Showing posts with label Northanger Abbey. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Northanger Abbey. Show all posts

Sunday, August 21, 2011

Ladylike Names: Catherine

CATHERINE

Gender: Female

Origin: English and French from the original Greek

Meaning: "pure"

Common Nicknames: Kitty is the most common in Jane Austen's works but Kate and Kathy were also common in this era.

Regency Popularity: Very commonly used in this era and in Jane Austen's works.

Jane Austen Usage:

  • Northanger Abbey - Catherine Morland is the seventeen-year-old heroine of the book. She is the oldest daughter of Rev. & Mrs. Morland and younger sister of James Morland. Although naive she is sweet and quickly gains the heart of Henry Tilney.
  • Pride and Prejudice - Miss Catherine Bennet, usually called Kitty, is the fourth born Bennet sister. Although she follows her flighty younger sister Lydia, Jane Austen intimates at the end of the story that she will mature and be more sensible.  
  • Pride and Prejudice - Lady Catherine de Bourgh is Mr Collins' patron, Mr. Darcy's aunt and mother to Miss Anne de Bourgh.
  • Lady Susan - Mrs. Catherine Vernon is married to Charles Vernon making her the sister-in-law of Lady Susan vernon. She is the daughter of Sir Reginald and Lady De Courcey, sister of Mr. Reginald De Courcey and mother of several children.

Ladylike Name: Anne

ANNE

Gender: Female

Origin: English/French version of the Hebrew Hannah and Channah and Greek Anna. Anna was the faithful prophetess Anna in New Testament who await the birth of Jesus Christ. 

Meaning: "He (God) has favored me", "gracious", "grace"

Common Nicknames: Nancy, Nan, Nanny, Annie. Jane Austen uses Nancy most often as a nickname.

Regency Popularity: Very popular among most classes. Most lower classes would probably use Hannah or the nicknames more, but the upper classes would use Anne. Among the royalty Anne was and still is quite popular.

Jane Austen Usage:

  • Persuasion - Anne Elliot is the heroine of the story. She is the second daughter of Sir Walter Elliot, devoted friend, aunt, sister, and constant to her true love Captain Frederick Wentworth.
  • Sense and Sensibility - Miss Anne Steele is the older sister of Lucy Steele, nearly thirty years old; 'never succeeded in catching the Doctor'. She is usually called Nancy by her sister.
  • Pride and Prejudice - Miss Anne de Bourgh is the sickly daughter of Lady Catherine de Bourgh. Named after her aunt Lady Anne Darcy a match is made by the two mothers for her to marry her cousin Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy.
  • Pride and Prejudice - Lady Anne Darcy, born Lady Anne Fitzwilliam, is the deceased mother of Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy and Miss Georgiana Darcy. Wife of the elder Mr. Darcy, sister of Lady Catherine de Bourgh, aunt of Miss Anne de Bourgh and Colonel Fitzwilliam.
  • Northanger Abbey - Anne Thorpe is one of Mrs Thorpe's two younger daughters. Although not as beautiful as her older sister Isabella, she does very well by pretending to be as handsome as her sister, imitating her air, and dressing in the same style.
  • Emma - Anne Taylor is governess to heroine Emma Woodhouse until she's marries Mr. Weston. At the end of the book she has a daughter who is named Anna after her mother.
  • Northanger Abbey - Anne Mitchell is mentioned as a 'friend' of Isabella Thorpe's who had tried to put on a turban like Isabella's but who had apparently made wretched work of it.
  • Juvenilia: The Three Sisters - Miss Anne (also called Miss XXX) is the friend that Georgiana Stanhope writes to and dictates her plans for her sisters.
  • Juvenilia: Evelyn - Mrs. Anne Augusta Webb, wife of Mr. Webb and mother of Maria.
  • Juvenilia: Catharine, or the Bower - Anne, also called Nanny, is the heroine Catharine's maid. 

Gentlemanly Names: Henry

HENRY

Gender: Male

Origin: German

Meaning: "ruler of the household"

Common Nicknames: Harry, Jane Austen uses it a few times.

Regency Popularity: Very commonly used by all classes and especially among royalty.

Jane Austen Usage:

  • Northanger Abbey - Rev. Henry Tilney is the witty and charming hero. A clergyman who lives at his Parrish Woodston but spends much time with his father and sister at Northanger Abbey and visiting Bath. He marries the heroine Catherine Morland and shares her passion for reading novels.
  • Emma - Mr. Henry Woodhouse is the owner of Hartfield in Highbury. His wife Catherine dies leaving two daughters: Isabella marries John Knightley and Emma marries George Knightley. His grandson is named after him.
  • Emma - Master Henry Knightley is the oldest son of Isabella Woodhouse and John Knightley, named after his grandfather Henry Woodhouse.
  • Mansfield Park - Henry Crawford is the "villain" of the story. He is the brother of Mary Crawford, half-brother to Mrs Grant, brother-in-law of Dr. Grant. He and his sister Mary were brought up by their uncle Admiral Crawford and his wife. Has an estate in Norfolk called Enscombe. He trifles with the feelings of the three ladies at Mansfield Park.
  • Mansfield Park - Sir Henry is mentioned by Mr. Yates as the guest of Lord Ravenshaw's houseparty.
  • Persuasion - Sir Henry Russell was the late husband of Lady Russell, he was only a Knight so his title couldn't be passed down to any children they might have had. 
  • Sense and Sensibility - Henry Dashwood of Stanhill and Norland Park. By his first wife he had one son, John; by his second, three daughters, Elinor, Marianne, and Margaret. His death at the beginning of the story sets the events of the plot in motion.
  • Juvenilia: Henry and Eliza - Mr. Henry Cecil is the hero of the story, he married Eliza.
  • Juvenilia: Lesley Castle - Mr. Henry Hervey
  • Juvenilia: Evelyn - Mr. Henry
  • Juvenilia: Amelia Webster - Mr. Henry Beverley a character who marries on of George Hervey's sisters.
  • Juvenilia: The Three Sisters - Sir Henry Brudenell
  • Juvenilia: Sir William Montague - Sir Henry Montague
Jane Austen's Life:
  • Henry Austen (1771-1850) - brother, fourth oldest Austen child, married his cousin Eliza de Feuillide.

Gentlemanly Name: George

GEORGE

Gender: Male

Origin: Greek, German

Meaning: "farmer", "earth worker"

Common Nicknames: Georgie, but usually none is used by Jane Austen

Regency Popularity: Very commonly used. It was the name of the kings at the time and still considered German at the time.

Jane Austen Usage:

  • Emma - Mr. George Knightley is the hero of Emma, a true gentleman. He is the elder brother of John Knightley, uncle to John & Isabella's children (one is named after him), magistrate and a rich land owner. His Christian name is not frequently used, even his dear Emma Woodhouse says she can't call him "George". 
  • Emma - Master George Knightley, the third son of Isabella Woodhouse & John Knightley, named after his uncle.
  • Emma - Mr. George Otway is a Highbury resident who comes to balls and parties.
  • Pride and Prejudice - Mr. George Wickham the "villain" of the story. The Bennet sisters meet him when his regiment comes to Meryton he later elopes with Lydia Bennet. George is probably also the first name of the elder Mr. Darcy (Fitzwilliam Darcy's father) because the novel says that George Wickham is his godfather and his daughter with wife Lady Anne is named Georgiana.
  • Northanger Abbey - George Parry is mentioned as the young gentleman who Mrs Allen says might have danced with Catherine had he only been in Bath.
  • Northanger Abbey - George Morland is one of Catherine Morland's youngest siblings; a child of six who was one of the first to joyously proclaim his sister's return home.
  • Juvenilia: Amelia Webster - Mr. George Hervey is one of the characters who writes letters and marries the title character Amelia Webster, and is influential in the marriages of his two sisters.  
  • Juvenilia: Catharine, or the Bower - Sir George Fitzgibbon is a relation of the Wynnes.
  • Juvenilia: Henry and Eliza - Mr. George Harcourt is the father of heroine Eliza and husband of Lady "Polly" Harcourt.
  • Juvenilia: Lesley Castle - Sir George Lesley is 57-years-old but "still remains the beau", lord of Lesley Castle and father of three grown children.

Gentlemanly Name: Frederick

FREDERICK

Gender: Male

Origin: German

Meaning: "peaceful ruler"

Common Nicknames: Fred, Freddy

Regency Popularity: Fairly common, it was used often among Royalty because of their German connections.

Jane Austen Usage:

  • Persuasion - Captain Frederick Wentworth is the hero of the story. When he is first engaged to Anne Elliot he is a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy but quickly raises to the rank of Captain. 
  • Northanger Abbey - Captain Frederick Tilney is the brother of hero Henry Tilney, and sister Eleanor. He is a dashing Captain in the 12 Light Dragoons, and makes a conquest with Isabella Thorpe. As the elder son of General Tilney he will inherit Northanger Abbey. 
  • Mansfield Park - Frederick is a character in Lover's Vows and the part is acted by Henry Crawford.

Gentlemanly Name: Edward

EDWARD

Gender: Male

Origin: Old English

Meaning: "prosperous guardian", "wealthy protector"

Common Nicknames: Ed, Eddie, Ned, Neddy

Regency Popularity: Widely use among the upper class and royalty.

Jane Austen Usage:

  • Sense and Sensibility - Mr. Edward Ferrars is an honorable hero who wins the heart of heroine Elinor Dashwood. 
  • Persuasion - Mr. Edward Wentworth is the brother of Captain Frederick Wentworth and Mrs Sophia Croft. He did have the curacy of Monksford but later moves out of county, marries and has a parish in Shropshire.
  • Pride and Prejudice - Mr. Edward Gardiner is the brother of Mrs Bennet. He's a solicitor and lives in Cheapside, London with his wife and young children.
  • Northanger Abbey - Edward Thorpe is mentioned as one of Mrs Thorpe's talented (according to her) sons - a student at Merchant-Taylors'.
  • Sanditon - Si Edward Denham, Baronet is nephew of Sir Harry Denham. brother of Esther. born to be a villain- 'quite in the line of Lovelaces'.
  • Juvenilia: Catharine, or the Bower - Edward Stanley is the son of Mr & Mrs Stanley.
  • Juvenilia: Love and Freindship - Sir Edward Lindsay is the father of Mr Edward Lindsay, who thinks his son has been reading novels again.
  • Juvenilia: Love and Freindship - Mr. Edward Lindsay (concealed as Talbot), son of Sir Edward Lindsay, and husband to Laura.
  • Juvenilia: Sir William Montague - Sir Edward Montague is mentioned.
  • Juvenilia: The Mystery - Sir Edward Spangle is mentioned.

Gentlemanly Name: Charles

CHARLES

Gender: Male

Origin: German

Meaning: "man", "free man", "army, warrior"

Common Nicknames: Charlie, Chuck, Chip

Regency Popularity: Widely used 


Jane Austen Usage: 
  • Pride & Prejudice - Charles Bingley rents Netherfield Park and falls in love with Jane Bennet.
  • Persuasion - Charles Musgrove is brother-in-law to the heroine Anne Elliot, he first asked her to marry him before marrying her sister Mary. Charles is named after his father and gives his son the same name.
  • Persuasion - Charles Musgrove (the elder) is Mary Musgrove's father-in-law, owner of Uppercross-Hall, second in county status only to Sir Walter Elliot of Kellynch.
  • Persuasion - Little Charles Musgrove is the eldest son of Charles and Mary Musgrove. 
  • Persuasion - Charles Hayter is a nephew of Mrs. Musgrove, eldest son of the Hayters. Non-resident curate. Has an understanding with, and marries his cousin, Henrietta Musgrove, after securing a church living. 
  • Persuasion - Mr. Charles Smith, a friend of William Elliot who marries Anne's friend Miss Hamilton/Mrs. Smith but has left her a poor widow at the time of the book.
  • Northanger Abbey - Charles Hodges is one of the many enraptured gentlemen mentioned by Isabella Thorpe who claims he plagued her to death, in order to make her dance. 
  • Mansfield Park - Charles Price is the younger brother of heroine Fanny Price. He is eight-years-old at the end of Mansfield Park and is the youngest son in the family.
  • Mansfield Park - Mr. Charles Anderson is a friend of Tom Bertram who has two sisters.
  • Mansfield Park - Charles Maddox is a local gentleman who is considered for the part of Anhalt in Lovers' Vows. 
  • Mansfield Park - Sir Charles is mentioned as a friend of Admiral Crawford, uses his influence to secure William Price's Lieutenant's commission.. 
  • Mansfield Park - Charles is mentioned as the postillion on Lady Bertram's coach. 
  • Lady Susan - Mr. Charles Vernon of Churchill, Sussex. Youngest son of Lady Susan's first husband. Married to Catherine De Courcy, with children in abundance. A clergyman.
  • Lady Susan - Charles Smith is mentioned in passing.
  • Sanditon - Mrs. Charles Dupuis is mentioned.
  • The Watsons - Charles is mentioned as the young son of Mrs. Blake and nephew of Reverend Howard.
  • Juvenilia: Catharine, or the Bower - Charles Wynne is the son of Reverend Wynne.
  • Juvenilia: Jack and Alice - Mr. Charles Adams is mentioned.
  • Juvenilia: A Beautiful Description - Mr. Charles is mentioned.
  • Juvenilia: The First Act of a Comedy - Mr. Charles Postilion is mentioned.

Characters from Northanger Abbey



Ladies Names In Northanger Abbey:
Alice
Anne
Catherine
Charlotte
Dorothy
Eleanor
Emily
Harriet
Isabella
Maria
Matilda
Sally
Sarah
Sophia


Gentlemen Names In Northanger Abbey:
Charles
Edward
Frederick
George
Henry
James
John
Richard
Sam
William


Surnames In Northanger Abbey:
Allen
Andrews
Courtenay
Davis
Fletcher
Fraser
Freeman
Hodges
Hughes
Jackson
King
Longtown
Mitchell
Morland
Parry
Robinson
Skinner
Smith
Thorpe
Tilney