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Name Variations
Have you ever found yourself searching relentlessly for a former slave ancestor whose name was Kiah, Riahs, Cresy, Fronie, or Vergie? Or found so many variations on a common name that it made your head spin? This is a problem not so unique to veteran genealogists, but to the beginner this can be the most demoralizing aspect of their initial family history search. Below we have provided a list of popular surnames and their commonly used variations.
Untying the Gordian knot of Civil War Era African American Research.
MALE
Name Variation
Abe, Abram Abraham
Alec, Alex Alexander
Arch, Archie Archibald
Augie August
Bart Bartholomew
Bat Bartholomew
Bert Albert, Cuthbert
Bill, Billy William
Bob, Bobby Robert
Cager Micajah
Chan Chauncey
Chris Christopher
Chuck Charles
Con Cornelius
Cuddy Cuthbert
Cy Cyrus
Dick Richard
Dirch Derrick
Dob, Dobbin Robert
Dyer Obediah
Eben Ebenezer
Ed, Eddie Edward, Edmund
Fayette Lafayette
Finney Phineas
Frank Francis
Fred Frederick
Gene Eugene
Gus August
Hal Harold, Henry
Ham Hamilton
Hank Henry
Harry Henry, Harold
Hiley Hiram
Ike Isaac
Jack Jackson, John
Jake Jacob
Jed Jedediah
Jeremy Jeremiah
Jerry Gerald, Jeremiah
Jude Judah
Judy Judah
Kiah Hezekiah
Kit Christopher
Lazar Eleazer
Larry Lawrence
Lou, Louie Louis
Nat, Nate Nathaniel
Ned Edwin, Edward
Obed Obediah
Ollie Oliver
Paddy Patrick
Pat Patrick
Quill Aquilla
Riah Zachariah
Rias Zachariah
Rich Richard
Rick Richard
Rob Robert
Rye Zachariah
Sandy Alexander
Tad Thaddeus
Ted, Teddy Theodore
Theo Theophilus
Tony Anthony
Virg Virgil
Zack Zachariah
Zander Alexander
Will, Willie, Willy William
FEMALE
Name Variation
Abigail Abbie
Abbie Abigail, Tabitha
Addie, Addy Adelaide, Adeline
Allie Alice
Annie Ann, Anna
Bab(s), Babbie Barbara
Becca Rebecca
Becky Rebecca
Bede Obedience
Bess, Bessie Elizabeth
Beth Elizabeth
Betsey Elizabeth
Betty Bethia, Elizabeth
Biddy Brigid
Biddie Bridget
Caddie Caroline
Callie Caroline
Carrie Caroline
Cassie Cassandra
Cindy Lucinda
Clara Clarinda
Clemmie Clementine
Con, Connie Constance
Crece, Crese Lucretia
Crecy Lucretia
Debby Deborah
Delia Adelia, Bedelia
Delphia Philadelphia
Dolly Dorothy
Dosia Theodosia
Dot Dorothy
Edie Edith
Eliza Elizabeth
Ellen Eleanor, Elinamifia
Elly Eleanore, Ellen
Elsie Alice,Eleanor
Emmy Emily, Emeline
Essie Esther, Hester
Etta Henrietta, Louetta
Fanny Frances
Flora Florence
Flossie Florence
Frankie Frances
Fronie Sophronia
Gen Genevieve
Gerty Gertrude
Ginny Virginia
Gussie Augusta
Hatty Harriet
Hepsy Hepsibah
Hermie Hermione
Hetty Henrietta
Jenny Jane, Janet
Genevieve Virginia
Judy Judith
Julie Julia
Kate Katherine
Kay Cathleen
Kersty Christina
Kitty Katherine
Kizzie Kesiah
Lena Angelina, Magdalen
Letty Letitia
Libbie Elizabeth
Livy Olive, Olivia
Liza Adeliza, Elizabeth
Liz, Lizzie Elizabeth
Lollie Charlotte
Lottie Charlotte
Lou Louetta, Louisa
Lucy Lucinda, Luciana
Madge Marjory
Maggie Margaret
Mallie Malvina
Mamie Mary
Manda, Mandy Amanda
Margie Margaret
Mattie Martha
Mellie Melanie, Melinda
Meg Margaret
Millie Mellicent, Mildred
Mima Jemima
Mimi Mary
Mina Wilhelmina
minnie Wilhelmina
Missy Melissa
Myra Elmira
Mollie Mary
Nan Ann, Anna , Ellen
Nancy Ann, Anna, Agnes
Nannie Nancy, Anna
Nell Helen
Nellie Cornelia, Ellen
Nettie Antoinette
Neva Genevieve
Nonie Joan
Nora Honora, Leonora
Patsy Martha
Patty Patience, patricia
Peggy Margaret
Penny Penelope
Phil Philomena
Polly Mary
Pru, Prue Prudence
Puss Prudence,
Reenie Irene, Maureen
Rena Irene, Sabrina
Retta Loretta
Rilla Marilla
Rita Marguerite
Sally Sarah
Silla Priscilla
Sissie Cecily, Cecilia
Sophie Sophia, Sophronia
Sukey Susan, Susannah
Tabby Tabitha
Tennie Tennessee
Tess Theresa
Thea Althea, Theodosia
Thenie Parthenia
Tilly Matilda
Tina Christina
Torie Victoria
Trudy Gertrude
Vergie Virginia
Viney Lavinia,Louvina,
Winnie Winifred, Edwina
Courtesy of The Genealogy Encyclopedia
When looking for slave names in family groupings in advertisements, wills and estates and all other pre—civil records it is good to know all the variations of all the most common names. This aids in the completion of a more thorough search. You won’t want to waste your time, especially if you are researching somewhere like the National Archives where there are time limits on usage and/or require a long length of time to travel. Entries are mixed between female and male names. From the Genealogy Encyclopedia.