Catriona Swift

**Catriona Swift** is a Nevermoorian adult, wife of Dave Swift and mother of Helena, Homer, Hawthorne, and Davina Swift.

## Biography

Little is known at this time of Catriona's early life. She met Dave and married into the Swift family and they settled down in Nevermoor. Eventually they had Helena, Homer and Hawthorne.

Sometime after Helena began studying at Gorgonhowl College and before Hawthorne began the Wundrous Society trials, Davina was born. During Winter of Two, Third Age of Aristocrats, Helena was able to make it home to her family for the Christmas holidays.

## Physical Appearance

"*Cat struck [her] as a grown-up female version of Hawthorne.*"
―Morrigan on Cat's appearance[src]

Cat has blue eyes, long, curly hair and is similar to Hawthorne in appearence.

## Personality and Traits

Cat is similar to many ways to her son Hawthorne- she is boisterous with a good sense of humour. She sometimes embarrases her kids with her jokes, but also helps to bind her family together.

## Relationships

### Family

Catriona and Dave Swift have a successful marriage, the two of them have brought up four children in a loving household despite their different temperaments. All the family members love baby Dave and the family is so close it becomes uncomfortable Morrigan to be around them for more than a few hours long. Their parenting seems to involve Catriona encouraging adventure and Dave explaining the limits. All three of the older children have persued education at challenging and unorthodox schools. But, perhaps their schools are too unorthodox — how many cyclone meterologist jobs are there, more than one per year? Baby Dave has good attachment and is comfortable in Morrigan's company.

## Etymology

**Catriona** (ka-TREE-na/ka-TREE-o-na) is an Anglicisation of the name Katherine from the Irish Caitríona or Scottish Gaelic Catrìona. Katherine comes from the Greek name Αἰκατερίνη (*Aikaterine*). There is debate on the etymology of the name and, therefore, various meanings of the name. It could mean "each of the two" (Greek - ἑκάτερος (*hekateros*)); "torture" (Greek - αἰκία (*aikia*)); or "my consecration of your name" (Coptic). It also is associated with the meaning "pure" from the Greek καθαρός (*katharos*) or possibly the goddess Hecate Ἑκάτη (*Hekate*) from ἑκάς (hekas) meaning "far off".

**Swift** comes from the English surname, originally a nickname for a swift/fast runner from the Old English *swift* "swift, fleet, quick." It also can be from an Irish surname that is the Anglicized form of *Ó Fuada* "descendant of Fuada." Fuada is derived from *fuadach* which means "wind-blown, pulsating, plundering." Notable people with this surname include Jonathan Swift (essayist/satirist) and Taylor Swift (country and pop music star).

## Trivia and Behind the Scenes

* Saint Nicholas supporter (along with the rest of her family)
* Gets ugly sweaters from the Ugly Sweater Company catalog
* Possibly from the Highlands

## Appearances

* *Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow* (First mentioned)
* *Wundersmith: The Calling of Morrigan Crow* (First appearance)
* *Hollowpox: The Hunt for Morrigan Crow*

## Notes and References

1. ↑ https://www.behindthename.com/name/catriona
2. ↑ https://www.behindthename.com/name/katherine
3. ↑ https://www.behindthename.com/name/hecate
4. ↑ http://surnames.behindthename.com/name/swift/submitted
5. ↑ *Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow* Chapter 9 (*Wundrous Welcome*)
6. ↑ Every other Christmas her immediate family takes a trip to the Highlands to visit extended family. The name Catriona has roots in Scottish/Irish culture which the Highlands seem to be based off of. Dave, by contrast, is constantly compared to a viking and could have more ties to a Scandanavian-like area of the Free State, though it is possible that the Highlands are were he is from too/instead.