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