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Name Variations

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Rebecca

Rebecca Report 18 Sep 2006 16:55

Hi can anyone help ? I have a relative - Janet Mather b 1840, who i have traced on all of the registrations of her 10 children, husbands death registration but on a couple of her childrens death registrations her forename has changed to Agnes or Jessie. Other information on the registrations leads me to conclude that i have the right document (spouse name referenced to marriage certificate & Parents, age at death, fathers name and profession, her maiden name) Coincidence would be too huge if it wasn't the right information. How do i find out if these are common abbreviations or reasons for name change ? Any opinions gratefully received !! Becky

Rachel

Rachel Report 18 Sep 2006 16:59

Have you thought about middle names, I would'nt have thought that Agnes would be an abreviation of Janet. Jessie I could about stretch to. The other possiblility is that they were just knicknames. I know it's not much help - but people did tend to use what ever name they wanted. As long as you're happy all the other info fits then I should be too worried. R

MarionfromScotland

MarionfromScotland Report 18 Sep 2006 18:03

Hi Janet to Jessie is common, dont know about Agnes though. Middle name maybe? Marion

Kate

Kate Report 18 Sep 2006 18:07

Becky, when you say 'on her children's death registrations', did they die as children, or as adults? Because if you're talking about adult children, then it is possible that whoever registered their deaths just got in a muddle, but if they died as infants and she registered their deaths herself, you would expect her to know her own name! (Jessie was often short for Janet, as Marion says, but Agnes I think is a variation of Ann) Kate.

hooch

hooch Report 18 Sep 2006 18:41

Hi Rebecca this is sooooo common (well in my family it is lol) My dads called Frederick but everone calls him Harry!!!!!!!!! (i aint got a clue why lol) Finding some of my rellies has been a nightmare cus they change thier names grrrr my g granddad Alonzo Walter swapped his names round then dropped the alonzo altogether. My 2 Aunties I always knew em as Auntie Betty & Auntie Jean thier names were actually Frances & Ivy!!!!!!!!!!!!! MY dad calls my mum Judy her names Mary !!!!!!!!! starange lot lol