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Dictionary of Medieval Names
from European Sources

Katherine f. Greek Αἰκατερίνα or Αἰκατερίνη, of uncertain origin. It is unrelated to Greek καθαρός 'pure', though it later came to be associated with that root.

The name of a 4th C virgin martyr who became an extremely popular medieval saint, a 14th C Swedish saint, a 14th C Italian saint, a 15th C Italian saint, a 15th C queen consort of England, a 15th C queen of Castille, a 15th C queen of Navarre, a 15th C queen of Bosnia, a 16th C queen of France, three 16th C queens of England, a 16th C queen of Portugal, a 16th C queen of Poland, and two 16th C queens of Sweden.

Brabant
Latin
1312 Katharina (nom) JeanIII c, Katherina (nom) ibid. p. 44
Czech Republic
Latin
1349 Katharina (nom) chlumecky 59, Katherina (abl) ibid. 130, Katherine (dat) ibid. 56; 1350 Katherina (nom) ibid. 163, Katherine (dat) ibid. 167; 1351 Katherine (dat) ibid. 43; 1353 Katherina (nom) ibid. 115, Katherine (dat) ibid. 122; 1355 Katherine (dat) ibid. 73; 1356 Katherine (acc) ibid. 138; 1358 Katherine (dat) ibid. 252, p. 32
1351 Kachna (abl) chlumecky 5, Kaczna (nom) ibid. 21; 1353 Caczne (dat) ibid. 142, Kaczne (dat) ibid. 15, p. 22; 1356 Kacne (dat) ibid. 137, Kaczne (dat) ibid. 138; 1358 Kaczce (dat) ibid. 261, p. 32, Kaczcze (dat) ibid. 198, p. 30, Kaczna (nom) ibid. 238, p. 31, Kaczne (dat) ibid. 280, p. 33, Katruschi (dat) ibid. 275, p. 32
England
Latin
1185x1186 Katerina (nom) PR-XXXVI p. 18; 1300 Katerina (nom) ProcSuf-vol3 p. 239, Katharina (nom) ibid. p. 231, Katherina (nom) ibid. p. 231; 1340xc1450 Katerina (nom) CovGuild-1 p. 7; 1364 Katerinam (acc) SocAntNor-3-3 no. 37; 1377 Caterina (nom) FenPT-2 p. 5, Katerina (nom) ibid. p. 4; 1381 Caterina (nom) Suffolk1381 p. 68, Katerina (nom) FenPT-2 p. 6, Suffolk1381 p. 68, Katerine (gen) ibid. p. 91; 1408 Katerina (nom) GCCYork p. 11; 1431 Katerinæ (dat) WillsInv æ; 1436 Katherinæ (dat) ibid. LIX; 1440 Katerinæ (gen) ibid. LI; 1485–1486 Katerina (abl) CovGuild-2 p. 57; 1554 Katherina (nom) StMartF p. 58; 1555 Katherina (nom) ibid. p. 58; 1557 Katherina (nom) ibid. p. 59; 1558 Katherina (nom) ibid. p. 59; 1559 Katherina (nom) ibid. p. 59; 1560 Katherina (nom) ibid. p. 60; 1561 Katherina (nom) ibid. p. 60
1476 Katinæ (dat) WillsInv LXVII
Dutch
1571 Kathelina AuFr Claeszes; 1572 Catharina ibid. Boddins; 1575 Catherijn ibid. Artis; 1578 Catharine ibid. Fockea, Catherine ibid. Engelgrave; 1579 Catherine ibid. Damher; 1583 Catherina ibid. Engelborch, Cathryne ibid. Eeckoudt; 1585 Catherine ibid. Eduwaerts; 1587 Catharine ibid. Garet; 1588 Catheline ibid. Belowijs, Cathelyne ibid. Dregge, Catherine ibid. Embucht; 1589 Cathelina ibid. Clerck, Catheline ibid. Bespiere, Catherine ibid. Dorper; 1590 Catelyn ibid. Damman, Catherina ibid. Caliou, Catherine ibid. Bracht; 1593 Catherine ibid. Fevre; 1594 Catheline ibid. Fabri, Catherina ibid. Berghe; 1596 Catharina ibid. Boudois; 1599 Cathelinc ibid. Geerart, Catheline ibid. Geerart, Catherine ibid. Berghe
Middle English
1387 Katerine EEW p. 2, Kateryne ibid. p. 1; 1420 Katerine ibid. p. 45, Kateryne ibid. p. 45; 1428 Katerine ibid. p. 82; 1430 Kateryn ibid. p. 87; 1434 Katerine ibid. p. 99, Kateryne ibid. p. 99
Early Modern English
1524 Kateryn SRS-XXI p. 4; 1528/9 Katherine ExMar p. 1; 1529 Kateryn CovGuild-2 p. 88; 1530 Catheryn LIWill-III p. 4, Catheryne ibid. p. 11; 1530/31 Catheryne ibid. p. 92; 1530 Katheryne ibid. p. 66; 1530/31 Katheryne ibid. p. 93; 1532–1533 Kateryn CovGuild-2 p. 98; 1533 Catryne ibid. p. 156; 1534 Katheryn ibid. p. 126; 1538 Kateryn BarnstapleBap p. 1; 1539 Katurne StAnthonlin p. 1; 1540 Katerin BarnstapleBap p. 2, Katherine DEmar-vol1 p. 78, Katturne StAnthonlin p. 1, katheryn StNick-Sf p. 1; 1541 Kateren BarnstapleBap p. 2, Katherine DEmar-vol1 p. 78, Katurne StAnthonlin p. 2; 1542 Kateran BarnstapleBap p. 2; 1543 Catherin HAmar-vol9 p. 2, Kateren BarnstapleBap p. 3, Katerine StAnthonlin p. 4; 1544 Katturn ibid. p. 5, Katturne ibid. p. 4; 1545/6 Katheren RegIng p. 2; 1545 Katturn StAnthonlin p. 5, Katturne ibid. p. 5, Katurne ibid. p. 5, katheryn StNick-Sf p. 2; 1546 Kateran BarnstapleBap p. 5; 1546/7 Katherine ExMar p. 1; 1546 Katheryn StNick-Sf p. 2; 1547 Cateron WillsInv XCIV, Katheryne ibid. XCIV, Katturne StAnthonlin p. 6; 1548 Kateran BarnstapleBap p. 6, Katerin StAnthonlin p. 7, Katerine ibid. p. 6, Katteran BarnstapleBap p. 6; 1549 Cateryne BEmar-vol1 p. 3; 1550 Katerin StAnthonlin p. 8; 1551 Kateran BarnstapleBap p. 7, Katerin StAnthonlin p. 9, Keteren BarnstapleBap p. 7; 1552 Kateran ibid. p. 7; 1554 Catharina HAmar-vol9 p. 2, Kateran BarnstapleBap p. 8, Kateryne BEmar-vol1 p. 5, Katteran BarnstapleBap p. 8; 1555 Kateran ibid. p. 9, Kateren ibid. p. 9, Katerin StAnthonlin p. 11; 1556 Katherin bruton-vol1 p. 28; 1557 Chatery BarnstapleBap p. 10, Kateryn ibid. p. 9; 1557/8 Katharina HAmar-vol9 p. 2; 1557 Katherin bruton-vol1 p. 28, Katherine PRThirsk p. 3, Kitheren BarnstapleBap p. 10; 1558 Katherin SOmar-vol9 p. 1, StAnthonlin p. 12, Katherine DU-DSMMar, WAmar-1 p. 108; 1558–9 Katherin StMary-Ke p. 2; 1559 Catharine BUmar-vol9 p. 2, Katerin StAnthonlin p. 12, Katherin SOmar-vol9 p. 2, Katherine BEmar-vol2 p. 29, RegSASel p. 4; 1560 Cateryn BarnstapleBap p. 10, Kateryn ibid. p. 10, Katheren OrpingtonKe p. 1; 1560/1 Katheren RegBisham p. 26; 1560 Katherin CAmar-vol1 p. 1, SOmar-vol9 p. 2, Katherine RegSASel p. 6; 1561 Cateren COmar-vol5 p. 125, Caterin StAnthonlin p. 14, Catterin ibid. p. 14, Chatherin BarnstapleBap p. 11, Kateryne BEmar-vol1 p. 7, Katherin BUmar-vol2 p. 115, Katherine RegSASel p. 7; 1562 Katerin StAnthonlin p. 14, Kateryne BarnstapleBap p. 12, Katheren OrpingtonKe p. 1, Katherine BarnstapleBap p. 12, COmar-vol2 p. 47, Katheryne BarnstapleBap p. 12; 1563 Caterin StAnthonlin p. 15, Catharina HAmar-vol9 p. 2, Catharine BUmar-vol9 p. 3, Katerin StAnthonlin p. 16, Katheren RegBisham p. 27, Katherin BarnstapleBap p. 12, Katherine BEmar-vol2 p. 29, COmar-vol2 p. 69, WAmar-1 p. 97, Katheryn BarnstapleBap p. 12; 1563/4 Katheryne ibid. p. 13; 1564 Catharina HAmar-vol9 p. 2, Catheren RegIng p. 5; 1564/5 Catheren ibid. p. 5; 1564 Katherin bruton-vol1 p. 34; 1565 Catherin COmar-vol5 p. 83, Katerine Redruth-Co p. 6; 1566 Katherin bruton-vol1 p. 35, Katherine BUmar-vol2 p. 116; 1567 Kateryne BEmar-vol1 p. 8, Katheren COmar-vol5 p. 4, Katherin bruton-vol1 p. 37, Katherine BEmar-vol2 p. 30, bruton-vol1 p. 36, Kathering StAnthonlin p. 19; 1568 Katherin bruton-vol1 p. 37, Katherine COmar-vol2 p. 69, DEmar-vol1 p. 82; 1569 Catteryne BEmar-vol1 p. 8, Katherine bruton-vol1 p. 112; 1570 Cathern HAmar-vol9 p. 116, Katerin StAnthonlin p. 20, Katheren OrpingtonKe p. 3, Katheryne DEmar-vol1 p. 82; 1571 Cateryne WAmar-1 p. 75, Catheryn COmar-vol5 p. 4, Katheren OrpingtonKe p. 3, Katherin CAmar-vol1 p. 2; 1572 Catheren COmar-vol5 p. 4, Katerin StAnthonlin p. 22, Kateryn COmar-vol2 p. 121, Katheren HAmar-vol9 p. 68; 1573 Catharine BUmar-vol9 p. 5, Katherin BEmar-vol1 p. 9, Katherine COmar-vol2 p. 70, WAmar-1 p. 97; 1574 Katherin bruton-vol1 p. 6, Katherine COmar-vol2 p. 48; 1575 Catharine BUmar-vol9 p. 5, Catherine COmar-vol2 p. 48, COmar-vol5 p. 84, Katerin StAnthonlin p. 24, Katheren BEmar-vol2 p. 129, Katherin bruton-vol1 p. 7, Katherine BEmar-vol2 p. 2; 1576 Catharine BUmar-vol9 p. 6, Catheren COmar-vol5 p. 5, Catherine COmar-vol2 p. 48, Catteryne COmar-vol5 p. 126; 1577 Katheren BEmar-vol2 p. 129, Katheryn COmar-vol2 p. 122; 1578 Catherin COmar-vol5 p. 85, Katerin StAnthonlin p. 26, Katharine HAmar-vol9 p. 3, Katheren OrpingtonKe p. 5, Katherin bruton-vol1 p. 7; 1579 Cateryne COmar-vol5 p. 127, Cathren HAmar-vol9 p. 79, Katerin BUmar-vol2 p. 116, Katherin COmar-vol2 p. 71, Katheryn ibid. p. 122; 1580 Catherine ibid. p. 49, Catheryn ibid. p. 122, Katheren BEmar-vol2 p. 130, Katherin BEmar-vol1 p. 10; 1581 Catharine BUmar-vol9 p. 6, Catherine DEmar-vol2 p. 6, Catheryn COmar-vol2 p. 122, Katherine BEmar-vol1 p. 10, Katheryn DEmar-vol1 p. 84; 1582 Catherine DEmar-vol2 p. 7, Katherin BUmar-vol1 p. 26, Katherine COmar-vol2 p. 71; 1583 Catheryne COmar-vol5 p. 127, Katherine DEmar-vol2 p. 9; 1584 Katheren RegBisham p. 4, Katherin HAmar-vol9 p. 68, Katherine BEmar-vol1 p. 12, DEmar-vol2 p. 10; 1585 Catherin BEmar-vol1 p. 12, Katherine DEmar-vol2 p. 11; 1586 Catherine ibid. p. 13, Cathrine Bar-in-El p. 34, Katerin StAnthonlin p. 31, Katharen COmar-vol5 p. 8, Katherin BEmar-vol2 p. 31, CAmar-vol1 p. 4, bruton-vol1 p. 47, Katherine Bar-in-El p. 15, DEmar-vol2 p. 12, bruton-vol1 p. 47, Kathrine Bar-in-El p. 34; 1587 Catheren HAmar-vol9 p. 139, Catherine BEmar-vol1 p. 12, Katerin StAnthonlin p. 32, Katheren COmar-vol5 p. 8; 1587/8 Katherine BEmar-vol1 p. 12; 1587 Katherine BEmar-vol2 p. 3, COmar-vol2 p. 71, DEmar-vol2 p. 14; 1588 Cateryn COmar-vol5 p. 128, Catheren HAmar-vol9 p. 139, Catherine WAmar-1 p. 109, Katerin StAnthonlin p. 32, Katherine BEmar-vol1 p. 12, DEmar-vol2 p. 15, Katheryn COmar-vol2 p. 123, Katheryne BEmar-vol2 p. 3; 1589 Catharine BUmar-vol9 p. 148, Catherine DEmar-vol2 p. 17, Katheren COmar-vol5 p. 9, Katherin bruton-vol1 p. 49, Katherine COmar-vol2 p. 71, DEmar-vol2 p. 17, Katheryne COmar-vol2 p. 23, Katturne StAnthonlin p. 33; 1590 Cateryne COmar-vol5 p. 128, Catharine BUmar-vol9 p. 7, Katherin bruton-vol1 p. 9, Katherine DEmar-vol2 p. 20, Katheryne DEmar-vol1 p. 86; 1591 Catherine DEmar-vol2 p. 23, Katerin HAmar-vol9 p. 92, StAnthonlin p. 35, Katherin CAmar-vol1 p. 4, Katherine BEmar-vol1 p. 14, COmar-vol2 p. 23, DEmar-vol2 p. 23; 1592 Katherin bruton-vol1 p. 10; 1592/3 Katherine BEmar-vol1 p. 15; 1592 Katherine DEmar-vol2 p. 24, Katheryn COmar-vol5 p. 9, Katheryne DEmar-vol1 p. 86; 1593 Cateryne COmar-vol5 p. 128, Catharine BUmar-vol9 p. 8, Catherine DEmar-vol2 p. 26, Katerin HAmar-vol9 p. 92, Katherin BEmar-vol2 p. 31, COmar-vol5 p. 10, bruton-vol1 p. 10, Katherine DEmar-vol2 p. 26, WAmar-1 p. 132, Katheryn COmar-vol5 p. 10, DEmar-vol1 p. 87, Katren RegBisham p. 5; 1594 Catharine BUmar-vol9 p. 9, Catheren HAmar-vol9 p. 116, Catherin COmar-vol5 p. 10, Katharine HAmar-vol9 p. 15, Katheren BEmar-vol2 p. 131, Katherin bruton-vol1 p. 53, Katherine COmar-vol2 p. 24, DEmar-vol2 p. 28, WAmar-1 p. 132, Katterin StAnthonlin p. 37; 1595 Katerin ibid. p. 37, Katherin CAmar-vol1 p. 5; 1595/6 Katherin RegFord p. 3; 1596 Catharine BUmar-vol9 p. 9, Katherine DEmar-vol2 p. 34, Katheryn BUmar-vol1 p. 27; 1597 Catharine BUmar-vol9 p. 9, Cathren HAmar-vol9 p. 117, Katheren OrpingtonKe p. 9, RegFord p. 3, Katherin CAmar-vol1 p. 6, Katherine DEmar-vol2 p. 36, RegFord p. 3, bruton-vol1 p. 55; 1598 Catharine BUmar-vol9 p. 10, Catherin COmar-vol5 p. 86, Catherine ibid. p. 11, Catheryne StAnthonlin p. 39, Katherin Bar-in-El p. 32, bruton-vol1 p. 11, Katherine BEmar-vol1 p. 17, COmar-vol2 p. 72, DEmar-vol2 p. 38, Katturn StAnthonlin p. 39, Katturne ibid. p. 39; 1599 Katheren BEmar-vol2 p. 4, Katherin RegFord p. 3, Katherine DEmar-vol2 p. 41, WAmar-1 p. 132, Katherinne SaxhamSf p. 5
1543 Keth BarnstapleBap p. 3; 1595 Kath WAmar-1 p. 132; 1596 Kate BEmar-vol2 p. 96
France
Latin
1225 Katerina (nom) CartNDdOurscamp XXV; 1301 Katerina (nom) MemPic-vol17 p. 201, Katerine (gen) ibid. p. 212; 1378 Katherina (nom) hanquetvol1 671, Katherine (dat) ibid. 596
Old French
1313 Catherine Paris1313 p. 24
Middle French
1421 Katherine favier 170; 1423 Katherine ibid. 5; 1438 Katherine ibid. 160; 1493 Catherine MSR1838 p. 373; 1562 Catherine RegPCC-1 p. 10; 1563 Catherine ibid. p. 18; 1564 Caterine ibid. p. 70, Catherine ibid. p. 45; 1565 Catherine ibid. p. 112; 1566 Caterine ibid. p. 258, Catherine ibid. p. 197; 1567 Catherine ibid. p. 285; 1568 Catherine ibid. p. 362; 1570 Catherine ibid. p. 424; 1571 Catherine ibid. p. 435; 1595 Catherine Toureille
Germany
Early New High German
1401 Kathrein (nom) mairhofer DCLXIX; 1404 Kathrein (nom) ibid. DCLXXVII; 1409 Katherin (acc) UrkJen2 17; 1417 Kathrein (nom) mairhofer DCCV; 1497 Katerina Nurn1497 p. 2, Katherina ibid. 152, Katterina ibid. 2633
Ireland
Early Modern English
1539/40 Katherine Fiants-1 102; 1540 Katherine ibid. 112
Italy
Latin
1265x1339 Caterina (nom) BBC-Berg 81, Catherina (nom) ibid. 94; 1348 Catherina (nom) INP 1, Catherine (gen) ibid. 18; 1522x1532 Catarina (nom) DSF p. 51, 15; 1527 Catharina (nom) Rome1527 p. 87, Catherina (nom) ibid. p. 83
1522x1532 Catarinella (nom) DSF p. 51, 24
Italian
1513x1521 Catherina LeoX p. 16
Latvia
Middle Low German
1452 Katrine Arbusow p. 97, Katterina ibid. p. 97; 1453 Kateryne ibid. p. 98, Katherina ibid. p. 97; 1460x1465 Katerine Mettig1892 p. 10; 1461 Katerine ibid. p. 3; 1463 Katerine ibid. p. 6, Katherina Arbusow p. 99, Kathrina ibid. p. 99; 1464 Katerine Mettig1892; 1465 Katerine ibid. p. 7; 1466 Katerina ibid. p. 11, Katerine ibid. p. 11; 1467 Katerine ibid. p. 11; 1473 Katerine ibid. p. 6; 1478 Katharina ibid. p. 8, Katherina ibid. p. 9, Katherine ibid. p. 7; 1497 Katerina Arbusow p. 90; 1507 Katerina Mettig1892 p. 11, Katherina ibid. p. 11; 1508 Katherina ibid. p. 7; 1509 Katharina ibid. p. 5; 1511 Katerine ibid. p. 11; 1514 Katerine ibid. p. 6; 1515 Katerina ibid. p. 11, Katerine ibid. p. 4; 1517 Katherin ibid. p. 4; 1522 Kattryn Arbusow p. 97; 1523 Katerina ibid. p. 99, Katherina ibid. p. 99, Kattryn ibid. p. 97; 1540 Katharina ibid. p. 98; 1545 Katharina ibid. p. 99; 1558 Kattrine Arbuzov1920 p. 46, Kattringe ibid. p. 46; 1561 Kattrina ibid. p. 46; 1582x1594 Kattrin ibid. p. 47
1453 Kattryneke Arbusow p. 97
Lithuania
Polish
1561x1565 Catriny (dat) Kaunas2006 p. 82, 90
Poland
Middle High German
1336 Katharina SBGlatzer p. 4
Scotland
Scots
1464 Katerine PGB; 1551 Katherine ibid.; 1577 Katherine ibid.
Spain
Latin
1487 Chatherina (nom) carbonell-I p. 11; 1488 Cattherina (nom) ibid. p. 17, Chattherina (nom) ibid. p. 23; 1491 Catherina (nom) ibid. p. 59, Chatherina (nom) ibid. p. 55
Catalan
1510 Catherina valencia1510 3173
Spanish
1496 Catalina olite1496 p. 180, Catallina ibid. p. 179; 1575 Catalina Catalogo-5.2 3793; 1576 Catalina ibid. 3873
Sweden
Latin
1350 Katerine (dat) SDHK no. 6023
Old Swedish
1383 Katerina SRA-vol2 no. 1920, Kathrina ibid. no. 1902
Switzerland
Latin
14thCx1478 Katerina (nom) Ob-SPVn (66)
Ukraine
Latin
1469 Katherina (nom) AGZ-18 19, Katherinam (acc) ibid. 19, Katherine (dat) ibid. 19; 1480 Katharina (nom) ibid. CIX-1315, Katherine (gen) ibid. CIX-1318
Wales
Latin
1497 Katerine (gen) ArchCambIII p. 68; 1581 Catherina (nom) RegCon1 p. 36
Early Modern English
1574 Katerin RegLlantrithyd p. 61; 1577 Katerin ibid. p. 32; 1578 Katerin ibid. p. 61; 1583 Katerin ibid. p. 33; 1595 Katerin ibid. p. 62; 1597 Caterin ibid. p. 35; 1598 Katerin ibid. p. 62; 1599 Caterin ibid. p. 62, Katerin ibid. p. 62
Welsh
1543 Catherine RegCon1 p. 4, Katherin ibid. p. 4, Katherine ibid. p. 4; 1544 Katherine ibid. p. 7; 1560 Katherine ibid. p. 18; 1583 Catherine ibid. p. 40; 1589 Catherine ibid. p. 56
Cite as: R. Le Get, N. Shiel, J. Uckelman, S.L. Uckelman. "Katherine". In S.L. Uckelman, ed. The Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources, Edition 2016, no. 3. http://dmnes.org/2016/3/name/Katherine.