Genealogy Chat

Hi If someone was called Polly on a census, could this be their real name or an abbreviation for another name. Any ideas George

Hi Georgina, My dad always thought his uncle Joe's wife was called Polly but when we found their grave her name was actually Mary Ann. Tracey, Bolton

I was also told Polly was nickname for Mary Shelli

My grandmother's name was Mary but she was always known as Polly - no idea why! She didn't know why either. She was born in 1892.

as a variation, my 'Mary Ann' was known throughout life as 'Dolly' (b 1892)

Hi Georgina I had the same problem and after much searching for both Mary and Polly I have found that she was actually registered as Polly. Not much help I/m afraid! Lauren

Hi I had this trouble a while back, hubby's GGrandmother was always called Polly but have since found that it was short for her second name Mary. Her first name was Ethel and as 1st child was also called Ethel, she used her second name Mary and it was changed to Polly. It may be worth looking for Mary as a second name? Karen

Just to add to the confusion for you, my husband's mother is called Pauline, but everyone calls her Poll or Polly. We also used to call my Auntie Pauline, Auntie Poll so...that is another possibility for you!

My great-gran was also known as Polly, but her given name was Mary Ann

Polly could also be a shortening of the name Polyanna. There are many different speelings of this name. I think this should be a lesson to us all for the next census. Put your birth name down to make it easier.

So Basically her name could be Polly, Pauline, Mary, Mary Ann. George

My husband had an Aunt Muriel who was always known as Polly.

Georgina Thought it might be worth mentioning that I've just been transcribing a page of 1898 births for FreeBMD, and one of the names registered was 'Polley'! Good Luck Janet Northamptonshire