Nicknames vs. Real Names

Nicknames are a funny thing. It is great when you are a kid, but when the nickname sticks to you into adulthood, it gets to be confusing-especially for the family genealogist. As genealogists we deal with the real, given names of ancestors. For example my maternal great grandfather Wilton’s nickname was Dottie. I was speaking with an elderly relative on the phone that referred to Uncle Wilton as Uncle Dottie. I asked her who she was referring to. She said Wilton, but that she had always known him as Uncle Dottie. I asked her why and she began to tell me the story behind his nickname.

 Grandma Maggie, Wilton’s mother, made him an Easter suit with dotted fabric when he was 3 or 4 years old.  Paul and Jodie, Wilton’s brothers, teased him and nicknamed him Dottie. That nickname followed Wilton all the way into adulthood.

As I said, nicknames can be a funny thing when you are a kid, but not into adulthood. PLEASE DO NOT GIVE THE FAMILY GENEALOGIST ANY MORE CONFUSION!!!! USE REAL NAMES NOT NICKNAMES.