Is Abe short for anything?
Yes. Abe is a nickname in most old records, and it usually points to Abraham. Less often it stands in for Abram, Abel, and Abiel. Expect it in American and British records, mostly 1700s-1900s. A record that says Abe and a record that says Abraham can easily be the same person, so search both names before you rule anyone out.
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FAQs
Is Abe a nickname?+
In old records, almost always - it stands for Abraham or Abram. Treat it as a pointer to a formal name until the documents prove otherwise.
Is Abe a real name on its own?+
It mostly rode on Abraham in the eras we track (1700s-1900s). If your ancestor's papers only ever say Abe, record it as written and keep Abraham as a candidate.
How does this nickname lookup work?+
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