Two instances of sisters named Eliza and Elizabeth, both living at the same time

Question

and this is why I rarely assume an earlier namesake sibling actually died if I haven't found a death record.....

Elizabeth White: https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/White-62016

Eliza White: https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/White-73055

Elizabeth Cook: https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Cook-15641

Eliza Cook: https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Cook-22236 (OK actually Eliza Jane)

I also have a family somewhere in my tree that thought Maria and Mary were sufficiently different names for their daughters.

Comments

Common in families I work with, too.

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I have Sarah Jane Richards 1836-1902, and her sister Sarah Richards 1838-1893 both daughters of Silas and Hannah, on various censuses they are shown as Jane and Sarah, their baptism records give their full names.

It has caused much confusion among researchers into this family's history.

Answer 1

Elizabeth and Eliza can be two different names.  Eliza is sometimes - but not always - a diminutive of Elizabeth.  Like Nancy and Ann - Nancy can be a diminutive of Ann, or a completely separate person.

Comments

I agree with Ros, Mark. Whilst Eliza can be a diminutive of Elizabeth it is often used as a separate name. I have encountered situations of both an Eliza and an Elizabeth in a family, alive simultaneously.  Jane and Janet is a similar situation.

Answer 2

IIRC, Maria was formerly pronounced the same as the name Mariah (Muh-rye-uh as in Mariah Carey), and only in the past century or so have English-speakers switched to using the Spanish/Italian pronunciation of Maria as "Ma-ree-ah". When you realize that, it makes more sense that Mary and Maria might sound distinct enough to some parents.

Comments

Good point, I remember older folks pronouncing "Maria" as "Ma-rye-ah" and have found instances of sisters, Mary and Maria in my research.