Daily AncestorDot
Dot was a common nickname for Dorothy in American records of the 1700s and 1800s.
Dot is a short form of Dorothy. Dot appears as a pet form of Dorothy on the Connecticut State Library's list of 18th and 19th century nicknames.
A gravestone or a family Bible may say Dot while a will or a deed says Dorothy. Search indexes under both forms so you do not miss her.
As seen in a recordCounty newspaper death notice, 1910; her death certificate gives Dorothy
Mrs. Dot Merriman, aged 57, died at her home May 13, 1910
Sources
How to cite this page
Daily Ancestor. "Dot." Dictionary of Old Record Words. https://dailyancestor.com/dictionary/nicknames/dot. Last checked 2026-10-15.