Madder Family History

From Middle English mader, madour, and mather, reduced forms of Middle English maderer, maderour, and matherer refer to a ‘seller of madder’ or a ‘dyer who used madder’. Compare Rob. Madster 1332 in Assize Rolls (Lancs), whose name appears to be a similarly reduced form of the variant maderster, with the suffix -ster substituted for -er, as in Webster for Webber.

Mader or mather (Old English mædere, Old Scandinavian maðra) was the name for the plant Rubia tinctorum, which was used medicinally and for making red dye. This plant was integral to the dyeing process, as it produced a vibrant red hue, which was highly sought after in historical textile production.

The term mader was also used to refer to red dye derived from other sources, indicating a broader application beyond just the madder plant. As the use of the term evolved, it encompassed various methods of dyeing fabrics red.

The surname associated with this profession is more commonly found as Mather in post-medieval records, illustrating the transformation of occupational names over time.

This linguistic evolution reflects changes in trade practices and the ways in which particular occupations were named in society, showing how language can adapt to cultural and economic shifts.