Richmal Mangnall (1769-1820) was an English schoolmistress and the writer of a famous schoolbook, 'Mangnall's Questions'. This had been through 84 editions by 1857. She became the headmistress of Crofton Hall, a successful Yorkshire school, and remained so until her death.
My family were originally from Bury, Lancashire. Richmal is a common girl's name in my family. The earliest person I have found so far in my family tree with that name is the sister of my great-great grandfather. She was born in 1822 in Bury, Lancashire. My understanding is that it is originally a German derivative.
― Anonymous User 1/5/2016
6
Even though this is a very rare name, up until the 20th century, this name was primarily used in the town of Bury in Lancashire, north-western England, which is where Richmal Crompton was born.To be precise, around 84% of the 64 girls that were given this name between 1838 and 1915 in Britain, according to the FreeBMD Birth Index, were born in that town. Looking at the results from Ancestry, there are a couple of Richmals (on wide ranges of records) born in the 18th century and some of them also come from Bury. [noted -ed]
This is actually an English name? It looks and sounds so forced and fake. At least some other invented names, or names created from joining parts of separate names, have better etymology behind them, and look and sound more natural.
Who the hell created this atrocity? Until now, I've maintained (and I apologize to and for all the people named the following names) that Gay/Gaye, Lagina, Shaniqua, Happy, and Caprice/Capricia were the worst names you could bestow upon your daughter. Richmal just usurped them all. Seriously, Richard and Michael are both *masculine* names! Blending them together for a *feminine* name has to be one of the dumbest things I've ever seen/heard. And it doesn't even sound good!
― Anonymous User 12/27/2009
-2
If Michael and Richard are both masculine names, then why is Richmal feminine? It makes no sense.
― Anonymous User 12/20/2009
0
Richard and Michael are both masculine names, so how is this name feminine? It sounds hideous and made-up. Who the hell thought of this name anyway?
It doesn't sound feminine to me. It doesn't really sound masculine either. It sounds more like an old, pretentious word from the vocabulary of the British elite from a couple of hundred years ago.