Is Polly short for anything?
Yes. Polly is a nickname in most old records, and it usually points to Mary. Less often it stands in for Paulina and Pauline. Expect it in American and British records, mostly 1700s-1900s. A record that says Polly and a record that says Mary can easily be the same person, so search both names before you rule anyone out.
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FAQs
Is Polly a nickname?+
In old records, almost always - it stands for Mary or Paulina. Treat it as a pointer to a formal name until the documents prove otherwise.
Is Polly a real name on its own?+
It mostly rode on Mary in the eras we track (1700s-1900s). If your ancestor's papers only ever say Polly, record it as written and keep Mary as a candidate.
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