Genealogy Chat

I have - in the same family - an Eliza and a Bessy/Betsy

I was wondering what they could be short for as they could both potentially be Elizabeth, but can't be.


christine

They can be names in their own right.

Find their births. That will tell you.

Rose

They can both be shortenings for Elizabeth but are also names in their own right.

It has been known for parents to call one daughter Eliza and another Elizabeth.

It sounds odd to us but they didn't seem to think so a few generations ago.

I have one ancestor who had two sons both called Thomas but by different fathers. Both lived to adulthood so it wasn't a case of keep reusing the same name till one survived.

Sue

well I would think they are all short for Elizabeth - what makes you think they can't be??

I have an Elizabeth and Eliza who are sisters

My father was John - so was one of his half-brothers. At the time my nan married my granddad (John senior) she had no idea that he already had 5 children by a previous wife! She thought he only had one daughter. I assume he couldn't very well say "Don't call the lad John ... "

These things must have happened quite a lot!!!

Jill

Thanks all for your replies

Portland Rose - I am having difficulty tracing birth that's why I asked for help!

LindyLoo2 - I was thinking that they wouldn't have named 2 Elizabeth at the same time - but who knows LOL

Christine

My lot had a thing about 'E's', I have five sisters Emily, Emma, Esther, Elizabeth and Eliza

Christine,

Post their details so we can look.

Rose

Christine,

In my experience Eliza is always a name in its own right whereas Betsy is short for Elizabeth. As others have said, you often find sisters called Eliza and Elizabeth.

Peter

Bessie/Bessy is also a name. Just look at FreeBMD for all the girls registered with that name.

Rose

How about Isobel or Isabella for Bessy/Betsy.

Families are pain with their nicknames aren't they?
I didn't know my great aunt Nell was really named Alice until her funeral!!!
Her husband was Len and when they started courting, the family said they were like 2 peas in a pod and jokingly called her Nel (Len backwards) and it stuck!!

GG aunt Bella was Beatrice
My grandad Sidney was really Gifford, his brothers Frederick and Herbert were Ivan and Sylvanus - It's almost a conspiracy - change names between censuses and be buried using your false names - then watch as you descendants spend 3 years searching for you!!!

Having said that, my daughter's boyfriends mum is Dina - not her real name - apparently she whined so much as a small child her dad nicknamed her 'Dina whiner'. LOL

maggie

maggie

Thanks again for the input

I'll have another look then post if I can't find them

many thanks

christine