MÁIRGHRÉAD, MAIRGHRÉAD
MÁIRGHRÉAD, MAIRGHRÉAD, genitive idem (the same), Margaret, Maggie, Madge; Greek — Μαργαρίτης (Margarítés), a pearl; the name of a Christian virgin who was martyred at Antioch in the last general persecution; brought to Europe by the crusaders, when it became very common in France and England; introduced by the Anglo-Normans into Ireland, where it has ever since been very popular, and is now found under a great variety of forms. Latin — Margarita.
Alphabetical Index to Names of Women (Irish-English)
Note: The old Irish letters used in the original text* have been converted to the Roman alphabet for this online version, and the lenited (or dotted) consonants changed to their aspirated equivalents, i.e. the dotted 'c' has been altered to 'ch', the dotted 'g' to 'gh', and the dotted 'm' to 'mh', etc. For example, in the name Caoimgin (Kevin), where the 'm' and 'g' are both dotted (ṁ, ġ) in the old Irish lettering, the name has been converted here to the modern Irish equivalent of Caoimhghin.
* Sloinnte Gaedheal is Gall: Irish Names and Surnames by Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923.