English. Introduced in Medieval times from the Low Countries where the vernacular contraction from Matilda [from Old German "mighty in battle"] occurred.
The wife of the first Norman King of England, William I ["the conqueror"], was called Matilda and Maud.
Old documents in Latin used Matilda, with appropriate case endings, for Maud as well as for Matilda.
Maud was in common, spoken use but Matilda was very rare from medieval times until its popular revival in the late 18th century. In the 1841 Census of Aberdeenshire Matilda occurs frequently but Maud does not.
Note: Edith, daughter of King Malcolm II of Scotland, was also called Maud or Matilda, but these are not known to be generally synonymous with Edith. |
