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