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