Sue, I don't think it was limited to females, I've had several males from the early to mid-1800's with the name of Alsy or Alsa. I imagine that Alcy or Alcey, etc, could also have been a nickname for Alice, if it was a female, however, and you're probably right about that. Deloris ----- Original Message ----- From: "sue ashby" <sueashby@earthlink.net> To: <ncwake@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, December 02, 2007 10:45 AM Subject: Re: [NCWAKE] The name Alcey > Hi all, > Alcey, Alcy, Alsey, is usually a female name. I have it quite often in > my family. Never have been able to truly, verify where it comes from and > if it is a nickname. > Some have said it is a version of Alice. But, of course, in this case it > wouldn't be. > I would think that the male version would be a nickname or shortening > of 'Alcendor' or Allison?. There is a Dutch name 'Altje' that is > pronounced similarly to Alcey and I've wondered if that was it. "Altje" > is the feminine. > If anyone ever pins this down, please post it, I would love to know.. > Sue > > Sharon Gable wrote: > >>I don't think it's a nickname, I think it's a given name. I've seen it >>in other counties. >> >>"Nicknames Past and Present" by Christine Rose lists the nickname for >>Alexander as Al, Alex, Eleck, Sandy and Zandy. Unfortunately her 4th >>edition (the one I have) does not have a cross index of nicknames. >> >>Sharon Gable >>Descendant of William Henry Jones of Wake County >> >>-----Original Message----- >>From: ncwake-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:ncwake-bounces@rootsweb.com] >>On Behalf Of W. Kirkland >>Sent: Sunday, December 02, 2007 11:10 AM >>To: ncwake@rootsweb.com >>Subject: [NCWAKE] The name Alcey >> >>Could someone tell me if the name Alcey (& various spellings) is a real >>name, or is it a nickname, maybe for Alexander? I know Sandy is one >>nickname for Alexander, but there are probably others. One Alcey >>Freeman, younger brother to my ancestor Needham Freeman of Wake, was in >>Wake Co. until he left for SC shortly after the early 1800s. Thanks. >> >>Wilma K. >>