Is Barney short for anything?
Yes. Barney is a nickname in most old records, and it usually points to Bernard. Less often it stands in for Barnabas and Barnaby. Expect it in American, Irish, and British records, mostly 1800s-1900s. A record that says Barney and a record that says Bernard can easily be the same person, so search both names before you rule anyone out.
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FAQs
Is Barney a nickname?+
In old records, almost always - it stands for Bernard or Barnabas. Treat it as a pointer to a formal name until the documents prove otherwise.
Is Barney a real name on its own?+
It mostly rode on Bernard in the eras we track (1800s-1900s). If your ancestor's papers only ever say Barney, record it as written and keep Bernard as a candidate.
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