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