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