Pages: 1 [2] 3 4

Author Topic: Mahala - where does this name come from?  (Read 18326 times)

Offline Lendevon

  • RootsChat Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 139
  • Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
    • View Profile
Re: Mahala - where does this name come from?
« Reply #9 on: Tuesday 28 February 06 15:29 GMT (UK) »
In the middle of the 19th century there was a very popular novel called Mahalah which was set in Mersea Island, Essex, which is why it is particularly common in North East Essex.
Kent - Piper, Longley, Colvin,Parks,Baker,Saitt
Essex - Wade, Shipp, Warren, Davies, Walford

Offline Jean McGurn

  • RootsChat Aristocrat
  • ******
  • Posts: 1,065
    • View Profile
Re: Mahala - where does this name come from?
« Reply #10 on: Tuesday 28 February 06 15:53 GMT (UK) »
Think there was also a famous American blues singer called Mahalah Jackson but she was in the 20th century.

Jean
McGurn, Stables, Harris, Owens, Bellis, Stackhouse, Darwent, Co(o)mbe

Offline MaryA

  • RootsChat Marquessate
  • *******
  • Posts: 9,309
  • St Chads, Kirkby
    • View Profile
Re: Mahala - where does this name come from?
« Reply #11 on: Tuesday 28 February 06 16:17 GMT (UK) »
I have a Mahala Cain in Codicote in Hertfordshire and I'd never heard of it before, in fact the local History Society seemed to think it was a male name until I found the baptism.

I love the meaning Tenderness, I wonder if she was a sickly baby, she did die a young child.

It could just come back into fashion if we promote it enough!

Mary
Census Information is Crown Copyright, from The National Archives <br />Lunt (Wavertree/West Derby), Forshaw (West Derby), Richardson (Knowsley), Kent (Cheshire), <br />Cain (Hertfordshire, London), Larkins (Bedfordshire, London), Nunn (London), Lenton, Hillyard (Bedfordshire), <br />Parle, Lambert, Furlong, Wafer (Wexford)<br />Special separate interest in Longford (Blackrock, Dublin)

Offline juliex

  • RootsChat Extra
  • **
  • Posts: 26
  • Census information Crown Copyright, from www.natio
    • View Profile
Re: Mahala - where does this name come from?
« Reply #12 on: Monday 28 May 07 17:10 BST (UK) »
Just discovered Mahala in my family tree. This was my great grandmother Florence Mahala Cowie (nee Goodchild) she was married in Woodbridge, Suffolk. Wondered where the name came from as I had never heard of it before.
Vinyard - suffolk
Rosam - Mainly London/Surrey
Doe - Suffolk/Norfolk
Cowie - Suffolk
Goodchild - Suffolk
Trout - Devon
Burgoyne - Devon
Eathrall/Ethroll/Earthrall - Ipswich

Offline Comosus

  • RootsChat Veteran
  • *****
  • Posts: 934
    • View Profile
Re: Mahala - where does this name come from?
« Reply #13 on: Monday 28 May 07 20:13 BST (UK) »
On one census (the 1841 I think), my GGG Grandmother's name was down as Mayhala, but her name was actually Mabel.

Andrew

Offline Kenike

  • RootsChat Extra
  • **
  • Posts: 28
  • Census information Crown Copyright, from www.natio
    • View Profile
Re: Mahala - where does this name come from?
« Reply #14 on: Wednesday 30 May 07 12:53 BST (UK) »
Hi

I also have this name twice in my family tree, also from Essex around the early 1800's. Variations on the spelling include Mahalia and Mahala. There is also a daughter Septemmia who changed her name to Emma when she was a servant and Mahalia changed to Rachael although I havent as yet determined which of these names either was born with.

I had thought that Mahalia sounded kind of Indian but obviously there are British origins.

K
CHALLIS - Newbury and Emmbrook
HOLDING - Friern Barnet

Offline avm228

  • RootsChat Marquessate
  • *******
  • Posts: 24,827
  • Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
    • View Profile
Re: Mahala - where does this name come from?
« Reply #15 on: Wednesday 30 May 07 13:15 BST (UK) »
My ggg-grandmother Mahala LEE was born in Pebmarsh, Essex in abt 1818.  As others have said, Mahala seems to have occurred reasonably frequently in the 19th century - odd that it seems to have retreated into such obscurity!

Anna
Ayr: Barnes, Wylie
Caithness: MacGregor
Essex: Eldred (Pebmarsh)
Gloucs: Timbrell (Winchcomb)
Hants: Stares (Wickham)
Lincs: Maw, Jackson (Epworth, Belton)
London: Pierce
Suffolk: Markham (Framlingham)
Surrey: Gosling (Richmond)
Wilts: Matthews, Tarrant (Calne, Preshute)
Worcs: Milward (Redditch)
Yorks: Beaumont, Crook, Moore, Styring (Huddersfield); Middleton (Church Fenton); Exley, Gelder (High Hoyland); Barnes, Birchinall (Sheffield); Kenyon, Wood (Cumberworth/Denby Dale)

Offline Ruskie

  • RootsChat Marquessate
  • *******
  • Posts: 26,276
  • Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
    • View Profile
Re: Mahala - where does this name come from?
« Reply #16 on: Wednesday 30 May 07 13:36 BST (UK) »
This is the closest I could find:
Mahalia (F) English: apparenly a cross between the two biblical masculine personal names Mahali (Exodus 6:19) and Mahalah (1 Chronicles 7:18), both fleetingly mentioned in genealogies

Offline jocer

  • RootsChat Extra
  • **
  • Posts: 16
  • Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
    • View Profile
Re: Mahala - where does this name come from?
« Reply #17 on: Saturday 30 June 07 09:59 BST (UK) »
We have quite a few Mahala's in our tree that have been repeated down through the generations as both christian and middle names.. and I intend to continue the tradition as I have always loved the name! I'm wondering if anyone out there (especially UK RCs) have a preferred way of pronouncing it? I have always said it as "Ma-hay-la" but have also heard that some say "Ma-har-la" and some simply "May-la".

FYI my first Mahala was Mahala Kent from Wivenhoe, Essex which fits in with the geography and timelines from previous entries on this thread.

Anyone got any ideas how it would've been pronounced back in Essex in 1833?

Cheers!
Pages: 1 [2] 3 4