Date
Meaning & History
Latinized form of MACHTHARD. However, it should be noted that there are sources that have something different to say about the Germanic name that lies at the root of Medardus. While these sources all agree that the second element is derived from Old High German hart meaning "brave, hardy", they have different explanations for the first element of the name. Some sources claim that the first element is derived from Old High German mahal, which can mean "treaty, covenant" as well as "meeting place, gathering, assembly". The book "Altdeutsches Namenbuch" (1856) by Ernst Förstemann (1822-1906) mentions that the first element is derived from math, which the author believes to be a cognate of Anglo-Saxon maeð meaning "honour" as well as "awe, reverence".