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