Genealogy Chat

I have received a letter from my Gran today with all sorts of info in it with regards to our family and as there was so much info, I had to phone her to work out who was who, as it wasn't very clear. During this conversation my Gran was coming out with names and I had no idea who she meant, so I asked her. My Gran's Mum was called Sarah Ellen, but was known as "Nellie" (presumably from Ellen) and her Auntie was called Sarah but was known as "Sally" - apparently this was quite common. Then there is John which becomes "Jack" (but I think you will already know this one as it is still the case today). There was also her husband's wife who was called Lettica, but was known as Lettuce!!! So, if you have any Ellen's, Sarah's or Lettica's but can only find Nelly, Sally or Lettuce - now you know why!! I am sure this will either fill you with joy or confuse you even more but.... I am just passing it on in case it comes in handy to any of you. If you think this is bad, just be grateful you haven't just discovered that your Great Grandad was one of TWENTY ONE kids - as I have today!!!!

I looked for my grt grandmother for ages as she was know as Sally, my dad said she was named Sarah(She had looked after him when he was little)When I found the family on the 1901 census she was down as Mary Ann, I was able to get the marriage and birth cert and sure enough she was Mary Ann how you get sally from that I dont know, my grandmother her daughter was Martha but everyone called her Pat

Hi Anlison and Andrea I have found strange goings on with names too. A distant aunt was know as Sally but on the 1881 census she was listed as Saray (which through the years through other family members has become Sarah!) Also my great great grandmother was Annie Maria but known as Nance. Why are things never simple - would be much easier!

Sarah/ Sally is quite well known I think. I have a Helen who became Ellen. The book in the library on first names gives for Helen:- Eileen, Elaine, Eleanor, Elen, Elena, Elinor, Ellen, Ella, Helena,Nell, Ilona, Helene. So plenty to choose from. It seems if they didn't like their name they just changed it! Ann Glos

Oh yes - and the Peggys who were Marjories, the Mollies who were Marys, the Tesses and the Terries who were Theresas...let alone the Raymonds who were Alfreds and the Graces who are Jodies! Isn't Lettica spelt Letitia? (lovely name)

To complicate matters more. I know someone called Martine which derives from her first two names MARgaret chrisTINE

I bet all our rellies that have already passed on are sitting up there in hysterics, laughing at us lot trying to find them with all these name changes!!