Frances

From WikiName

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ORIGIN AND HISTORY

Frances is the feminine form of Francis. In the 16th century, both spellings were used for both sexes, but sometime during the 17th century, Francis became masculine and Frances feminine. Suggested etymologies are:

• Latin – “from France” “free”
• Old German – “French person.” Alternatively, the name could be derived from the name of a weapon used by the Franks (a Germanic tribe) – a javelin-type spear called a franca.
• Old French – from Francesco, meaning “French” “Frenchman.” As a form of Francesco, the name may have begun to be used in England in the early 1500s, when the English admired and imitated the Italian Renaissance culture.

POPULARITY

A popular name, Frances has been in the top 1000 girl names in the United States since 1900.

• Year and rank:
  • 1900 – 16
  • 1910 – 9
  • 1920 – 10
  • 1930 – 19
  • 1940 – 35
  • 1950 – 86
  • 1960 – 151
  • 1970 – 238
  • 1980 – 296
  • 1990 – 350
  • 2000 – 575
  • 2006 – 777

FACTS

• Numerological meaning: People named Frances may lack self-discipline and fear routine. They’re often enthusiastic, imaginative and full of joie de vivre.
• Hurricanes named Frances struck in 1961, 1976, 1980, 1986, 1992, and 2004.
• Tropical storms named Frances struck in 1968 and 1998.
• Five saints bear the name Frances:
  • St. Frances Bizzocca, feastday: August 17.
  • Bl. Frances Brideau, feastday: July 17.
  • St. Frances de Croissy, feastday: July 17.
  • St. Frances of Rome, feastday: March 9.
  • St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, feastday: November 13, Patron of immigrants.

Frances in other languages:
English: Cissy, Fan, Fancey, Fancie, Fancy, Fania, Fanney, Fannie, Fanny, Fran, Francee, Franceen, Franceline, Francene, Francesca, Francess, Francessa, Francey, Franci, Francia, Francie, Francine, Francisca, Francyne, Frania, Franie, Franki, Frankie, Franky, Franni, Frannie, Franny

Basque: Frantziska

Breton: Franseza

Finnish: Fanni

French: France, Francette, Francine, Françiose

German: Franzi, Franziska

Hungarian: Fanni, Franci, Franciska

Italian: Franca, Francesca

Polish: Franciszka

Portuguese: Chica, Francisca

Scottish: Frangag

Slovene: Francka

Spanish: Francisca, Paca, Paquita

NAMESAKES

Movies and Television:

• Frances, 1982
• Without Lying Down: Frances Marion and the Power of Women in Hollywood, 2000, TV
• Frances Steloff: Memoirs of Bookseller, 1987
• Frances Tuesday, 2004, TV
• Canada Vignettes: Lady Frances Simpson, 1978
• The Disappearance of Lady Frances Carfax, 1923
• Frances Carroll & ‘The Coquettes’, 1940
• Oh-My-God-Frances, 1997
• Frances: A Mother Divine, 2008
• Frances Farmer Presents, 1958 TV series
• The Frances Langford-Don Ameche Show, 1951-52, TV series
• The Petticoat Expeditions, Part Two: Frances Hopkins, 1997

FAMOUS PERSONS

• Frances Bavier (1902-1989) – played Aunt Bee Taylor on The Andy Griffith Show.
• Frances Hodgson Burnett (1849-1924) – novelist and playwright, wrote The Secret Garden.
• St. Frances Xavier Cabrini (1850-1917) – nun and missionary, first U.S. citizen to be canonized by the Roman Catholic Church.
• Frances Folsom Cleveland (1864-1947) – First Lady of the United States, wife of President Grover Cleveland.
• Frances Drake (Oct, 22, 1912-Jan. 18, 2000) – actress, has star on Hollywood Walk of Fame for Motion Pictures.
• Frances Goodrich (1891-1984) – playwright and screenwriter, won 1956 Pulitzer Prize for Drama for The Diary of Anne Frank.
• Frances Wisebart-Jacobs (1843-1892) – social activist, member National Women’s Hall of Fame.
• Frances Langford (Apr. 4, 1913-July 11, 2005) – singer and actress, has star on Hollywood Walk of Fame for Motion Pictures and star on Hollywood Walk of Fame for Radio.
• Frances McDormand (b. 1957) – actress, won 1996 Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance in Fargo.
• Frances Pauley (1905-2003) – civil rights activist, won 1974 National Council of Women’s Women of Conscience Award.
• Frances Perkins (1882-1965) – social worker and public official, first woman to hold U.S. Cabinet post U.S. Secretary of Labor 1933-45. (Original name: Fannie Coralie Perkins.
• Frances Preston (b. Aug. 27, 1934) – member of Country Music Hall of Fame.
• Frances E. Willard (1839-1898) – feminist, President of Women’s Christian Temperance Union, President of National Council of Women.

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NOTES

<http://www.babynamer.com/> <http://baby-names.emedtv.com/> <http://www.babynamesfamily.com/> <http://www.behindthename.com/> <http://www.birthvillage.com/index.php/> <http://www.catholic.org/saints/> <http://www.imdb.com/> <http://www.searchforancestors.com/surnames/origin/> <http://www.thinkbabynames.com/>

OTHER FRANCES'S

Frances Smith, Frances Johnson, Frances Williams, Frances Jones, Frances Brown, Frances Davis, Frances Miller, Frances Wilson, Frances Moore, Frances Taylor, Frances Aaberg, Frances Aaby, Frances Aamodt, Frances Aaronson, Frances Abad, Frances Abadia, Frances Abbey, Frances Abe, Frances Accipiter, Frances Akisada, Frances Armstrong, Frances Armwood, Frances Aabye, Frances Aardema, Frances Aarnink, Frances Aaron, Frances Abbett, Frances Abeel, Frances Abegg, Frances Abele, Frances Abello, Frances Aasand, Frances Aasness, Frances Abair, Frances Abate, Frances Abatelli, Frances Abatie, Frances Abbadessa, Frances Abbay, Frances Abbinante, Frances Abbott, Frances Abdalla, Frances Abell, Frances Abella, Frances Aagesen, Frances Aahl, Frances Aalbregtse, Frances Aarts, Frances Abalos, Frances Abarno, More results

Author: Madeleine Wieder, +Sabertooth