Abbreviation Lookup
Search common genealogy and record abbreviations with meanings and context.
Search by abbreviation or meaning. Instant filter.
| Abbreviation | Meaning | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 10br | December (old month notation) | dates; old documents |
| 23andMe | 23andMe DNA test and matching database | genetic genealogy; testing company |
| 7ber | September (old style month notation) | dates; Latin-based |
| 7br | September (old month notation) | dates; old documents |
| 8ber | October (old style month notation) | dates; Latin-based |
| 8br | October (old month notation) | dates; old documents |
| 9ber | November (old style month notation) | dates; Latin-based |
| 9br | November (old month notation) | dates; old documents |
| [sic] | thus; indicating original spelling/error preserved | citations; transcription |
| a&w | administration with will | probate |
| A&W | administration with will annexed | probate |
| a.k.a. | also known as | aliases |
| AAR | American Ancestors (NEHGS) record/database | repositories; websites |
| aas | anno aetatis suae (in the year of his/her age) | Latin; age at death |
| abt. | about | dates |
| ac. | acre(s) | land records; property |
| acct. | account | records |
| addr. | address | address |
| adm'r | administrator | probate |
| adm'x | administratrix (female administrator of estate) | probate |
| adm. | administrator; administration | probate |
| admix | admixture (ancestry composition) | genetic genealogy |
| admon | letters of administration | probate |
| adv. | advertisement; advert | newspapers |
| advt. | advertisement | newspapers |
| aff't | affidavit | legal; court |
| aff. | affidavit | legal; court |
| affd. | affidavit | legal; court |
| aft. | after | dates |
| Ahn. | ahnentafel number | pedigree numbering |
| AKA | also known as | aliases |
| alex. | Alexander | given name |
| alias | also known as | aliases |
| anc. | ancestor | relationship |
| AncestryDNA | Ancestry's DNA test and matching database | genetic genealogy; testing company |
| andw. | Andrew | given name |
| anon. | anonymous | authorship |
| app. | appraisal; appraised | probate; property |
| approx. | approximately | dates |
| apt. | apartment | address |
| atDNA | autosomal DNA | genetic genealogy |
| Atty. | attorney | legal |
| auDNA | autosomal DNA | genetic genealogy |
| aunt | aunt | relationship |
| ave. | avenue | address |
| b. | born | birth records |
| banns | marriage banns (public notice of intended marriage) | church records; marriage |
| bap. | baptism; baptized | church records |
| bap. | baptized | church records |
| bef. | before | dates |
| benj. | Benjamin | given name |
| bet. | between | dates |
| BIRLS | Beneficiary Identification Records Locator Subsystem | US veterans records |
| bk. | book | citations |
| bmd | births, marriages, deaths | vital records |
| bn. | born | vital records |
| bond | probate bond | probate |
| bp | base pair | genetic genealogy; genomics |
| bp. | baptized; baptism | church records |
| bps | base pairs | genetic genealogy; genomics |
| bro. | brother | relationship |
| BT | bishop's transcripts | church records; UK |
| bur. | buried | burial records |
| c. | circa | dates |
| ca. | circa (approximately) | dates |
| cal. | calculated | dates |
| capt. | captain | military; title |
| cem. | cemetery | burial records |
| cen. | census | record type |
| cens. | census | record type |
| cert. | certificate | records |
| ch. | chain(s) (survey measure, 66 feet) | land records; surveying |
| Ch. | Church | church records; newspapers |
| chas. | Charles | given name |
| chr. | christened | church records |
| chr. | christening; christened | church records |
| cir. | circuit (court) | legal; court |
| cM | centimorgan (unit used for shared DNA segment size) | genetic genealogy |
| Co. | company | newspapers; business |
| co. | county; company | place; business |
| col. | colonel | military; title |
| com. | communicated (submitted by correspondent) | newspapers |
| comm. | communion | church records |
| conf. | confirmed; confirmation | church records |
| Corp. | Corporal | title; military |
| corp. | corporation | business |
| cous. | cousin | relationship |
| crem. | cremated | burial records |
| CS | chromosome segment | genetic genealogy |
| ct. | court | legal; court |
| cur. | curate | church |
| d | pence (pre-decimal UK currency) | money; British |
| d. | died | death records |
| d.b.n. | de bonis non (administration of goods not yet administered) | probate; Latin |
| d.b.n. | de bonis non (administrator of unadministered goods) | probate; Latin |
| d.s.p. | decessit sine prole (died without issue) | Latin; wills |
| d.un. | died unmarried | wills; obituaries |
| d.v.p. | decessit vita patris (died in father's lifetime) | Latin; wills |
| D/M/Y | day/month/year date format | dates |
| d/o | daughter of | relationship |
| da. | day | dates |
| danl. | Daniel | given name |
| DAR | Daughters of the American Revolution | lineage society |
| DBN | de bonis non (administrator of unadministered goods) | probate; Latin |
| DDB | delayed birth | vital records |
| dec'd | deceased | legal documents |
| dec. | deceased | legal documents |
| deed. | deed | record type |
| def. | defendant | legal |
| deft. | defendant | legal |
| deg. | degree(s) | land records; surveying |
| dep. | deposed; deposition | legal |
| dep. | deposition; deposed | legal |
| depo. | deposition | legal |
| dev. | devisee (person receiving real property by will) | wills; probate |
| devisee | person receiving real property by will | wills; probate |
| dist. | district | legal; geography |
| DNA | deoxyribonucleic acid | genetic genealogy |
| do. | ditto (same as above) | general |
| DOB | date of birth | vital records; modern shorthand |
| DOD | date of death | vital records; modern shorthand |
| DR | delayed registration | vital records |
| Dr. | Doctor | title; occupation |
| ds. | days | dates |
| DUV | Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War | lineage society |
| E | east | land records; surveying |
| e.g. | exempli gratia (for example) | Latin |
| ed. | editor; edition | newspapers; publishing |
| eds. | editors | newspapers; publishing |
| edw. | Edward | given name |
| eliz. | Elizabeth | given name |
| emig. | emigrated; emigration | immigration |
| Esq | Esquire (often for attorneys) | legal; title |
| Esq. | Esquire | titles; newspapers; legal |
| est. | estate | probate |
| et al. | and others | legal; citations |
| et al. | et alii (and others) | Latin |
| et ux. | and wife | deeds; legal |
| et ux. | et uxor (and wife) | legal; deeds |
| et vir. | and husband | deeds; legal |
| et vir. | et vir (and husband) | legal |
| etc. | and so on | general |
| exec'r | executor | probate |
| exec'x | executrix (female executor) | probate |
| exec. | executor; executrix | wills |
| E½ | east half | land records; PLSS |
| f. | filia (daughter) | Latin |
| f.p.c. | free person of color | US census; historic |
| fam. | family | household |
| FAN | Friends, Associates, and Neighbors (cluster research) | research method |
| FHC | Family History Center | repositories; citations |
| FHL | Family History Library | repositories; citations |
| FHLC | Family History Library Catalog | repositories; citations |
| fil. | filius/filia (son/daughter) | Latin |
| FKA | formerly known as | aliases; legal |
| fl. | floruit (flourished) | when person was active |
| FP | family pointer (context-dependent; often in DNA tools) | genetic genealogy |
| fredk. | Frederick | given name |
| FS | FamilySearch | repositories; websites |
| ft. | foot/feet | land records; measurements |
| FTDNA | FamilyTreeDNA | genetic genealogy; testing company |
| g.d. | granddaughter | relationship |
| g.f. | grandfather | relationship |
| g.g.d. | great-granddaughter | relationship |
| g.g.f. | great-grandfather | relationship |
| g.g.m. | great-grandmother | relationship |
| g.g.s. | great-grandson | relationship |
| g.m. | grandmother | relationship |
| g.s. | grandson | relationship |
| gd. | guardian | probate; guardianship |
| gdn. | guardian | probate; guardianship |
| gdnshp. | guardianship | probate; guardianship |
| GEDmatch | GEDmatch (third-party DNA matching and analysis site) | genetic genealogy |
| gen. | general | military; title |
| geo. | George | given name |
| GGP | genetic genealogy process (context-dependent; often 'genetic genealogy project') | genetic genealogy |
| gov. | governor | title |
| GPS | Genealogical Proof Standard | genealogy standards |
| GRO | General Register Office | civil registration; UK |
| h/at-law | heir(s) at law | probate |
| h/o | husband of | relationship |
| hap | haplogroup (shorthand) | genetic genealogy |
| heirs | heirs-at-law | probate |
| Hg | haplogroup (shorthand) | genetic genealogy |
| hon. | honorable | title |
| hy. | Henry | given name |
| i.e. | id est (that is) | Latin |
| IBD | identical by descent | genetic genealogy |
| ibid. | ibidem (same place/source) | citations |
| ibid. | in the same place/source | citations |
| IBS | identical by state | genetic genealogy |
| ICW | in common with (shared match) | genetic genealogy |
| ID | individual identifier | genealogy software |
| id. | the same; in legal citations often 'idem' | citations; legal |
| IGI | International Genealogical Index | FamilySearch historical index |
| imm. | immigrated; immigration | immigration |
| in. | inch/inches | land records; measurements |
| inc. | incorporated | business |
| inf. | infant | age description |
| inf. | infant (minor) | age description |
| infra | below (later in the document) | citations; legal Latin |
| inst. | instant (current month) | dates; old documents |
| inst. | instant (in the current month) | historical newspapers; letters |
| int. | intestate (died without a will) | probate |
| intest. | intestate | probate |
| inv. | inventoried | estate/probate |
| inv. | inventory; inventoried | probate |
| J.P. | justice of the peace | legal; court |
| jas. | James | given name |
| jgmt. | judgment | legal; court |
| jno. | John | given name |
| jos. | Joseph | given name |
| JP | justice of the peace | legal; court |
| jr. | junior | name suffix |
| Jr. | Junior | name suffix |
| judg. | judgment | legal; court |
| jun. | junior | name suffix |
| KIT | DNA kit/test ID | genetic genealogy |
| L | pounds (often written 'L' in older accounts) | money; British |
| l. | pounds (older notation) | money; British |
| L/A | letters of administration | probate |
| L/T | letters testamentary | probate |
| leg. | legatee; legatees | wills |
| legat. | legatee | wills |
| lic. | licence/license | marriage; legal |
| lk. | link(s) (survey measure, 1/100 chain) | land records; surveying |
| ln. | lane | address |
| LOG | research log | research method |
| lt. | lieutenant | military; title |
| M | million (as in base pairs; Mb) | genetic genealogy; genomics |
| m. | married | marriage records |
| m. banns | married by banns | marriage; church |
| m. lic. | marriage license | marriage; legal |
| m.i. | monumental inscription | gravestone records |
| m/s | marital status | census; vital records |
| m1 | first marriage | relationships |
| m2 | second marriage | relationships |
| Maj. | Major | title; military |
| margt. | Margaret | given name |
| matw. | Matthew | given name |
| Mb | megabase (million base pairs) | genetic genealogy; genomics |
| Messrs. | Messieurs (gentlemen; plural of Mr.) | newspapers; business |
| MI | monumental inscription | gravestone records |
| mi. | mile(s) | land records; measurements |
| mil. | military | record type |
| min. | minister | clergy |
| min. | minor | age; guardianship |
| min. | minute(s) of arc | land records; surveying |
| ml | marriage licence | church/legal |
| mo. | month | dates |
| mos. | months | dates |
| MPE | misattributed parentage event | genetic genealogy |
| Mr. | Mister | titles |
| MRCA | most recent common ancestor | genetic genealogy |
| MRCAs | most recent common ancestors | genetic genealogy |
| Mrs. | Mistress (married woman title) | titles |
| Ms. | Ms. (female title) | titles |
| mt | mitochondrial | genetic genealogy |
| mtDNA | mitochondrial DNA | genetic genealogy |
| MyHeritage | MyHeritage DNA test and matching database | genetic genealogy; testing company |
| N | north | land records; surveying |
| n.d. | no date | citations; unknown date |
| n.k. | not known | unknowns |
| n.k.a. | now known as | place or name changes |
| n.p. | no place | citations; unknown place |
| N.S. | New Style (Gregorian calendar date) | dates; calendar |
| n.s. | new style (Gregorian calendar) | dates after 1752 |
| N/K/A | now known as | legal; name change |
| NARA | National Archives and Records Administration | US repositories; records |
| nat. | naturalized; nationality (context dependent) | census; immigration |
| NE | northeast | land records; surveying |
| NEHGS | New England Historic Genealogical Society | repositories; societies |
| nep. | nephew | relationship |
| neph. | nephew | relationship |
| NGS | National Genealogical Society | societies |
| nich. | Nicholas | given name |
| niece | niece | relationship |
| NPE | non-paternal event (misattributed parentage) | genetic genealogy |
| NS | New Style (Gregorian calendar date) | dates; calendar |
| nupt. | nupti fuerunt (were married) | Latin |
| NW | northwest | land records; surveying |
| N½ | north half | land records; PLSS |
| née | maiden name | married women |
| O.S. | Old Style (Julian calendar date) | dates; calendar |
| o.s. | old style (Julian calendar) | dates before 1752 |
| ob. | obiit (died) | Latin |
| obit. | obituary | newspapers; death |
| occ. | occupation | employment |
| OPC | Online Parish Clerk | UK genealogy |
| orphan | minor child under guardianship | probate; guardianship |
| OS | Old Style (Julian calendar date) | dates; calendar |
| p. | page | citations |
| p.o. | post office; post office box | address |
| p.s. | postscript | letters; manuscripts |
| par. | parish | place names |
| patk. | Patrick | given name |
| per | by; through (e.g., 'per stirpes') | legal; Latin |
| perch | perch (survey measure; same as rod/pole) | land records; surveying |
| pet. | petitioner; petition | legal; court |
| phased | phased results (parent-of-origin aware) | genetic genealogy |
| pl. | place | address |
| plt. | plaintiff | legal |
| pltf. | plaintiff | legal |
| POA | power of attorney | legal documents |
| pob | place of birth | census; vital records |
| pole | pole(s) (survey measure; same as rod/perch) | land records; surveying |
| pp. | pages | citations |
| PR | parish register | church records; UK/Ireland |
| pres. | president | title |
| prob. | probate | record type |
| prox. | proximo (in the next month) | historical newspapers; letters |
| prox. | proximo (next month) | dates; old documents |
| proximo | next month (often written 'prox.' in older records) | historical newspapers; letters |
| Pvt. | Private | title; military |
| q.v. | quod vide (which see) | citations; Latin |
| q.v. | which see | citations; cross-reference |
| R. | range | public land survey system |
| r.d. | rural delivery | address |
| R.R. | railroad | newspapers; transportation |
| RC | relationship calculator (context-dependent) | genetic genealogy |
| rd. | rod(s) (survey measure, 16.5 feet) | land records; surveying |
| rect. | rector | church |
| REFN | reference number | genealogy software; GEDCOM |
| reg. | register; registered | record type |
| rel. | relative; relationship | household |
| relic. | relict (surviving spouse) | probate |
| relict | surviving spouse (widow or widower) | probate; newspapers |
| relict | surviving spouse (widow/widower) | wills; newspapers |
| res. | residence; resided | address |
| resid. | residuary (remainder of estate) | probate |
| resid. leg. | residuary legatee | probate |
| resp. | respondent; response | legal; court |
| rev. | reverend | clergy |
| revd | reverend | clergy |
| Revd. | Reverend | clergy; title |
| richd. | Richard | given name |
| RIN | Record Identification Number | genealogy software; GEDCOM |
| robt. | Robert | given name |
| Ry. | railway | newspapers; transportation |
| s | shillings (pre-decimal UK currency) | money; British |
| S | south | land records; surveying |
| s'd | said | legal documents; deeds |
| s.d. | shillings and pence | money; British |
| s.p. | sine prole (without offspring) | Latin |
| s/o | son of | relationship |
| saml. | Samuel | given name |
| SAR | Sons of the American Revolution | lineage society |
| sd. | said (as in 'the sd. John Smith') | legal documents; deeds |
| SE | southeast | land records; surveying |
| sec. | second(s) of arc | land records; surveying |
| Sec. | section | public land survey system |
| seg | segment | genetic genealogy |
| sen. | senior | name suffix |
| sep. | sepultus (buried) | Latin |
| sgt. | sergeant | military; title |
| sib(s). | siblings | relationship |
| sib. | sibling | relationship |
| sic | thus; as written | citations; transcription |
| sis. | sister | relationship |
| SNP | single-nucleotide polymorphism | genetic genealogy |
| SNPs | single-nucleotide polymorphisms | genetic genealogy |
| sol. | solicitor | legal; UK/Ireland |
| sq. | square | land records; property |
| Sr. | Senior | name suffix |
| SS-5 | Social Security Application (Form SS-5) | US records; SSDI context |
| SSA | Social Security Administration | US records |
| SSDI | Social Security Death Index | US records |
| st. | street; saint | address; place names |
| Stn. | station | addresses; newspapers |
| STR | short tandem repeat | genetic genealogy |
| STRs | short tandem repeats | genetic genealogy |
| supra | above (earlier in the document) | citations; legal Latin |
| Supt. | Superintendent | title; occupation |
| SW | southwest | land records; surveying |
| S½ | south half | land records; PLSS |
| T. | township | public land survey system |
| test. | testator/testatrix; testament | wills; probate |
| testator | person who made a will | wills |
| testatrix | woman who made a will | wills |
| tho' | though | letters; manuscripts |
| thos. | Thomas | given name |
| thro' | through | letters; manuscripts |
| TMRCA | time to most recent common ancestor | genetic genealogy |
| TO | tax office (in some local record citations) | citations; records |
| triang | triangulation | genetic genealogy |
| triang. | triangulation | genetic genealogy |
| twp. | township | place names |
| UDC | United Daughters of the Confederacy | lineage society |
| ult. | ultimo (in the previous month) | historical newspapers; letters |
| ult. | ultimo (previous month) | dates; old documents |
| ulto. | ultimo (previous month) | historical newspapers; letters |
| unc. | uncle | relationship |
| unk. | unknown | general |
| unm. | unmarried | marital status |
| v. | versus | legal; court |
| viz. | namely | legal Latin; records |
| viz. | videlicet (namely) | Latin |
| vol. | volume | citations |
| VR | vital record(s) | record type |
| VRI | Vital Records Index | FamilySearch historical index |
| VRs | vital records | record type |
| vs. | versus | legal; court |
| W | west | land records; surveying |
| w'th | with | legal documents; deeds |
| w/a | will annexed | probate |
| w/adm. | will with administration | probate |
| w/ch | which | legal documents; deeds |
| w/in | within | legal documents; deeds |
| w/o | wife of | relationship |
| w/out | without | legal documents; deeds |
| w/w | widow(er) (context dependent; often in abstracts) | probate; relationships |
| wid. | widow; widower | marital status |
| widr. | widower | marital status |
| widw. | widow | marital status |
| will. | will; testament | probate |
| wk. | week | dates |
| wks. | weeks | dates |
| wm. | William | given name |
| W½ | west half | land records; PLSS |
| X | X chromosome | genetic genealogy |
| X-DNA | X chromosome DNA | genetic genealogy |
| Xber | December (old month notation) | dates; old documents |
| xber | December (old style month notation) | dates; 7ber=Sep, 8ber=Oct, 9ber=Nov |
| Y | Y chromosome | genetic genealogy |
| Y-DNA | Y chromosome DNA | genetic genealogy |
| y.o. | years old | age |
| yd. | yard(s) | land records; measurements |
| YOB | year of birth | census; shorthand |
| YOD | year of death | shorthand |
| yr | year; your (context-dependent) | letters; dates |
| yrs | years | dates |
| £ | pound sterling | money |
| £ | pounds | money |
| ¼ | one quarter (fractional land description) | land records; PLSS |