Is Nan short for anything?
Yes. Nan is a nickname in most old records, and it usually points to Ann. Less often it stands in for Anne, Nancy, and Hannah, among others. Expect it in American and British records, mostly 1600s-1900s. A record that says Nan and a record that says Ann can easily be the same person, so search both names before you rule anyone out.
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FAQs
Is Nan a nickname?+
In old records, almost always - it stands for Ann or Anne. Treat it as a pointer to a formal name until the documents prove otherwise.
Is Nan a real name on its own?+
It mostly rode on Ann in the eras we track (1600s-1900s). If your ancestor's papers only ever say Nan, record it as written and keep Ann as a candidate.
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