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ArchivesRe: Molly and Mary??
in reply to a message by Abbye (Logan)
See here, under the Others section:
http://www.behindthename.com/glossary/view/diminutive
~ Ivayla,
skillfully disguised as a responsible adult
http://www.behindthename.com/glossary/view/diminutive
~ Ivayla,
skillfully disguised as a responsible adult
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Sorry. This was meant to be a response to the original question.
In medieval times there wern't that many first names and few if any surnames. A village could have dozens of Marys, Margarets, Johns, and Roberts. Nns became the only way to tell people apart so they got pretty loose with the derivations.
Robert --> Rob --> Hob --> Dob
Margaret --> Meg --> Peg --> Peggy
Mary --> Molly --> Polly
Edward --> Ed --> Ted --> Ned
John --> Jack or Jenkin ("-kin" means little)
Walter --> Wat
Anne --> Nan --> Nancy
This doesn't explain exactly how Mary turns into Molly. Just put it down to creativity and illiteracy. :-)
In medieval times there wern't that many first names and few if any surnames. A village could have dozens of Marys, Margarets, Johns, and Roberts. Nns became the only way to tell people apart so they got pretty loose with the derivations.
Robert --> Rob --> Hob --> Dob
Margaret --> Meg --> Peg --> Peggy
Mary --> Molly --> Polly
Edward --> Ed --> Ted --> Ned
John --> Jack or Jenkin ("-kin" means little)
Walter --> Wat
Anne --> Nan --> Nancy
This doesn't explain exactly how Mary turns into Molly. Just put it down to creativity and illiteracy. :-)
This message was edited 3/24/2008, 1:49 PM
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