Medieval girls names (Completed)

[Connie Sparrow]

A cousin mentioned she'd found reference to a nun called Christina who she believed was connected to a branch of our family. The nun was born ~1097 and died ~1155. I have no doubt that the nun actually existed but I'm curious about her name. Was it a medieval name or was it perhaps a more modern translation of a medieval name?

Confirmation or otherwise would be appreciated or direction towards a reliable source of names from that period would be appreciated.

[clayton bradley]

The closest I can get to your period is George Redmonds' Christian names in local and family history, several entries for Christian and Christine. Page 32 has a table of female names in various counties in the years 1377-1381. In Dorset Christine was the third most popular female name in Gloucester the 8th, Kent the 5th and so on. He says the abbreviation Cris was used for both but either spelling might be used for the same person. He says Christine was more popular in southern counties and Christian in the north.

[osprey]

there was a saint of that name from the third century so was in existence long before your nun

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christina_of_Bolsena

[Connie Sparrow]

The closest I can get to your period is George Redmonds' Christian names in local and family history, several entries for Christian and Christine. Page 32 has a table of female names in various counties in the years 1377-1381. In Dorset Christine was the third most popular female name in Gloucester the 8th, Kent the 5th and so on. He says the abbreviation Cris was used for both but either spelling might be used for the same person. He says Christine was more popular in southern counties and Christian in the north.

Many thanks Just goes to show how far back some of our "modern" names go. Makes me wonder a little how many more go back centuries. Thank you also for the book reference.

[Connie Sparrow]

there was a saint of that name from the third century so was in existence long before your nun

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christina_of_Bolsena

Good grief! A well established name :O That really surprises me. Many thanks

[Maiden Stone]

Why is it surprising? It means follower of Christ.
https://www.behindthename.com/name/christina
See also "Christian".

Was your nun Christina of Markyate c.1096-1155, English abbess and mystic?
Slightly later was Christina the Astonishing aka Christina Mirablis 1150-1224, a holy woman of Belgium.
Christina of the Isles c.1290-1318 was a Scottish noblewoman.

The name Christian was also used in Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Germany. People from those places settled in, ruled or dominated parts of Britain from the Early Middle Ages.

[Maiden Stone]

Christina of Markyate was named Theodora by her parents. She adopted the name Christina after fleeing from home to escape an arranged marriage and hiding as an anchorite. Her aunt was a concubine of Bishop Flambard.
Biographies:
"Christina of Markyate" by Christopher Holdworth in "Medieval Women" ed. Derek Baker
"Vie de Christina de Markyate" by Anne-Marie Legras & Paulette L'Hermite Lecerc
 

[Connie Sparrow]

Thank you for your comments.