Scottish and English from Greek or Persian "pearl". Very popular in Scotland after Malcolm III's wife , St Margaret.

• Note: we have included all the variants, diminutives and petnames for Margaret and its many variants in the lists above even though they do not all apply to Margaret, itself.

The abbreviations Marg, Marget, Margt, Mrgt, Mrt and Mt all occur in the FreeCEN transcription of the 1841 Census of Aberdeenshire where the "spelling" Mararet is also found [possibly a transcription error]. Other spelling variations, of which Margret is very frequent, should be found by using Soundex searching. The abbreviation Mar also occurs although this may relate to other forenames in some cases.

• NB From personal observation, we believe that the abbreviation Marg has, on rare occasions, been transcribed as Mary in some on-line sources, so care may be needed when searching internet services.

The parent of a recent correspondent [BM] was of Scottish stock and formally baptized Elma. This was understood to be from the elision of Elizabeth and Margaret (or in this case the equivalent names, Bethia and Marguerite). Confirmation was given by a contact who had a pet name from the same derivation.

The use of Daisy as a pet name for Margaret is thought to be a punning reference to the French name Marguerite which is both the equivalent of Margaret and French for the flower.

A private correspondent reports a case where the pet name Aggie has been used for Margaret, presumably as an attenuated form of Maggie.

Scottish, probably a local re-spelling of Maisey.

A correspondent [IP] has found a case in Scotland of Margaret changing in census records over time to Mazy, a respelling of Maisey which is a derivative of Margaret.