FLORENCE OSBORNE

Medieval form of the Latin masculine name Florentius (a derivative of florens ‘blossoming, flourishing’) and its feminine form Florentia. In the Middle Ages the name was commonly borne by men (as, for example, the historian Florence of Worcester), but it is now exclusively a girl's name. This was revived in the second half of the 19th century, being given in honour of Florence Nightingale (1820–1910), the founder of modern nursing, who organized a group of nurses to serve in the Crimean War. She herself received the name because she was born in the Italian city of Florence (Latin Florentia, Italian Firenze).

English: from the Old Norse personal name Ásbjorn, composed of the elements ás ‘god’ + björn ‘bear’. This was established in England before the Conquest, in the late Old English form Ōsbern, and was later reinforced by Norman Osbern. The surname Osborne has also been widely established in Ireland since the 16th century.