Is Paddy short for anything?
Yes. Paddy is a nickname in most old records, and it usually points to Patrick. No other formal name claims it in the records we track. Expect it in Irish, American, and British records, mostly 1700s-1900s. A record that says Paddy and a record that says Patrick can easily be the same person, so search both names before you rule anyone out.
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The finder above is preloaded with this name. Search any other nickname or formal name to trace a variant, or open the full nickname finder.
FAQs
Is Paddy a nickname?+
In old records, almost always - it stands for Patrick. Treat it as a pointer to a formal name until the documents prove otherwise.
Is Paddy a real name on its own?+
It mostly rode on Patrick in the eras we track (1700s-1900s). If your ancestor's papers only ever say Paddy, record it as written and keep Patrick as a candidate.
How does this nickname lookup work?+
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