welsh Gwenhwyvar; see DECN GUENEVERE.

Joan Fem. of JOHN, Latinized as JOHANNA; it had the same forms and pronunciations as the masc. form [John].

Joia DECN JOY.

Jolicia The person named in the first citation is also in record as Jolenta; in DECN the name is listed under YOLANDE, < OFr Yolant, Yolans, frequently identified with Violante < Lat Viola `violet'.

Joyce Fem. forms of Joceus, the Latinized form of OFr Josse < OBret Judoc. If Joyse is fem., it is a rare early example of the modern form. Jocosa appears to be the fem. of Lat iocosus `humorous, merry, facetious', perh. through association of the name with the now obs. verb joise `to rejoice'. [Joyce]

Juliana Fem. form of Lat Julian < gens name JULIUS. GILLIAN is the vern. form, for which DECN has a separate entry. The dim. hyp. Juetta was common. [Gillian, Gell, Gelly, Julian, Jowett]

Julia Fem. form of Roman gens name JULIUS. The citations are much earlier than any in DECN.

Justina Fem. form of Lat Justinus < justus `just'. The citation is much earlier than the earliest in DECN (c.1556).

Katharine OFr Caterine, Cateline. Cat-in is a dim. of Cat, a hyp. of Catherine, as is Catel. [Catlin, Katerin, Cattel, Katin]

Keina Perh. < a fem. Welsh name in Cein-, e.g. Ceindrych, Ceinwen.

Kemma < OE *Cymme, perh. a hyp. of Cyneburg; cf. KINNA.

Kinborough < OE Cyneburg. This gives the late-period example lacking in DECN; an earlier form would be *Kinburgh.

Kinna Hyp. < some OE name in Cyne-; cf. KEMMA. (The person cited as Kiena may poss. be masc., but the name need not be.) [Kin]

Langiva Prob. < OE *Langgifu. Lagiua is a scribal error; the nasal stroke has been omitted.

Langlava App. < OE or CG *Lang-; -lava looks like a fem. < OE -láf, but that deuterotheme is masc. See LANGLIVA and LAVA.

Langliva < ON Langlíf, a fem. name from an orig. byname. Lagliua shows the common scribal error of omitting the nasal stroke. App. the name, and hence the citation for Langlif, may be masc., since a Langliuus 1207 is also in record.

Laurentia Fem. of Lat Laurentius; Lauretta is a dim. of the hyp. Laura. See DECN LAURA. LORETTA is here prob. not the name treated in DECN. [Laurence, Laurette]

Lava Perh. hyp. for an OE name in -láf, e.g. Beorhtláf, Cyneláf, Ósláf, though such names are masc.; see LANGLAVA.

Lavina Perh. < Lat LAVINIA, for which see DECN.

Lecenta This name is completely obscure to me.

Lefchild App. < OE Léofcild; cf. LOVECHILD. (S) makes the name masc., but the Reaney citation is definitely fem.

Lefled < OE Léofflæd.

Lefquen < OE Léofcwén. Lefquena is corrected from Lesquena, which shows a familiar scribal error.

*Lefswith < OE Léofswíð.

Legarda CG Leutgarda, Liutgarda.

Lettice < Lat laetitia `joy' > OFr Lece, Latinized as Lecia. Lett is a hyp. < Lettice; Lec-el-in is a double dim. of Lece. [Lettice, Leece, Lett, Lesley]

Leva < OE Léofe; Leue may be an instance of masc. OE Léofa.

Leverun < OE Léofrún.

Levild < OE *Léofhild.

Levith < OE Léofgýð.

Leviva < OE Léofgifu or Léofgeofu.

*Leware < OE Léofwaru.

Lewen < OE Léofwynn.

Lia This has the appearance of being a hyp. of some Lat name, but it remains obscure.

*Lichtiva < OE *Léohtgifu. The cited form is a scribal error for Lictiua.

Liffild Prob. < OE *Léofhild.

Lillian See ELIZABETH.

Lina A hyp. of one of the many names in -lina, e.g. Adelina, Emelina, Lecelina, etc. (DECN associates it only with the much later CAROLINE.) I am not entirely sure that Lena belongs here.

*Linniva A hypothetical ME form < OE *Lindgifu or *Lindgeofu.

Lota Prob. a hyp. for such dims. as Allot (< Alis; v. ALICE), Amelot (< Amelina; v. EMMELINE), Ellot (< ELLEN), etc.

Love < OE Lufu `love'; Lufe may represent masc. OE Lufa.

Lovechild App. < late OE *Lufucild; cf. LEFTCHILD.

Loveday < OE Léofdæg.

Lucia Fem. of Lat LUCIUS < lux `light'; the vern. form is Luce. [Luce]

Luciana Fem. of Lat Lucian < Gk Loukianós.

Mabel The pop. form of AMABEL; Mabb and Mobb (var. Mopp) are hyps. [Mable, Annable, Mabb, Mabbett, Mopp]

Madeline < Heb Magdalen.

Margaret < Lat Margarita < Gk margaritês `a pearl'. Magg, Megg, and Mogg are hyps. with dims. in -ot. Pogg is another hyp., rhymed on Mogg. Magge may also represent modern Madge < MARGERY, q.v. [Margetts, Magson, Madge, Maggot, Meggs, Meggat, Mogg, Poggs]

Margery < Fr Margerie, a pop. form of Marguérite; see MARGARET. However, it was regarded as a separate name as early as 13°. Magge may be a hyp. representing modern Madge. [Margary, Madge]

Marina Lat.

Martha App. < Aramaic.

Mary Lat Maria, Fr Marie; Moll and Malle are hyps. with assorted dims. Poll is a hyp. rhymed on Moll. Marekyn, Marion, and Mariot are dims. directly < Mary. [Marie, Maryson, Marion, Marriott, Malin, Mall, Malkin(son), Mallot, Moll, Mollet, Mollison, Pollkin]

Masota A fem. dim. of Masse < MATTHEW.

Matilda A Lat form of CG Mahthildis > vern. Mahald, Mahalt, Mahaud, Mahaut, Mald, Malt, Maud, Mold, etc.; Till(a) and Mott(e) are hyps. Reaney believes that Mazelina is a dim., though other origins are possible. [Maud, Mott, Till, Tillett, Maslen]

Maud See MATILDA.

Maynild < CG Maginhild.

Maysant < OFr Maissent < CG Mathasuent(a) or *Magisind, Megisend.

Melody OFr melodie < l. Lat melodia `singing, chanting'; used in mediæval Lat for `sweet song'. These citations are much earlier than any known to DECN.

Merewen < OE Mærwynn.

Merild < OE *Mærhild.

*Milburg < OE Mildburg. See DECN MILDRED.

Milda < OE Milde, hyp. for some OE fem. name in Mild-.

Mildoina Perh. < OE *Mildwynn.

Mildred < OE Mildðrýð.

Milla Usually regarded as a hyp. of Miles but prob. a hyp. of some fem. name, perh. MILLICENT.

Millicent < OFr Milesindis, Milesenda, Miles(s)ent < Melisenda < CG Amalasuintha. [Millicent]

Minna A hyp. from some fem. name, with dim. in -ot.

Mirabel < Lat mirabilis `marvellous, wonderful'.

Missa Perh. related to Lat missa `mass'??

Moder < ON Móðir, ODa, OSw Modher `mother'.

Modesty Fr modestie < Lat modestia `moderation; restraint, propriety'. If this form has not been modernized, it is a much earlier example than any of the citations in COED.

Muriel Celtic, related to Ir Muirgel. [Muriel]

Nest Welsh dim. of AGNES; DECN NESSIE. [Nest]

Nicola Fem. form of NICHOLAS. Colina is a fem. form of Col-in, dim. of Col, a hyp. of NICHOLAS. [Nicholas, Nicholin, Collin]

Nogga A shortened form of CG Norigaud, Norgaud, Northgaud.

Nota (Morlet, III:419) shows a fem. CG Nota, a hyp. for some name in Nod-, Not-; perh. this is the same name or a development of an OE cognate. As a byname Notekyn is a dim. of Nott < OE hnott `bald-headed, close-cropped'. [Nutkin]

Odelina CG double dim. of ODO. [Odlin]

Olive Lat oliva `olive'. [Olive]

Olympias Gk., from the famous mountain.

Orabel DECN puts these under ARABEL(LA), a much later Scottish name; it is much likelier that they are < Lat orabilis `easy to be entreated'. Orable appears to be the vern. form.

Orella I have no certain information on this name. Orell is said to be a Swiss variant of Fr Aurèle < Lat Aurelius > Ital Orelio and fem. Orelia, so perh. this is an unusual early var. of Aurelia.

Orenge Etymology unknown; the name is too early to be associated with the orange.

Organa The masc. Organus is also recorded. Presumably related to Lat organum `an instrument, esp. musical'.

Oriel < CG Aurildis, Orieldis.

Osanna See DECN HOSANNA; in our period the name appears without the H.

Osith < OE Ósgýð.

Pacchild < OE *Pæccild.

Paulina Fem. of Lat PAULINUS, a dim. of Paulus `small'.

Pavia Perh. < OFr pavie `peach' or Pavie `woman from Pavia (in Italy)'.

*Perina A fem. dim. of Perre (PETER).

Petronilla A fem. dim. of Lat Petronius, considered in the Middle Ages to be a fem. deriv. of PETER; Parnell is the vern. form, of which Penne is prob. a hyp. [Parnall, Penn]

Philippa The Latinized form of PHILIP used as a fem. name; the vern. was prob. Phelip.

Philomena

Pipa Perh. afem. form of Pip, a hyp. for Pepin.

Pleasance OFr Plaisance `pleasure', Plaisant `pleasing'. The vern. is prob. Plesance.

Popelina Recorded as a woman's name. App. a dim., but the source is unclear.

Precious Lat preciosa `of great value'. [Precious]

*Primavera Ital `spring, springtime'.

Prudence Lat prudentia `prudence'. The vern. is prob. Prudence.

Quena < OE Cwén `woman', hyp. for some name in cwén `woman' as proto- or deuterotheme. The vern. is prob. Quene.

Quenild < OE Cwénhild; not, as DECN makes it, a form of GUNNILDA.

Queniva < OE Cwéngifu.

Ragenild < CG Raginhild. [Ragnell]

Rametta OFr Ramette. This may be < Lat ramus `branch', perh. given to a child born or baptized on Palm Sunday (le jour des Rameaux), but perh. also a dim. of a CG hyp. of a name in Hram-, Ram-.

Ravenild < ON Hrafnhildr.

Regina Lat Regina, Fr Reine `queen'.

Richild < CG Richild, Richeldis; Fr Richeut. The vern. is prob. Richil(d).

Richemay < OE Rícmæg.

Richolda Prob. < CG *Ricwalda rather than a var. of RICHILD.

Rimild < CG Rimhildis, not OE Rimhild as Reaney would have it.

Ringware < OE Hringwaru. Rigware is a scribal error for Ringware by omission of the nasal stroke.

Roana OFr roan, like its cognates Engl roan and Span ruano, seems to have referred to hair color; this name may be a related original byname.

Rosamund < CG Rosemunda. [Roseman]

Rose CG Hrodohaidis, Rothaid > Norman Rohese, Roese, later Royse, whence ME Rose, as if < Lat rosa `rose'. [Rose]

Runild < OE *Rúnhild.

Sabina Fem. of Lat Sabinus `a Sabine'; Sab-el-ina is a double dim. [Saban, Sablin]

Salerna This name was given as that of the daughter of Eilliva 1214 in (S); see AILEVA.

Sanchia Spanish and Provençal.

Sara Hebrew. In this case Sarre is probably only a formal Lat gen., not a possible forename. [Sara]

Saxleve < OE *Seaxléofu

Sayeva < OE Sægiefu.

Scholastica Lat; Scolace appears to be the vern.

Seburg < OE *Sæburg. The forms in Si- may have been influenced by Sigeburg or by a Scand name.

Sedemaiden < OE *Sidumægden or *Seodumægden.

*Sedemod < OE *Sidumód or *Seodumód.

Sefare < OE *Sæfaru.

Seild < OE Sæhild.

Selova < OE *Sælufu.

Sely < OE sælig `happy, blessed'.

Sewen < OE Sæwynn.

Sexburg < OE Seaxburg.

*Sexiva < OE *Seaxgifu.

Sibyl Lat Sibilla < Gk Sibylla; Sibley is the vern. Sibba c.1095 is prob. the ON fem. name, but Sibbe is likely to be the hyp. Sibb, which has a dim. in -ot. [Sibley, Sibble, Sibbe]

Sidony Fr Sedaine, a fem. form of Lat Sidonius.

Sifled < OE Sigeflæd.

Sigreda < ON Sigríðr, ODa Sigrith; Sigga is app. a hyp. The later Sireda is app. fem. but it looks like a feminization of masc. Sired < OE Sigeræd.

Somerhild Prob. an Anglo-Scand hybrid of ON Sumar- and OE -hild.

Splendora < Lat splendor `brilliance, brightness, lustre, distinction'.

*Stanburg < OE *Stánburg.

Stanfled < OE *Stánflæd.

Stanild < OE *Stánhild.

Staniva < OE *Stángifu.

Sunnild < OE *Sunhild.

Sunniva < OE *Sungifu; borrowed into ON as Sunnifa.

Susanna < Heb Shushannah; DECN SUSAN(NAH). [Susan]

Swale < ON Svala.

Swanild < ON Svanhildr.

Sweta < OE *Swete.

Swetelove < OE *Swétlufu.

Swetiva < OE *Swétgifu. Swethyna, Swetyene, and Swetyne are scribal errors for Swethyua.

Swevild < OE *Swæfhild.

Tangwystl Welsh.

Theda < OE Þéode, a hyp. for names in éod-.

Theberga App. < OE *Þéodbeorge.

Thedlef Perh. < OE *Þéodléof. Her forename is Gerbaga; if this is CG, Thedlef may also be < CG Thiatlef 855.

Thedware < OE *Þéodwaru or perh. CG Theudwar.

Theophania Fr Tiphaine, sometimes Tiphine. The vern. would seem to be Tiffan(y) or Teffan(y). [Tiffany]

Thomasina Fem. dim. of THOMAS; DECN uses the head-word THOMASIN(E).

Thora ON.

Thorild < ON Þórhildr, ODa Thorhild.

*Thuriva A hypothetical ME form < *Þórgifu, an unrecorded Anglo-Scand hybrid.

Tiece < CG Tietsa, Teucia, Tezia, hyps. of names in Theud-. [Tice]

Tonild < OE *Túnhild. See also TOVILD.

Topacia < OFr topace `topaz'.

Tovild < ON *Tófa-Hildr, a rare type of personal name, `Hildr the daughter of Tófi'. Touild may sometimes be a scribal error for TONILD, but both names seem to have existed.

Tunnoke < OE masc. Tunnoc, used as a fem. name.

Truda App. a hyp., perh. of GERTRUDE?

Udelina A double dim. of CG Uda.

Ulia

*Wacelina Fem. form of Wacelinus, Latinized from CG Wazelin, Wa(s)celin; OFr Gacelin, Gaselin. [Wastling]

Wakerild < OE *Wacerhild.

Wentliana < Welsh Gwenllian.

*Wenyeva < OE *Wyngeofu or *Wyngifu.

*Wenild < OE *Wynhild.

*Wichtith < OE Wihtgýð. The l in the cited form is a scribal error.

*Wichtiva < OE *Wihtgifu.

Wimarc < OBret Wiuhomarch, both masc. and fem.

Wlanchild App. a compound of OE wlanc `proud' and the common OE deuterotheme -hild.

*Woderova < OE wudurofe `woodruff'. Normally a nickname, but here it appears to be a fem. personal name.

*Wulfled < OE Wulfflæd.

Wulfrun < OE Wulfrún.

Wulfwyn OE.

Wulveva < OE Wulfgifu or Wulfgeofu. [Wolvey]

*Wulvith < OE Wulfgýð.

*Wurthiva < OE *Weorðgifu.

Wyburg < OE *Wígburg or perh. CG Wigburg.

Wyverun < OE *Wífrún. The second example may actually be derived from a place-name.

Yolande See JOLICIA.

Ysopa App. < OE and ME ysope < Lat hyssopus `hyssop (an aromatic herb)'.

Ysoria Surprisingly obscure, but perh. < l. Lat Isaura, originally an ethnic byname derived from the region of Isauria in Asia Minor.

Go to Part One: Introduction
Go to Part Two: The Names A-G