Mary Katharine MacDonald
What's in a name?
Mary was named for her maternal grandmother, Maria, and for her own mother, Katharine. Her mother wished to call her Mary-Katharine Elizabeth MacDonald, but her father felt it was too much of a mouthful and convinced her to do Mary Katharine as a first and middle instead of just a compounded first name. Her mother compromised by affectionately calling her 'Mary K' and Mary allowed this only from her. She used her middle initial when she published articles as Mary K. MacDonald.
She finds it almost ironic how innocent her name sounds when she doesn't see herself like that at all. She never felt like it suited her, but it was her name and she was going to wear it proudly. Especially now she appreciated it as a gift from her parents, who had at least put some thought into it.
Mary : The biblical name Mary has several different meanings. Bryce and Katharine MacDonald chose it to honor her grandmother Maria, and because it meant "wished-for child". They had been in their mid-40s and didn't expect to have any other children besides their son when Mary was conceived. The meanings of her name that Mary identifies most with however are "bitter" and "rebellion".
Katharine : A spelling variation of Catherine/Katherine. This middle name is for Mary's mother Katharine, who often went by Kitty among family and friends. This Greek name means "pure" and is a common name among Christians thanks to the popularity of an early saint who was martyred in the 4th century.
MacDonald : Bryce MacDonald was born in the United States to proud Scottish immigrants. After the death of his uncle who left him a cottage in the highlands, he moved his family back. The MacDonald name is a fairly common one. It is anglicised from MacDhòmhnaill, meaning "son of Dòmhnall (Donald)". Family stories told of ancestors from Clan MacDonald who reigned as chiefs and lived in stony castles, though not much proof remained today of those tales as far as she was related to the historic clan. But still, the tales made her father proud to tell and who knows, maybe she was actually descended from great rebellious Scots. With who Mary was, it was believable enough.




















