Unusual Name

Unusual Name

My grandmother, who lived with us from the time I was about 10, had a bit of an unusual time with her name. Her parents named her Margaret McCann. Yet her birth certificate says 'Maggie.' The family story is that the doctor who delivered her (at home) told her mother that everyone would be calling her Maggie if they named her Margaret, so he would just put Maggie on the birth certificate. And sure enough, he did. However, she was nicknamed "Pearl," which is what Margaret means.

She was given the middle name "Charles" at her baptism, which was a bit unusual for a woman (certificate below). Her godfather was her Uncle Charles McCann (photo below), older brother to her father, Joseph McCann. The family story is that he was afraid he may never have any heirs to pass on his name. I can only assume that meant he didn't have children at that time? And may not have been married at that time either. Margaret was baptized in St. Michael's Catholic Church, 424 W. 34th St., Manhattan, NY.

This photo is the youngest-age photo I have of my                                    Grandmother Margaret "Pearl" Charles McCann Kilgariff.