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