Mahala - where does this name come from?

[SandraC]

Hi All

I have found this name three times today but never before.  Two occurrences in the new branch of my tree & the third in the same village in Kent.

Does anyone know anything about this name or is it common really & I have failed to notice?

First occurrence in baptism in 1827 in Ash near Dartford, Kent - Mahala King.

Second occurrence in census in 1871 in Ash, Kent - Mahala Field [b 1866].  This one is not a rellie [well I don't think so anyway]!

Third occurence in census in 1871 in Ridley, Kent [next village] - Mahala King [b 1863], niece of original Mahala.

I'm intrigued as I thought it was Michaela but the baptismal record is quite clear.

Any ideas?

Regards
SandraC

[trellisick]

there are quite a few explanations for this name and its origin one is ''sick or feeble'', another is simply ''woman'' it could be n american indian or hebrew or lots more, there are quite a few pages on google for you to look at, kali.

[If Only]

Hi Sandrac,

Welcome to the club.....there are a few Mahalas in our tree, all in the Patten family.....it seems to be fairly popular in Essex.

Joe

[Pinetree]

I have Mahala Abbott in my tree, she was born in Hoxne Suffolk in 1821 but sadly died aged 11 in 1832.

I discovered her a long time ago and always loved the name.  According to my baby names book it is means tenderness.

Pinetree

[Valda]

Mahala, Hebrew for tenderness as found in the Old Testament, Numbers 26:33. It was used fairly regularly in the C19th as were many other Old Testament names. They were particularly popular amongst non-conformists.

Regards

Valda

[SandraC]

Hi everyone

Thanks for the replies.

It just seemed a bit strange when all the other family names were very plain - Richard, Sarah, William, Thomas, Mary, Ann, Jane, John & Mahala!

I found the 1827 Mahala's baptism but nothing subsequent - she is not on the 1841 census with the parents & other sibs.  Perhaps, sadly, the "sick / feeble" definition was appropriate 

Thanks again - I was beginning to think it was a Kentish thing [or is it a thing of Kent - I can never remember the rule about the Medway] 

Regards
SandraC

[Valda]

The 1851 census has nearly 1,300 Mahalas, and by 1861 over 1,500. The name is on the wane by 1901. They seem to be spread right across the country.

Regards

Valda

[ellvera]

That's interesting.My Seale family in Kent and Lade family in Sussex are well endowed with Mahalas.I had never heard the name before and wondered if it was a Quaker name?.We have a lot of Philadelphias too,which I think I read on here, has Quaker origins.Though as far as I know,nearly everyone was C of E.
Barbara

[SandraC]

Hi All

I went back to have a look for the missing Mahala & found her alive & well in 1851 & 1861 [with a family, including a daughter called Mahala].  So I take it back about being sickly 

Interesting to see the trends in names - what will future generations make of Kylie & Chardonnay I wonder 

SandraC