REED-L Archives

Archiver > REED > 2001-03 > 0983582601


From: "Marty Ryerson" <>
Subject: RE: [REED-L] Fw: Mary or Polly
Date: Fri, 2 Mar 2001 20:23:21 -0500
In-Reply-To: <20010302.185021.-137581.0.BAPACE2@juno.com>


Don't know that it is much help, but here is what I found.

http://www.behindthename.com/

MARY (f) The meaning of this popular name is not known for certain, but
there are several theories: "sea of bitterness", "rebelliousness", "wished
for child" (Hebrew), or possibly an Egyptian name. Saint Jerome derived it
from Latin stilla maris "drop of the sea", though given the origins of the
name this etymology is obviously incorrect. Miriam was the original form, as
used in the Old Testament where it belongs to the sister of Moses and Aaron.
This is also the name of several New Testament characters, most importantly
Mary the virgin mother of Jesus, and Mary Magdalene. Two queens of England
have had this name, as well as a Queen of Scotland, Mary Queen of Scots.

Molly: Pet name for Mary.

Polly: Pet name for Molly.


-----Original Message-----
From: Betty A. Pace [mailto:]
Sent: Friday, March 02, 2001 2:57 AM
To:
Subject: [REED-L] Fw: Mary or Polly

For those of you who may have these troublesome Pollys (Marys).
Betty Pace

--------- Forwarded message ----------
From:
To:
Date: Thu, 1 Mar 2001 07:56:14 EST
Subject: [RowanRoots] Mary Polly
Message-ID: <>

Hi List,
While I am no expert to be sure, years ago I was given the explanation
that
being nicknamed Polly was due to the fact that one's mother or
mother-in-law
also had the same given name, and until the elder Mary ( or whomever )
was
deceased, the younger lady was known as "Polly" to distinguish between
the
two. In one of my families, the mother Mary had 2 sons who married Marys.
The
elder son's wife became Polly and the younger's spouse became Pollie in
all
documents I have found.

This proved true in many of my lines, especially with the name Mary. (
Probably the reason so many women were named Mary, was the favored
Biblical
name of Jesus' mother, Mary.)

I do not remember where I first learned of that. I do not know if it is
true,
but you may want to look at the names of the mothers and mothers-in-law,
even
a favored Aunt being the same given name for clues.

If anyone else has an explanation, I would love to see it. The use of
Polly
for Mary seems to go back hundreds of years and in different locales for
people of different ethnic backgrounds.

Carolyn in NC


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