Margaret (name)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Margaret is a female first name. The origin of the word "Margaret" is in Greek, from the word margaríta (μαργαρίτα), which means "pearl". An older root exists in the old-Indian word for pearl, mandjari.

Margaret has been an English name since the 11th Century, and remained popular throughout the Middle Ages. It became less popular between the 16th century and 18th Century, but became more common again after this period, becoming the second most popular name in the USA in 1903. Since this time, it has become less common, but is still 13th in the USA.

It has a large number of diminutive forms in many different languages, including Maggie, Madge, Megan, Rita, Daisy, Greta, Gretchen, and Peggy.

[edit] People called Margaret

This is a list of famous people with the first name Margaret:

[edit] Artists and Authors

Margaret Atwood: Canadian novelist and poet
Margaret Avison: Canadian poet
Margaret Bourke-White: American photojournalist
Margaret Deland: American author
Margaret Drabble: English author
Margaret Forster: British author
Margaret Fuller: American critic
Margaret Harshaw: American opera singer
Margaret Hillis: American conductor
Margaret Leighton: English actress
Margaret Lockwood: British actress
Margaret Mitchell: American author
Margaret Oliphant Oliphant: Scottish author
Margaret Rutherford, Dame: British actress of the stage and screen
Majorie Tallchief: American ballet dancer
Margaret Walker: American author
Margaret Wise Brown: American author

[edit] Educators and Scholars

Margaret Warner Morley: American biologist. Wrote children’s books on biology.
Margaret Angela Haley: American educator. Promoted teachers’ unions.
Margaret Mead: American anthropologist.
Margaret E. White: American inventor.
Margaret Floy Washburn: American psychologist.
Margaret Burbidge: British astronomer.

[edit] Political Figures

Margaret Grace Bondfield: British union leader and member of the cabinet.
Margaret Chase Smith: American representative and senator.
Margaret Thatcher: British Prime Minister.

[edit] Other

Margaret Brent: British colonial landowner. Called the first American feminist.
Margaret Cochran Corbin: Fought the Revolutionary War. Was given a pension by Congress.
Margaret Olivia Slocum Sage: American philanthropist who established the Russell Sage Foundation.
Margaret Sanger: Founder of the birth control movement in the United States.
Margaret E. Kuhn: Founder of the Gray Panthers
Margaret Court: Australian tennis player.