Why Hank is really Junior

My dad used the name "Andrew H. Farrell" all his adult life. But it isn't his real name. His birth certificate lists his name as "Harry Andrew Farrell."

Since brother Hank is the first born son, and is named "Harry Andrew Farrell," that makes him really "Harry Andrew Farrell, jr." And Hank's birth certificate lists his father's name as "Harry Andrew Farrell."

The first story about how dad changed his name

Dad always told the story as follows:

While he was named "Harry," a number of his aunts much prefered the name "Andrew." So they offered a bribe to Dad's brothers... If they called him by his middle name, and only his middle name, each would get a new business suit.

Since they were older, and in business or wanted to look like they were in business, Dad's brothers agreed. They started calling him "Andrew" and the name stuck.

The second story about why dad changed his name

This second version was told only after Dad's death, by good ol' cousin Bob Dahlquist. In Bob's version, there was an earlier "Andrew Farrell."

Seems that there were also a lot of Farrells back in the 1870s (or 1880s) in Iowa working on the railroads. Among one family of Farrells were Daniel Farrell and his younger brother Andrew.

Nellie Burke (our Grandmother on the Farrell side) caught the eye of Andrew, and planned to marry him. Andrew was killed in a railroad accident before the wedding had a chance.

After a suitable mourning period (days? weeks? years?) Andrew's older brother Daniel decided that Nellie Burke was a real catch, so he chased her until she let him catch her. Nellie and Daniel were married, moved to G Street in Omaha, and had Dad and his brothers and sisters.

It was Nellie's sisters who wanted Nellie's youngest son to be called after her first true love. So they bribed Dan, jr., Packy, and probably John Ruther, to call him by his middle name. It stuck.

Clare Farrell's genealogy notes back up Bob Dahlquist's version

Dad's version is consistant with Bob's, it is just edited for family consumption. The obvious question is, is Dad's short version the whole truth, with Bob using a bit of the blarney? or is Bob onto the straight stuff?

I believe in Bob's version. While looking through Clare Farrell's genealogy records, she has a short history of the family. It contains all of the essential parts of Bob's version.

Since all family history is part folklore, I believe that two sources makes for a pretty decent citation.

Hank is not usually a diminutive for Harry!

Unanswered in this is why Junior is called Hank. The nickname "Hank" is usually used for men named Henry. So why was Harry called Hank?

Anybody know this one?