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