CATHARINE.  A variant form of Greek Kathariné (q.v.), meaning "pure." (History of Christian Names, Yonge, 1884).  Usage: America, Canada, Denmark, England, Great Britain, Norway, Scotland.
    Catharine Morris Cox Miles (d. 1984), was an American psychologist specializing in intelligence and genius.  Catharine Parr Traill (d. 1899), was an English-Canadian author.  Catharine Elisabeth Frydendahl (d. 1831), was a Danish opera singer and prima donna. (Wiki)

To brand St. Catharine's tresses.  To live a virgin.  "Thou art too fair to be left to braid St. Catharine's tresses." Longfellow Evangeline. (The Imperial Dictionary of the English Language, Ogilvie, 1885)

Catharine Theot (1725-1795).  A visionary born at Avranches, who gave herself out to be (like Joanna Southcott) the mother of God, and changed her name Theot into Theos (God).  She preached in Paris in 1794, at the very time that the worship of the Supreme Being was instituted, and declared that Robespierre was the forerunner of the WORD.  The Comité de la Sûreté Génerale had her arrested, and she was guillotined.  Catharine Theot was called by Dom Gerle "la mère de dieu," and Catharine called Robespierre "her well-beloved son and chief prophet." (Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, Brewer, 1900)