Abbreviation Table for Meyers Orts und Verkehrs Lexikon Des Deutschen Reichs
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Family History PATRON CLASS HANDOUT Library (Ref 943 E5mo)
Abbreviation Table for Meyers
Orts Und Verkehrslexikon
Historical Perspective
From the time of Charlemagne (Karl der Grosse) 800 A.D. to 1806, there was an entity known as the ‘Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation,’ ruled by an emperor and the nobility. From 1701 on, a large chunk of this empire was known as the Kingdom of Prussia. When Napoleon Bonaparte began his conquest, the whole empire began to break up. The last ruling family of the “Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation,” the Hapsburgs, retreated into the Eastern Areas, and reorganized the Germanic areas into a new empire, which they ruled. This became known as the Austrian Empire.
Beginning in 1820, custom unions began to be established in the western areas of the old empire. In the 1860’s the Prussian ministerial president serving under King Wilhelm of Prussia made a deal with rulers of those German areas Prussia had not been able to conquer such as the Baden, Bavaria, Württemberg, Mecklenburg, and so forth. If they agreed to join with and organize into a new German Empire, they would have some power and authority in the new regime. By January 1871, agreements were reached, and the 2nd German Empire was established. King Wilhelm of Prussia became emperor (Kaiser) and Otto von Bismark became the chancellor.
All rulers of these various Germanic Kingdoms, Provinces, Principalities, Duchies, Grand Duchies and Free Cities now reported to the “national government” in the form of Emperor Wilhelm. The boundaries of each entity were clarified, and they all became states in the new empire.
Meyers Orts-und Verkehrs-Lexikon represents these boundaries as they were between 1871 and 1918.
Abbreviation Table and Glossary
Localities in Germany are arranged in the FamilySearch Catalog according to the boundaries of the 1871-1918 German Empire. For cataloging purposes the gazetteer Meyers Orts-und Verkehrs-Lexikon (FS Library call no.: book – Ref 943. E5mo; film- 0,496,640 [Localities A-K]; and fiche – 6,000,001-6,000,029) is used. This is an excellent gazetteer, indicating which of the localities have parishes and which have civil registration offices. The entries of the different localities have many abbreviations. The following list is basically an abbreviation table with a few common words, which will be helpful in using the gazetteer. This list should be allowed some freedom due to interpretation and considering the time frame that these terms were used. Some words have different meanings now or are no longer used.
Those abbreviations or words preceded by "…" indicate that it can also be used as the end or beginning of a combined word.
Abbreviation Table
| A | Amt (Amtsbezirk) | administrative district, comparable to a U.S. county |
| Ab.(e.) | Abbau(e) | Surface mine (the “e“ denotes plural); quarry; secondary settlement built outside the main town |
| Abt. | Abteilung | Department |
| a/d | An der, auf der | At the, on the, such as Frankfurt am Main “Frankfurt on the Main (river)” |
| Ag., …ag. | Agentur, …agentur | Agency, …agency (as part of a word); [government] bureau, - office |
| AG | Amtsgericht | Lower court, county court, lower district court |
| AH | Amtshauptmannschaft | Government district; government district office in Kingdom of Sachsen |
| AK | Armeekorps | Army corps |
| AktGes. | Aktiengesellschaft | Corporation (an “Aktie”=a share of stock) |
| ä.L. | Ältere Linie | Older line |
| AllGut | Allodialgut | Allodial estate; farm with no overlord; land free from rent |
| Altkath. | Altkatholisch | Old Catholic |
| Altluth. | Altlutherisch | Old Lutheran |
| andere | andere | other, different |
| andersgläubige | andersgläubige | of a different faith |
| Anh. | Anhalt | former duchy of Anhalt |
| Ansdl. | Ansiedlung | Settlement or colony |
| Anst., …anst. | Anstalt, …anstalt | Institute, institution (also as part of a word) |
| Arb. | Arbeiter | Laborer, worker |
| Art. | Artillerie | Artillery |
| Ausg. | Ausgedinge | section of the farm, house, or estate where the retired farmer lived |
| Ausg. | Ausgaben | Editions, expenditures |
| B. | Bezirk | District or area |
| BA. | Bezirksamt | District office |
| Bad | Bad | Spa, mineral waters |
| Badanst. | Badeanstalt | Swimming baths, spa |
| Baden | Baden | German state |
| Banken | Banken | financial institutions |
| Baptistenk. | Baptistenkirche | Baptist church |
| Bat. | Bataillon | Batallion (military) |
| Batt. | Batterie | Battery |
| Bay. | Bayern | Bavaria |
| bei | bei | by, near, with |
| Berufsgenossenschaften | Berufsgenossenschaften | business-, professional-, workers' associations |
| Bestehend aus | Bestehend aus | consisting of |
| BGrem. | Bezirksgremium | District Council |
| Bgb, …bgb. | Bergbau, …bergbau | Mine, mining, also with other word … salt, coal, etc. |
| Bgw. | Bergwerk | Mine |
| Bhf. | Bahnhof | Railroad station |
| Bibl. | Bibliothek | Library |
| Bildungsanstalten | Bildungsanstalten | schools |
| Binnenschiffahrt | Binnenschffahrt | inland navigation |
| Bk. | Bank | Bank (financial institution) |
| BKdo. | Bezirkskommando | District command (military) |
| Blechw. | Blechwerk | Metalworks (tin, sheet metal) |
| B. Loth. | Bezirk Lothringen | District of Lothringen |
| Bn./-bn. | Bahn/-bahn | train, -train [line] |
| B. OEls | Bezirk Oberelsaß | district of upper Alsace |
| Böttcherei | Böttcherei | cooper's workshop, barrel maker's workshop |
| Brandbg. | Brandenburg | the former province of Brandenburg in Prussia |
| Brau. | Brauerei | Brewery |
| Braunschw. | Braunschweig | the historical Duchy of Braunschweig |
| -bre | -bruche | quarries or swamps |
| Brenn. | Brennerei | Distillery |
| Brgm. | Bürgermeister(ei) | mayor's office town administration office |
| Brig. | Brigade | brigade |
| Bsch. | Bauerschaft | farming community [as an administrative unit] |
| BschTeil | BauerschaftTeil | part of rural farming community |
| Buchdrucker | Buchdrucker | book printer |
| Buchhandel | Buchhandel | book trade |
| B. UEls. | Bezirk Unterelsaß | district of lower Alsace |
| Bürstenw. | Bürstenwerk | brush factory |
| bz. | beziehungsweise | or, respectively |
| Chaußeeh. | Chaußeehaus | Toll house |
| Chemik. | Chemikalien, Chemiker | chemicals, chemist |
| D. | Dampfer- oder Motorbootverbindung | steamship or motorboat connection, -line |
| D., Dr. | Dorf, Dörfer | Village, villages |
| das. | daselbst | there, in the same place |
| Dazu | dazu | including, in addition |
| Deutsch ref. | Deutsch-reformierte | German Reformed religion |
| Dir./-dir. | Direktion/-direktion | management |
| Dochten | Dochten | [manufacure of] candle wicks |
| Dom. | Domäne, dominium, domanial | State-owned estate; domain |
| DomA. | Domänenamt | Literally: "estate office", an administrative jurisdiction in Mecklenburg |
| Drl. | Darlehen | Loan office |
| dsgl. | desgleichen | the same as above (refers only to the immediately preceeding item) |
| ...dt. | …Distrikt | …district |
| DTeil | Dorfteil | portion of a village |
| Düngemittel | Düngemittel | fertilizers [manufacture of] |
| E | Eisenbahnstation oder Haltestelle | Railroad station or train stop |
| 'E | Eisenbahnstation oder Haltestelle mit Personen- und Güterverkehr, mit Bahntelegraph | Railroad station or train stop – with passenger and freight traffic and a telegraph |
| EGt | Eisenbahnstation oder Haltestelle - nur mit Güterbeförderung | Railroad station or train stop- with freight service only |
| EPs | Eisenbahnstation oder Haltestelle- nur mit Personenverkehr | Railroad station or train stop- only with passenger traffic |
| E+ | Eisenbahnstation oder Haltestelle - mit Eisenbahnauskunftstelle | Railroad station or train stop - with train information center |
| E. | Einwohner | Inhabitants (population count) |
| Ein. | Einöde | Wilderness, lonely spot |
| Einn., ...einn. | Einnahme, ...einnahme oder ...einnehmerei | Clerk's office, collection point, such as taxes or other revenue |
| Eis. | Eisenbahn | Train |
| Eisenhdl. | Eisenhandlung | Iron shop or -trade |
| Elktr. | Ort hat elektrische Licht- oder Kraftquelle | Place has an electric light- or power source |
| Elktrw. | Elektrizitätswerk | Electric power plant |
| Els. | Elsaß | Alsace ( historic German state) |
| Els.-Loth. | Elsaß-Lothringen | Alsace-Lorraine (historic German state) |
| Emaillierw. | Emaillierwerk | Enamel works |
E(ET) 
|
Eisenbahntelegraph | Railroad station or train stop with telegraph service |
| erg. | ergänze | add, supplement |
| Erziehanst. | Erziehungsanstalt | Reform school |
| Essig | Essig | Vinegar |
| Esk. | Eskadron | Squadron (military) |
| Etabl. | Etablissement | business or entertainment establishment |
| ev., Ev. | Evangelisch, Evangelische | Evangelical, Protestant (in Germany usually Lutheran or Reformed) |
| ev. Pfk. | Evangelisch Pfarrkirche | Protestant parish church |
| F | Fernsprecher | Telephone |
| 'F | Fernsprecher und Telegraph | Telephone and telegraph |
| Fabrikort | Fahrikort | Factory location |
| Fahrräder | Fabrräder | Bicycles |
| Färb. | Färberei | Dye works |
| Fbr., fbr. | Fabrik, fabrikation | Factory, manufacturing plant |
| FG | Forstgutsbezirk | Forest land district |
| Fil. | Filiale | Branch, affiliate |
| Fl. | Flecken | Country-town, market village |
| Fläche | Fläche | Area, expanse |
| Flachsmärkte | Flachsmärkte | Area markets |
| Först. | Försterei | Forest ranger station (residence) |
| Försth. | Försthaus | Forester’s house |
| franz.-ref. | Französisch-reformiert(e) | French Reformed religion (Protestant) |
| fr. | früher | Formerly, previously |
| Freigut | Freigut | farm or estate free from certain taxes or other feudal obligations |
| Frht. | Freiheit | Market-town (country-town), areas separated from a locality where the inhabitants enjoy additional rights |
F(FT) 
|
Fernsprecher und Telegraph | Telephone & Telegraph |
| Fürstt. | Fürstentum | Principality [a nobility area ruled by a "Fürst"/ prince] |
| G. | Gericht | Court |
| G. | Gutsbezirk | Land district |
| Garnmärkte | Garnmärkte | Thread, yarn, twine markets |
| Garn. | Garnison | Garrison (military) |
| Gärtnerei | Gärtnerei | garden center [store], plant nursery |
| Gasw. | Gaswerk | Gas works |
| GB. | Gerichtsbezirk | Court district [a jurisdiction] |
| Gef. | Gefängniß | Jail, prison |
| geh. | Gehörig | Belonging to [jurisdiction] |
| Gem. | Gemeinde | Community (village) |
| Gen. | General... | General, main ... |
| Genoss. | Genossenschaft | Cooperative, partnership |
| Gerb. | Gerberei | Tannery |
| Ges. | Gesellschaft | Society, company, club, association |
| Gesandtschaft[en] | Gesandtschaft[en] | Embassy, -ies |
| Getreidehdl. | Getreidehandel | Grain merchant, -trade |
| Gew., gew. | Gewerbe, gewerblich(e) | Trade, business, industry, industrial, commercial |
| Gieß | Gießerei | Foundry |
| Gießerei | Gießerei | Foundry-work |
| Gipsw. | Gipswerk | Gypsum factory |
| Glas. | Glasswerk | Glassworks |
| glchn. | Gleichnamig | of the same name |
| Gr. | Gross | Great, large (part of place name) |
| Grafschaft | Grafschaft | County (country ruled by a count) |
| Granitbr. | Granitbruch | Granite quarry |
| Griech. Kap. | Griechiche Kapelle | Greek chapel [building] |
| Grube | Grube | Mine |
| Gsth. | Gasthaus, Wirtshaus, Krug | Inn, pub, tavern, overnight lodging |
| GTg. | Gerichtstag | Day when court is held, often away from the main court building |
| Gut | Gut | Estate, farmstead |
| Gutsb. | Gutsbezirk | Manorial district, farming district |
| Gutsteil | Gutsteil | Part of a farm |
| Gymn. | Gymnasium | Academically oriented high school |
| H., Hr. | Haus, Häuser | House, houses |
| ...h | ...haus, ...heim | [as part of a word]-house, -home |
| ha. | Hektar | Hectare, 2.471 acres |
| Haltestelle | Haltestelle | Railroad or public transit stop |
| Hammerschmiede | Hammerschmiede | Forge, blacksmith's workshop |
| Handel | Handel | Business, trade, commerce |
| Hann. | Hannover | Hanover, former province of Prussia |
| Hdl. | Handel(s) | Commerce, trade, also business establishment |
| Heilanst. | Heilanstalt | Nursing home, sanitarium |
| Heilst. | Heilstätte | Sanitarium, sanatorium |
| heißt jetzt | Heißt jetzt | Now called [place name change] |
| Herrsch. | Herrschaft | Manor, estate, domain |
| Hessen | Hessen | Hesse, a grand duchy (German state) |
| Hessen-N. | Hessen-Nassau | Hessen-Nassau, a former province of Prussia |
| Hf. | Hafen | Harbor, port |
| hierzu | hierzu | To this, to it [belongs] |
| hinter | hinter | Behind [spatial] |
| Hofbehörden | Hofbehörden | Rural or farm administration or office |
| Hohenzollern | Hohenzollern | Hohenzollern |
| Hosp. | Hospital | Hospital |
| Hof (Höfe) | Hof (Höfe) | Estate, manor, farm (farms) |
| Hohlengrube | Holengrube | Hollow mine |
| Holzhdl. | Holzhandel | Timber store |
| Holzmehl | Holzmehl | Sawdust |
| Hpt. | Haupt… | Main [ followed by an identifying term, such as ...town, ...office etc.] |
| HptSt. | Haupt Stadt | Capitol city, main city |
| Hr. | Häuser | houses |
| Hrgr.(n) | Häusergruppe (n) | Group of houses |
| Hüttenw. | Hüttenwerk | Foundry |
| hzl. | Herzoglich | Of the duke, ducal [pertaining to the duke’s possession] |
| Hzt. (...hzt.) | Herzogtum (…herzogtum) | Duchy [ruled by a duke] |
| i/d | in der | in the [ usually as part of a place identifier] |
| im | im | in the |
| Imk. | Imkerei | Beekeeping business |
| in | in | in or at |
| Ind. | Industrie | Industry |
| Inf. | Infanterie | Infantry |
| Insp. | Inspektion | inspection |
| Inst. | Institut | Institute |
| Int./...int. | Intendantur | Superintendent's or management office |
| Int. (...int.) | Intendantur (...intendantur) | Superintendent's or management office |
| J. | Juden, Israelitisch, Israeliten | Jews, Israelitic, Israelites |
| Jagdh. | Jagdhaus | Hunting lodge |
| jetzt | jetzt | At present, now |
| j. L. | Jüngere Linie | Younger line, junior |
| ...k. | ...kasse oder, ...kirche | Bank, collecting agency, also -church |
| K. | Kirche | Church |
| Kalksteinbr. | Kalksteinbruch | Limestone quarry |
| Kalkw. | Kalkwerk | Lime works |
| Kam. | Kammer | Land registrar, chamber |
| Kanal | Kanal | Canal |
| Kanzleilehngut | Kanzleilehngut | Farming estate leased as a fief [term used in Saxony] |
| Kap. | Kapelle | Chapel |
| Kat. | Kataster | Land register |
| kath., Kath. | katholisch, katholiken | Catholic |
| kath... apostol. K | katholisch apostolisch kirche | Catholic Apostolic church |
| kath. Pfk. | katholische pfarrkirche | Catholic parish church |
| Kav. | Kavallerie | Cavalry (military) |
| Kdo. | Kommando | Command (post) |
| kgl. | königlich | Royal |
| …khlbgb. | …kohlenbergbau | Coal mine |
| Kirchdorf | Kirchdorf | Village with a church |
| Kirchweiler | Kirchweiler | Hamlet with a church |
| Kl, Klein | Klein | Little, small [part of place names] |
| Klbn. | Kleinbahn | Narrow-gauge railway |
| Kleineisenzeug | Kleineisenzeug | Small iron tools |
| Kloster | Kloster | Convent, monastery, abbey |
| km. | Kilometer | 1,000 meters=3,280.8 ft. or 5/8 mile or 0.6 miles |
| Knöpfe | Knöpfe | Buttons |
| Kol. | Kolonie, Kolonat | Colony (usually of small houses) |
| Koln. | Kolonien | Colonies |
| Kom. | Kommandantur | Office and/or residence of commandant |
| Komm. | Kommission | Commission |
| Konservatorium für Musik | Conservatory for Music | |
| Konsulate | Konsulate | Consulate |
| Kornmärkte | Kornmärkte | Grain markets |
| Kr. | Kreis | Administrative district [similar to U.S. counties] |
| Krammärkte | Krammärkte | Small wares markets |
| KredVor. | Kredit-und (od) Vorschußverein | Loan association |
| Krankenh. | Krankenhaus | Hospital |
| Kr.H | Kreishauptmannschaft | Government district, county office (term used mainly in the Kingdom of Saxony) |
| KrSpk. | Kreissparkasse | District savings and loan |
| KrSt. | Kreisstadt | Capital city of a Kreis |
| Ksp./Kspl. | Kirschspiel | Parish or church district |
| Kt. | Kanton | County (state, district) |
| KtHptst. | Kantonhauptstadt | District or county capital [town/ city] |
| L. | Land(es) | Land, belonging to land |
| L. | Land | State (like Baden or Lippe) |
| L. | Landgemeinde | Rural community |
| l. | lies | Read as [corrected information] |
| l. | Links | Left, to the left of (directional) |
| Lack | Lack | Lacquer, varnish |
| Lateinschl. | Lateinschule | Pre-university school |
| l/d | Link/der | left of the |
| LB. | Landbezirk | Rural district |
| Ldepl. | Ladeplatz | Loading place or freight dock, wharf |
| Ldkr. | Landkreis | Rural administrative district |
| Lederhdl. | Lederhandel | Leather store/ business |
| Lehngut, Lehnsgut | Lehnsgut | Estate of feudal lord, fief |
| Lehrersem. | Lehrerseminar | Teacher training college |
| LG. | Landgericht | County court [next higher court after Amtsgericht] |
| LGem. | Landgemeinde | Rural community |
| LHerr(en)Sch. | Landherr(en)schaft | Possessions of the local ruler |
| Lippe | Lippe | Lippe |
| LKr. | Landkreis | Rural district (as opposed to city district-Stadtkreis) |
| Lohgerberei | Lohgerberei | Tannery |
| Loth. | Lothringen | Lorraine (part of Alsace-Lorraine, a historic German state) |
| LrA. | Landratsamt | Office of the Landrat or county commissioner, district in Thüringen states |
| Luftkurort | Luftkurort | Health resort |
| Lw., lw. | Landwirtschaft, …liche | Farm, farming operation |
| Lyzeum | Lyzeum | Girls' high school |
| m | Meter über dem meer | Meters above sea level |
| Mädchenschule | Mädchenschule | Girls' school |
| Mag. | Magazin | Storage room, warehouse, depot |
| Mälzerei | Mälzerei | Malthouse |
| Markt | Markt | Market |
| Masch. | Maschine(n) | Machine(s), machinery |
| Mdg. | Mündung | Mouth of a river, estuary |
| Meckl.-Schw. | Mecklenburg-Schwerin | Former grand duchy [German state] |
| Meckl.-Str. | Mecklenburg-Strelitz | Former grand duchy [German state] |
| Mettalw. | Metallwaren | hardware |
| MFranken | Mittelfranken | Middle Franconia |
| Mil. | Militär | military, armed forces |
| mit | mit | with |
| Mktfl. | Marktflecken | Small market-town |
| Mkt.Gk. | Marktgerechtigkeit | Market jurisdiction |
| Ml. (…ml.) | Mühle (…mühle) | Mill [or –mill as part of a word] |
| Möbeln | Möbeln | With furniture [with the grammatical case ending "n"] |
| Molk. | Molkerei | Dairy |
| Motoren | Motoren | Motors, engines |
| Müllerei | Müllerei | Mill, milling operation |
| N. (n) | Norden (nördlich), neben | North, to the north, "neben" in connection with rivers: a sidearm, next to |
| nach | nach | to |
| nahe | nahe | near |
| ...n. | ...nebenstelle | Branch office |
| Neum. | Neumark | Northeastern part of the Prussian province of Brandenburg |
| Nd…, Nieder | Nieder… | Lower (in elevation, part of a place name, as in Lower Saxony) |
| NdBay. | Niederbayern | Lower Bavaria, a region in Bavaria |
| NO. (nö.) | Nordosten (nordöstlich) | Northeast (northeasterly) |
| NW. (nw.) | Nordwestern (nordwestlich) | Northwest (northwesterly) |
| NZA. | Nebenzollamt | Branch custom office |
| O. (ö.) | Osten (östlich) | East (easterly) |
| O… | Ober… | Upper (in elevation, part of a place name, as in Upper Silesia) |
| O. | Ortschaft | Inhabited place |
| OA. | Oberamt | Next higher authority after the Amt or (government) office, districts in Württemberg |
| OAst. | Oberamtstadt | District city |
| OBay | Oberbayern | Upper Bavaria |
| Obstbau | Obstbau | orchards |
| OFörst. | Oberförsterei | Forest service administration office, head forester’s office |
| OFranken | Oberfranken | Upper Franconia, a region in Bavaria |
| Öl | Öl | Oil |
| Oldenb. | Oldenburg | Former grand-duchy (German state) |
| OLG. | Oberlandesgericht | (in Prussia) highest provincial court, supreme court |
| OPDir. | Oberpostdirektion | Higher postal authority, state postal service administration |
| OPfalz | Oberpfalz | Upper Palatinate, a region in Bavaria |
| Orgeln | Orgeln | Pipe organs |
| Ortsch. | Ortschaft | Inhabited place, village |
| Ortsteil | Ortsteil | Section of a community |
| Ost | Ost | East |
| Ostpr. | Ostpreußen | East Prussia, a former Prussian province |
| P | Postanstalt | Post office |
P (PF) 
|
Post und Fernsprecher | Post office with telephone |
P (PT) 
|
Post und Telegraph | Post office with telegraph |
P (PFT) 
|
Post, Fernsprecher und Telegraph | Post office with telephone and telegraph |
| Pachthof | Pachthof | Smaller leasehold farm |
| Papierw. | Papierwerk | Paper mill |
| PDir. | Postdirektion | District postal authority/authorities |
| Pf… | Pfarr… | Parish- [coupled with another word] |
| Pf. | Pfarrei | Parish |
| Pfalz | Pfalz | Palatinate, a section of Bavaria |
| Pferdehdl. | Pferdehandel | Horse trade |
| Pfk. | Pfarrkirche | Parish church |
| Pomm. | Pommern | Pomerania, a former Prussian province |
| Porzellan | Porzellan | Porcelain, china |
| Posen | Posen | Posen, a former Prussian province |
| Pr., pr. | Preußen (Preußisch), preußisch | Prussia, country and later part of the German Empire, Prussian |
| Präs. | Präsidium | Presidium [governing council], headquarters |
| Prov. | Provinz …(ial) | Province, the name for Prussian states, adj.: provincial |
| Puderw. | Puderwerks | Powder works |
| Pumpen | Pumpen | pumps |
| Puppen | Puppen | dolls, puppets |
| Putzwolle | Putzwolle | wire- or steel wool |
| Pw. | Personenpostwagen oder autoverkehr | Stage-coach or automobile traffic stop |
| Pz. (…dt.) | Polizei (distrikt) | Police (district) |
| Pzdt. | Polizei distrikt | Police district |
| r. | Rechts | Right, to the right of |
| R. | Regierung(s) | Government(al) |
| Raiffbk., RB. | Raiffeisenbank | Rural loan institution named after Raiffeisen, the founder |
| Rangierbhf. | Rangierbahnhof | Railroad switch yard |
| RB. | Regierungsbezirk | Administrative district (term used mainly in Bavaria and Prussia) |
| Rbkh. | Reichsbankhauptstelle | National bank main office |
| Rbkn. | Reichsbanknebenstelle | Branch of the national bank |
| Rbkst. | Reichsbankstelle | Office of national bank |
| r/d | Rechts/der | Right of the |
| Realsch. | Realschule | Secondary school (high school) |
| Ref. | Reformierte | Reformed (church), Calvinist |
| Reg. | Regiment | Regiment (military) |
| ResidenzSt | ResidenzSt | City or town where a ruler or monarch resides |
| Reuß a. L. | Reuss ältere Linie | Reuss older Line; a pricipality that has been part of Thuringen since 1920 |
| Reuß j. L. | Reuss jüngere Linie | Reuss junior Line; a principality that has been part of Thuringen since 1920 |
| Rg. | Rittergut | Landed estate, Knight's estate |
| Rheinl. | Rheinland, -provinz | Rhineland, Rhine province, a former Prussian province. |
| Ritt. | Ritterschaft(s) | Knighthood, knightly |
| RittA. | Ritteramt | an administrative jurisdiction; commonly used in Mecklenburg |
| Ruß | Russland | Russia |
| S., St., Skt. | Sankt | Saint (St.) in connection with place names, churches and foundations |
| s. (a.) | siehe (auch) | See (also), a cross-reference, which may reference another town |
| S. (s) | Süden (südlich) | South (southern) |
| Sa. | Sachsen(Staat) | Saxony, (state) |
| Sa. | Sachsen | Kingdom of Saxony, a former German state |
| Sa. | Sachsen | Saxony (Prussian province) |
| Sa.-A. | Sachsen-Altenburg | Saxony-Altenburg a former German state |
| Sa.-C.-G. | Sachsen-Coburg-Gotha | Saxony-Coburg-Gotha former duchy [German state] |
| Sägew. | Sägewerk | Sawmill |
| Saline | Saline | salt works |
| Sa.-M. | Sachsen-Meiningen | Saxony-Meiningen, a former duchy [German state] |
| Sa.-W.-E | Sachsen-Weimar-Eisenach | Saxony-Weimar-Eisenach, a former duchy [German state) |
| Sanat. | Sanatorium | Sanitarium |
| S. auch | siehe auch | See also |
| Sch., -sch. | Schule,-schule | School, -school |
| Schacht | Schacht | shaft |
| Schäferei | Schäferei | sheep farm |
| Schaumb.-L. | Schaumburg-Lippe | Former principality [German State] |
| Schiff. | Schiffahrt(s) | Naval, maritime, shipping |
| Schiffsbaukunde | Schiffsbaukunde | shipbuilding |
| Schiffsverkehr | Schiffsverkehr | ship traffic |
| Schirmen | Schirmen | Umbrellas, word with case ending "n" |
| Schl. | Schleuse | Sluice (canal, river or harbor lock) |
| Schlachth. | Schlachthaus | Slaughterhouse |
| Schles. | Schlesien | Silesia, a former Prussian province |
| Schlesw.-Holst. | Schleswig-Holstein | Schleswig-Holstein; former province of Prussia |
| Schl., Schloß | Schloß | nobleman's castle |
| Schuhm. | Schuhmacherei | Shoe manufacture |
| Schwaben | Schwaben | Swabia, a region in Bavaria |
| Schwarzb.-Rud. | Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt | Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt, former principality [German state] |
| Schwarzb.-Sond. | Schwarzburg-Sondershausen | Schwarzburg-Sondershausen, former principality [German state] |
| SchwG. | Schwurgericht | Court with a jury |
| S.d./* | Siehe dieses | See this |
| SD. | Dampfer in der saison | Steamship or motorboat service-seasonal only |
| Seife | Seife | Soap |
| seit | seit | Since |
| Sem. | Seminar | Seminary (not always religious), college |
| Sennh. | Sennhütte | Alpine chalet |
| Slg. | Sammlung | Collection |
| SO. (sö.) | Südost, Südosten (südöstlich) | Southeast, southeastern (-easterly) |
| Sonstige | Sonstige | Other, miscellaneous |
| Soviel wie | soviel wie | as much as |
| SpDrl. | Spar- und Darlehnskassenverein | Savings and loan association |
| Spielw. | Spielwaren | Toys |
| Soz. | Sozietät | Society, (usually commercial) corporation |
| Spinn. | Spinnerei | Spinning factory |
| Spital | Spital | Hospital |
| Spk. | Sparkasse | Savings bank |
| St. | Stadt | City (municipality) |
| Stahw. | Stahlwerk | Steelworks |
| Standort | Standort | Garrison (military) |
| Stadtgut | Stadtgut | City-owned farm |
| Stat. | Station | Station, depot |
| StdA. | Standesamt | Civil registration office |
| Stifte | Stifte | Monastery, convent, abbey |
| StKr. | Stadtkreis | Area included in municipal administration district, as opposed to rural or county government which would be “Landkreis”, city with own government |
| StPlan | Stadt Plan | City map |
| str. den ganzen Verweis | str. de ganzen Verweis | Cross out the entire reference |
| Strbn. (…verz.) | Straßenbahn (…verzeichnis) | Tramway, streetcar (…register) |
| Strickw. | Strickwerk | Rope works |
| StTeil | Stadtteil | Part of a city, ward |
| St.Verz. | Strassen Verzeichnis | Street index |
| Süd. | Süd | South |
| Sv. | Servisklasse | tax category for housing |
| Syn. | Synagoge | Synagogue, Jewish place of worship |
| T | Post telegraph | Post & telegraph office |
| Tapeten | Tapeten | Wallpaper |
| Technikum | Technikum | College of technology |
| Thür. | Thüringen | Thuringia [German state since 1920] |
| Thur. Wald. | Thüringen Wald | Thuringia Forest |
| Thüringen | Thürginen | Thuringia German state since 1920] |
| u... | und | And |
| U... | Unter... | Under, but here pertaining to terrain or territory, like Unterfranken =Lower Franconia, as opposed to Oberfranken =Upper Franconia, (part of placename) |
| UFranken | Unterfranken | Lower Franconia, a region in Bavaria |
| Und | Und | And |
| USt. | Unmittelbare Stadt | Immediate area of city |
| unw. d. | Unweit der | Not far from the |
| Unweit | Unweit | not far from, close to |
| usw. | Und so weiter | And so forth |
| v. | von | From, of |
| Ver. | Verein | Association, club |
| Verkehrsanstalten | Verkehrsanstalten | Transportation company |
| Vers. | Versicherung | Insurance |
| Verw. | Verwaltung | Administration, government |
| VerwA. | Verwaltungsamt | Administrative office |
| Vgl. | Vergleiche | compare |
| Viehhdl. | Viehhandel | Livestock trade |
| Viehmarkt | Viehmarkt | Livestock market |
| von | von | From, of |
| vor | vor | before, in front of |
| Vw. | Vorwerk | Residence and/or farm of the administrator of a landed estate on an outlying tract of land, outlying farm of manor |
| -w. | -waren | goods, products |
| -w. | -werk | -works |
| W./West | West | West |
| Waisenh. | Waisenhaus | Orphanage |
| Waldeck | Waldeck | Waldeck, a former German principality |
| Wasserw. | Wasserwerk | Waterworks |
| Weberei | Weberei | weaving mill |
| Weinhdl. | Weinhandlung | Wine shop |
| Westf. | Westfalen | Westphalia a former Prussian province |
| Westpr. | Westpreußen | West Prussia, a former Prussian province |
| Wlr. | Weiler | Hamlet |
| Wohlfahrtsanstalten | Wohlfahrtsanstalten | Welfare institutions |
| Wp. | Wohnplatz | Residence, home |
| Wst. | Werkstätte | Workshop |
| Württ. | Württemberg | Wuerttemberg, former kingdom and German state |
| Z. | Zoll | Toll, customs |
| ZA. | Zollamt | Customs office |
| Zechenh. | Zechenhaus | Tavern |
| Zementw. | Zementwerks | Cement works |
| Zgl. | Ziegelei | Brick works, tile works, brick or tile factory |
| Zh. | Zollhaus | Tollhouse, Custom house |
| Zigarrenfbr. | Zigarrenfabrik | Cigar factory |
| Zinkhütten | Zinkhütten | Zinc furnace |
| Zions. K. | Zionist Kirche | Zionist church |
| Zk. | Zinken | Outlying farm (hamlet), farming settlement |
| Zoll. | Zollhaus | Tollhouse, custom house |
| Zuckerw | Zuckerwerk | Sugar works |
| zum | Zum+zu dem | to the |
| zw. | Zwischen | Between, among |
Words having the ending …erei; …isch; …ungs are abbreviated with a period (.) (thus these endings will have to be added to make the word). Example: Fischerei = Fisch.; Wendisch =Wend. The words ending in …lich are abbreviated after the “l” by a period. Example: nördlich = nrdl.
Population figures after place names, if printed in italic, indicate that the census figures of 1905 were used, rather than the 1910 figures, used otherwise throughout the book.