DIY SOS from Blackburn

[Pennines]

Hotice -- my Mum was Doris! She was Dot.

[Viktoria]

We had an “ auntie” Dorothy but known as Dot.
Ellens  were usually  Nellie,
Margarets Maggie  or Peggy,
Gertrudes Gertie,etc.
Never understood why Harold was Hadge.
Dereks were Deks.
Lots of  Lizzies ,Lizas etc.
Sarahs often known Sally .
We had a new Curate at church many years ago and he never knew who was
who as we spoke of our friends by their maiden names ,which reminds me of the old Lancashire explanation when maiden names were used “ as was”—- then their married name.
Mary Jones as was ,
Viktoria

[BumbleB]

Mary = Polly

[Pennines]

I could NEVER understand Mary being Polly or Margaret being Peggy -- why?

When I think back, only one of my many aunts and uncles were known by their correct given name and that was an Uncle John -- however I have a cousin John - known as Jack. (John to Jack has never made sense either).

All adds to the colour of life I suppose - and gives us a headache when searching census records!

[Hotice56]

well Dolly married Jack ( Doris and John) just to confuse me even more !!
And thanks Bumblebee I have a great aunt Polly but now I realise that she is likely to be my great nans sister Mary

[Pennines]

Really good news Hotice, that you have inadvertantly had a problem solved.

You probably won't forget that odd nickname now,

[BumbleB]

Have to admit that I only know about Polly being Mary because I used to visit Aunty Polly when I was a child, and then when I worked on family history I discovered that she was really Mary.

Glad to have helped 

[Pennines]

BumbleB,

I didn't know Polly was Mary until I started family history -- nor did I know about Peggy being Margaret.

It's caused me to remember that 2 sisters lived near us when I was a child -- they were known as 'Little Polly' and 'Little Molly'. Just imagine -- there might have been another sister somewhere 'Little Dolly' --- then we would have had Polly, Molly and Dolly!

[rosie99]

Mary is also Molly, my Lancashire born MIL was