A female name. Old German Mahthildis, compound of mahti ‘might’, ‘strength’, and hildi ‘battle’, ‘strife'. It was introduced into England by the Normans (William I m. Matilda d. of Baldwin V of Flanders), and was a favourite in the 12th and 13th C, gradually falling into desuetude in the 14th and 15 th C, The Latin forms are Matillis or Matilldis as well as Matilda; the French were Mahhild, Mahault, Molde, or Maud, and these were all used in England, together with the nicknames Till, Tillot. Many surnames are derived from them, e.g. Madison, Maud, Maudt, Maudson, Mawson, Moulson, Mould, Mowl, Mowle, Moult, Till, Tilly, Tillison, Tilson, Tillotson. It was very rare in the 16th and I7th C, but the Latin form Matilda was revived in the middle of the 18th C and became a great favourite.

Tennyson’s poem Maud (1855) was probably responsible for the revival of this medieval form of the name in the later 19th C. The pet-forms Matty, Tilly, and Tilda were usual in the 19th C.

Matildis Regesta Regum Anglo-Normannorum 1082. Mathild, Mathila, Matheld, Mathidis Domesday Book 1086. Matilda Curia Regis Rolls 1189-1215. Matilldis Feudal Aids 1284. Matillis Feudal Aids 1316. Mauld Visit of Cheshire 1303. Maud Close Rolls 1314. Maude English Register of Godstow Nunnery, c. 1450 (E.E.T.S. 129-30) 1450, Lincs 1451, The Coventry Leet Book 1486. Molde, Moolde English Register of Godstow Nunnery, c. 1450 (E.E.T.S. 129-30) 1450. Mawt Lincs 1455. Mawde Chester 1562.