Ant.

Ant. is a clerk's shortening of the given name Anthony. Busy writers cut common first names down to a few letters, often raising the last letters above the line, and the habit runs through deeds, wills, tax lists and census pages.

Expect some variety from one clerk to the next, since the same man may appear as Ant. in a deed and Anthony in a will. Other names also begin with these letters, so look for a full spelling before you settle on Anthony.