Eustacia

Eustacia is the feminine form of Eustace, derived through Latin Eustachius from the Greek name Eustakhios, built from the elements eu, meaning good or well, and stakhys, meaning ear of grain, together conveying a sense of fruitfulness or good harvest. The name entered English usage largely through the medieval veneration of Saint Eustace, a Roman martyr whose legend was widely circulated in the Middle Ages. Eustacia gained some literary prominence through Thomas Hardy's novel The Return of the Native, in which Eustacia Vye is the passionate, restless heroine. Related forms include Eustace, Eustache, and Eustakio.