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Polly

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Elizabeth

Elizabeth Report 26 Jul 2011 16:04

Does anyone know if Polly was a common shortened version of a Christian name in the late 1860s? One of my grandmother's sisters was known as Polly but the only sisters I have found on the family tree are Mary, Emily and Elizabeth. Could ones of those have been shortened to Polly?
They are in the Keene family from the Coventry / Birmingham / Liverpool area if anyoone knows of them.
Thanks
Liz

Potty

Potty Report 26 Jul 2011 16:10

Probably Mary.

Rambling

Rambling Report 26 Jul 2011 16:11

I have an Elizabeth known as Polly, about that period :-)

Researching:

Janet

Janet Report 26 Jul 2011 16:16

and I have a Mary Ann who was known as Aunty Polly :-D
she was born about 1867
Jan

Researching:
Campbell, Page ,Phippen, Alder, Rivett, Beinder, Mandy and Gainsbury,

InspectorGreenPen

InspectorGreenPen Report 26 Jul 2011 16:26

Molly, Margaret, Paula or Pauline are others it has been used as a pet name for.

Annx

Annx Report 26 Jul 2011 19:01

I have a Mary who was called Polly too.

Researching:
Staffordshire, Warwickshire

mgnv

mgnv Report 26 Jul 2011 19:17

Mary

Although this site emphasizes Scottish usage, it's still interesting and useful:
http://www.whatsinaname.net/

Suzanne

Suzanne Report 26 Jul 2011 21:50

my g great grandmother was baptised mary ann and calledpolly for most of her life,x :-D

Researching:
price,lambert,goodlass,mcdonald

MargaretM

MargaretM Report 26 Jul 2011 22:13

I agree with Mary or Mary Ann but not Margaret. Peggy was used for Margaret.

Researching:
Great grandmother Dorothy Bean nee Abbott (1858-1908)

KathleenBell

KathleenBell Report 26 Jul 2011 22:18

I'd say mostly a pet name for Mary, and I agree with Margee that Peggy is a more usual pet name for Margaret.

Kath. x

Flick

Flick Report 26 Jul 2011 22:42

The USUAL diminutives are............

Polly for Mary
Peggy for Margaret
Dolly for Doris
Nellie for Ellen
Hetty for Henrietta
Hattie for Harriet

Elizabeth

Elizabeth Report 27 Jul 2011 09:10

Thanks everyone, I think it must have been Mary, that would fit with the other family names.

I've just started researching again after a long break and already it's become addictive, I feel like an amateur detective :-)

Nannylicious

Nannylicious Report 28 Jul 2011 01:00

Just to add to Flick's list, Dolly was also used for Dorothy as well as Doris. Dot was also another version of Dorothy.

Trish Devon

Trish Devon Report 28 Jul 2011 13:07

Just to add a little confusion to this thread,
my hubby calls our youngest daughter Polly,
because she chats a lots,Polly Parrot,
she has been known as Polly for a number of years now,
but her name is Lisa. :-S
:-D :-D :-D

Researching:
Webber,Strong. ( Watchet,Minehead,Somerset)Drake,(Plymouth Devon)