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ETYMOLOGY: Meaning of Clarissa:

1. Latin and Greek: brilliant, bright
2. Italian and Spanish: clear, illustrious
3. English: "Clarissa" variation of Clair; shinning, famous, gentle

ORIGIN & HISTORY:

The name Clarissa can be traced back to England, having been found recorded in some medieval documents. This name is found in all English speaking countries. St. Clarissa is celebrated on "Feast Day" every August 17th by the Roman Catholic Church.

POPULARITY:

The name Clarissa ranked 468th for the year 2006 in the United States. The name ranked 848th in the United States in the 1940's.
In Belgium it ranked 1,202 in 2005 and in Canada the name came in at 362nd in 1999.

FASCINATING FACTS:

St. Clarissa is the patron saint of television. This is because she always attended Mass and when she was on her deathbed, and could not attend, she said "God provided the Mass by projecting it on the wall" and thus, the television was shortly invented making her the patron saint of the new invention, which now does bring the Mass to shut-ins.

Clarissa Harlowe 1821-1912: Who was she? Known to the world as "Clara Barton", the famous teacher, humanitarian and nurse during the great American Civil War. She is rightly a heroine in history for her efforts during the Civil War and afterward. In 1862 she was a freelance nurse tending the sick and wounded of the Army of the Potomac. She was given the nickname "Angel of the Battlefield" for all her hard work and dedication in nursing and caring for the soldiers.

FAMOUS PERSONS:

Clarissa Foster (unknown DOB): Husband was the inventor of a much-needed item during the prairie days of 1843. His invention? Barbed-wire. Invaluable to ranchers and settlers.

Clarissa Gear Hobbs 1829-1923: Dedicated US Civil War nurse. Her grandfather founded Galens , Illinois in 1824. His claim to fame? He melted down pewter to make bullets to support the war efforts against the British in the War of 1812.

Clarissa Spencer-Churchill Eden 1920- Widow of Sir Anthony Eden and Countess of Avon, she wrote her memoir subtitled "From Churchill to Eden" under the name Clarissa Eden. Her famous uncle? Winston Churchill, who held the post of prime minister of England during WW2.

Clarissa Hudson (unknown DOB) Native American artist and fabric-weaver in Alaska. She is helping to restore to Native American Indian culture, the arts of their past history by teaching through painting and fabric weaving.

Clarissa Hyman - (unknown DOB) Award-winning, freelance writer specializing in food and travel.

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