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. |
