Is Hal short for anything?
Yes. Hal is a nickname in most old records, and it usually points to Henry. Less often it stands in for Harold and Harry. Expect it in American and British records, mostly 1500s-1900s. A record that says Hal and a record that says Henry can easily be the same person, so search both names before you rule anyone out.
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FAQs
Is Hal a nickname?+
In old records, almost always - it stands for Henry or Harold. Treat it as a pointer to a formal name until the documents prove otherwise.
Is Hal a real name on its own?+
It mostly rode on Henry in the eras we track (1500s-1900s). If your ancestor's papers only ever say Hal, record it as written and keep Henry as a candidate.
How does this nickname lookup work?+
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