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Nancy (F)>

Nancy (female)

Synonym(s):Agnes (F)
Variants:Nance (F)
Diminutive(s):Nan (F)
Pet Name(s):Nance (F)
Pet Name for:Ann (F) Anne (F) Florance (F)
   
Source(s): The Oxford Names Companion, OUP
"Scottish Forenames" - Donald Whyte, FGH, FSG
Personal communications [EP; JL3]
Notes:

Origin uncertain. In England Nancy has been a pet name for Ann since the 18th century [see also Nan] but more recently has been a given name in its own right.

In Scotland Nancy has long been used synonymously with Agnes and one correspondent [EP] records this interchangeability in Salem, Massachusetts, USA towards the end of the 18th century.

A personal correspondent [JL3] has noted that the phonetic spelling of Florence in Yorkshire, England as Florance has given rise to the use of Nancy as a pet name for the latter variant.