Daily AncestorMadge
Madge was a common nickname for Margaret or Margery in American records of the 1700s and 1800s.
Madge served for both Margaret and Margery. Charlotte Yonge lists it among the English forms of Margaret, alongside Margery, which was also a separate name.
If a search for Margaret finds nothing, try Madge, and the reverse. Treat a match as a lead and confirm it with age, birthplace and family members. Because Madge served for more than one name, see which full name the same woman carries in other records.
As seen in a recordWill of her father, proved 1836; her baptism reads Margaret
Item, I give to my daughter Madge Ruggles my feather bed and bedstead
Sources
How to cite this page
Daily Ancestor. "Madge." Dictionary of Old Record Words. https://dailyancestor.com/dictionary/nicknames/madge. Last checked 2026-10-15.