Is Henry a Harry.

[p.risboy]

Whilst searching the census for rellies, I came across a name change. Same family in 3 census but Henry became Harry in a later years.

Also, would Ezekiak be shortened to Ezra.

Are these variations of the same name.

Steve.

 

[JMR]

Hi Steve,

I have a couple of rellies who were baptised Henry and called Harry, but I don't have anyone as flash as an Ezekiak, however I think it entirely likely that it would be shortened by family and friends.

I have Mary Hannah's and Mary Ann's in my tree that are called Polly, how did that happen? I have a son whose registered name is Ben and yet his friends all call him Benjamin, which is no where on his birth certificate. My other son Adam is called Ader by siblings and friends. What is worse for future generations is my daughter Rebekah calls herself Bec and she also has a different surname than her children, as she kept her maiden name. What census searching confusion there!!!

I think we're the lucky ones really, our rellies were far more predictable than the generations that followed!! :biggrin:

Cheers,
Jill

 

[p.risboy]

Hi Steve,

I have a couple of rellies who were baptised Henry and called Harry, but I don't have anyone as flash as an Ezekiak, however I think it entirely likely that it would be shortened by family and friends.

I have Mary Hannah's and Mary Ann's in my tree that are called Polly, how did that happen? I have a son whose registered name is Ben and yet his friends all call him Benjamin, which is no where on his birth certificate. My other son Adam is called Ader by siblings and friends. What is worse for future generations is my daughter Rebekah calls herself Bec and she also has a different surname than her children, as she kept her maiden name. What census searching confusion there!!!

I think we're the lucky ones really, our rellies were far more predictable than the generations that followed!! :biggrin:

Cheers,
Jill

I named one of my daughters Liza, she bites peoples heads of if they call her Lisa (Leesa).:biggrin: :biggrin:

Steve.

 

[benny1982]

Hi

Yes Henry can be called Harry. I have an ancestor called Henry Stock who was named as Harry in the 1891 census.

Ben

 

[MartynWilson99]

Apparently "Harry" is a corruption of the French "Henri": Shakespeare has Henry V urging his men to cry "God for England, Harry and St George", and of course the second-in-line to the throne in Prince Henry rather than Harry.

Researching my family I have turned up many such oddities: there seems to be a tradition of calling people by their second forenames, which makes BMD and census searching really difficult. I've also come across four people who were known by other names entirely: my uncle Jack was really Glynne E - work that one out!

A useful book (which I think might be out of print, but you might pick up in a second-hand bookshop) is Brewer's Names. However, there's nothing about shortening Ezekiak to Ezra, although Ezekiel and Ezra are both Old Testament prophets (for what it's worth).