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