Is Polly short for Margaret?

Question

I am in to genealogy and am wanting to clarify names entered in old census returns

Answer 1

I am into genealogy also and have come across quite a few Polly's and Nellie's in my search.
My research lead me to the conclusion that Polly is in fact a diminutive of Mary and that Nellie is a diminutive of Helen or Ellen.
Don't know where people have got Margaret from?

Answer 2

I don't know about Polly, but Peggy definitely is, so Polly could well be. The older census returns often contain mis-transcriptions that can confuse the genealogist. You might find it helpful (if you've time) to take a course on deciphering antique handwriting - paleology -I've found that very helpful with documents more than a century old.

I've just googled the two names and it seems that Polly is very occasionally used as a dimunitive of Margaret, but is more commonly a truncation of the name Pollyanna or an affectionate nickname for people called Mary.

Answer 3

I knew of a few cases the place a Paula gets called Polly whilst they're youthful and that call sticks to them for the remainder of their existence. in the event that they're via delivery Polly it may desire to be derived from Pollyanna.

Answer 4

No. Polyanna or Polly not shortened

Margaret is sometimes : Meg, Maggie, Peg

Answer 5

Usually, the nickname for Margaret is Meg or Peggy (Peg) or Marge (Margie).

Answer 6

It can be - as can Maggie, Molly, Meg, Peg and Peggy

Answer 7

no...and i should know..my name is margaret..polly is another name for pauline

Answer 8

Gee, not that I am aware of, not sure what its short for. Sorry not much help.