Acronyms and Abbreviations: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 12:27, 18 March 2023

	The usage of "Mormon" and "LDS" on this page is approved according to current policy.

Acronyms and Abbreviations[edit | edit source]

There are many acronymns and abbreviated words unique to genealogy and family history research that may not be easily found in any other industry's terminology. Here are some of the more commonly used acronyms and abbreviations:

Abt: About or Circa; an guessed date, e.g., "Abt 1745"

ACPL: Allen County Public Library; library in Fort Wayne, Indiana with extensive genealogy collections. Librarians at the Allen County Public Library maintain PERSI, the PERiodical Source Index, which indexes genealogical and local history sources from periodicals.

AF: Ancestral File; Ancestral File is a collection of over 35 million names linked into family groups and pedigrees. The records include information voluntarily contributed to familysearch.org by patrons from 1978-1991.

Aft: After. The date is known to be later than a specified date, e.g., "Aft 1900".

AG: Accredited Genealogist. Title given to individuals who pass accreditation exams of the International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists.

: American Genealogical Biographical Index; A large name index of genealogies published by the Godfrey Memorial Library. The data also include unindexed and partially indexed genealogies and several specialized vital record collections and census data from 1790.

bap.: Baptized

Bef: Before. The date is known to be before the specified date, e.g. "Bef 1930".

BMD: Births, Marriages, and Deaths; sometimes written BDM.

Cal: Calculated. The date was calculated from a source. If you can only calculate, for example, a birth/marriage date based upon a census or the birth date based upon the death date, e.g. "Cal 1854".

CFI: Computer File Index, later known as the International Genealogical Index (IGI).

CG: Certified Genealogist. Title given to individuals who pass the certification exam of the Board for Certification of Genealogists.

chr: Christened

c / ca: Circa. Approximately (ex. "ca 1535" means "in about 1535")

CNBL: Cannot Be Located

DAR: Daughters of the American Revolution; Lineage society for female descendants of soldiers who fought in the Revolutionary War. The DAR Library in Washington, D.C. houses significant genealogical collections and is open to the public.

DOB / DOD: Date of Birth / Date of Death

DUP: International Society Daughters of the Utah Pioneers; Lineage society for female descendants of early Utah settlers. Sponsors Pioneer Memorial Museum, and Pioneer Histories Digitization Project.

EKA: Earliest known ancestor.

Est: Estimated. The date was estimated based upon family stories / traditions / standard genealogical estimations, e.g. "Est 1848". Standard genealogical standards include: man marrying at 25, woman marrying at 21, first child one year after marriage, and subsequent children every two years. For example, marriage in 1825, would give the husband's birth "Est 1800", wife's birth "Est 1804", first child's birth "Est 1826", second child's birth "Est 1828", etc.

FASG: Fellow of the American Society of Genealogists.

FGS: Federation of Genealogical Societies

FGRA: Family Group Records Archive. This file was maintained by the Genealogical Society of Utah, a forerunner of the current FamilySearch Library and FamilySearch. The archive consists of Family Group sheets in two parts: a MAIN section containing patron submissions from 1942-1969; and a PATRON section containing patron submissions from 1962-1979.

Submissions to the MAIN section were verified for accuracy and received additional processing when they were submitted. Both sections were microfilmed and made available to FamilySearch Centers.

FHC: FamilySearch center (to find a FamilySearch center near you, click here)

FHL: FamilySearch Library, largest genealogical library in the world. Located in Salt Lake City, Utah and sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

FamilySearch Catalog: FamilySearch Catalog; searchable catalog of microfilm, fiche, books and periodicals available through FamilySearch.org.

FSG: Fellow of the Society of Genealogists (London).

GEDCOM: GEnealogical Data COMmunications (industry standard file format used by genealogy software programs to transfer data)

IAJGS: International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies

ill.: Illegitimate (often recorded on birth certificates and other birth records)

inst.: Instant. Present or current month; e.g., "He departed this life on the 25th inst., after a long illness..."

IGI: International Genealogical Index

JGS: Jewish Genealogical Society (see IAJSG)

LDS: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

LOC: Library of Congress; Research arm of the United States Congress. Digital collections include historic newspapers, photographs, family genealogies, biographies and other items of interest to family history researchers.

NARA: National Archives Records Administration; repository of official US government records including census, military, immigration, and other documents of interest to family history researchers.

NEHGS: New England Historic Genealogical Society

NGS: National Genealogical Society; provides education and training in genealogical research methods and works to promote access to and preservation of genealogical records.

PERSI: The PERiodical Source Index maintained by the Allen County Public Library of genealogical and local history periodicals, listed by source. PERSI's objective is to, over time, compile a complete subject index of all such periodicals--past and present.

PAF: Personal Ancestral File; freeware genealogy software previously provided by FamilySearch; discontinued July 15, 2013.

PRF: Pedigree Resource File; lineage-linked family information submitted by patrons to FamilySearch.

PRO: Public Records Office; National Archives repository for official public records (birth, marriage, death, census, etc.) for the United Kingdom.

SSDI: Social Security Death Index; master file of US death records reported to the Social Security Administration available for free on-line through Social Security Death Index, Ancestry, GenealogyBank and other websites.

TIB: Temple Records Index Bureau, a card-file index system maintained from 1927-1970 containing references to births, christenings and marriages for deceased (dating from 1500) and living persons (to 1970). The TIB was replaced by the CFI (later the IGI).

Additional Resources[edit | edit source]

Websites[edit | edit source]

Abreviations found in Genealogy at Rootsweb.
Glossary of Genealogical Terms at Ancestry.
The A to Z of British Genealogical Research (The Emery Paper): Abbreviations at GENUKI.
Abbreviations & Acronyms for Genealogy - The Accepted at GENi.
List of occupation abbreviations at GenealogyInTime.
Abbreviations for English given names at Wiktionary.

FamilySearch Library Resources[edit | edit source]

There are also books which give the definitions of many abbreviated words. One such book is "Abbreviations & Acronyms: a guide for family historians" compiled by Kip Sperry (FS Library book US/Can 929.103Sp37a.)

Use a Title search for "abbreviations" in the FamilySearch Catalog found on the www.familysearch.org website for other books which define abbreviations and acronyms such as: Acronyms, Initialisms, and Abbreviations Dictionary: a guide to acronyms, abbreviations, contractions, alphabetic symbols, and similar condensed appellations by Jennifer Mossman (FS Library book US/Can 428.1 M855a v.1 pt.1 1995.)

@@ Line 7: / Line 7: @@
 ;Abt
-{{Block indent|About or Circa; an guessed date, e.g., "Abt 1745"}}
+:About or Circa; an guessed date, e.g., "Abt 1745"
 ;ACPL
-{{Block indent|[[Allen County Public Library|Allen County Public Library]]; library in Fort Wayne, Indiana with extensive genealogy collections. Librarians at the Allen County Public Library maintain PERSI, the [[Periodical Source Index (PERSI)|PERiodical Source Index]], which indexes genealogical and local history sources from periodicals.<br>}}
+:[[Allen County Public Library|Allen County Public Library]]; library in Fort Wayne, Indiana with extensive genealogy collections. Librarians at the Allen County Public Library maintain PERSI, the [[Periodical Source Index (PERSI)|PERiodical Source Index]], which indexes genealogical and local history sources from periodicals.<br>
 ;AF
-{{Block indent|[[Ancestral File]]; Ancestral File is a collection of over 35 million names linked into family groups and pedigrees. The records include information voluntarily contributed to familysearch.org by patrons from 1978-1991.}}
+:[[Ancestral File]]; Ancestral File is a collection of over 35 million names linked into family groups and pedigrees. The records include information voluntarily contributed to familysearch.org by patrons from 1978-1991.
 ;Aft
-{{Block indent|After. The date is known to be later than a specified date, e.g., "Aft 1900".}}
+:After. The date is known to be later than a specified date, e.g., "Aft 1900".
 ;AG
-{{Block indent|Accredited Genealogist. Title given to individuals who pass accreditation exams of the [http://www.icapgen.org/icapgen/ International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists].}}
+:Accredited Genealogist. Title given to individuals who pass accreditation exams of the [http://www.icapgen.org/icapgen/ International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists].
 ;;AGBI
-{{Block indent|[[American Genealogical Biographical Index (AGBI)|American Genealogical Biographical Index]]; A large name index of genealogies published by the [http://www.godfrey.org/ Godfrey Memorial Library]. The data also include unindexed and partially indexed genealogies and several specialized vital record collections and census data from 1790.}}
+:[[American Genealogical Biographical Index (AGBI)|American Genealogical Biographical Index]]; A large name index of genealogies published by the [http://www.godfrey.org/ Godfrey Memorial Library]. The data also include unindexed and partially indexed genealogies and several specialized vital record collections and census data from 1790.
 ;bap.
-{{Block indent|Baptized}}
+:Baptized
 ;Bef
-{{Block indent|Before. The date is known to be before the specified date, e.g. "Bef 1930".}}
+:Before. The date is known to be before the specified date, e.g. "Bef 1930".
 ;BMD
-{{Block indent|Births, Marriages, and Deaths; sometimes written BDM.}}
+:Births, Marriages, and Deaths; sometimes written BDM.
 ;Cal
-{{Block indent|Calculated. The date was calculated from a source. If you can only calculate, for example, a birth/marriage date based upon a census or the birth date based upon the death date, e.g. "Cal 1854".}}
+:Calculated. The date was calculated from a source. If you can only calculate, for example, a birth/marriage date based upon a census or the birth date based upon the death date, e.g. "Cal 1854".
 ;CFI
-{{Block indent|Computer File Index, later known as the [https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/list International Genealogical Index ](IGI).}}
+:Computer File Index, later known as the [https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/list International Genealogical Index ](IGI).
 ;CG
-{{Block indent|Certified Genealogist. Title given to individuals who pass the certification exam of the Board for Certification of Genealogists.}}
+:Certified Genealogist. Title given to individuals who pass the certification exam of the Board for Certification of Genealogists.
 ;chr
-{{Block indent|Christened}}
+:Christened
 ;c / ca
-{{Block indent|Circa. Approximately (ex. "ca 1535" means "in about 1535")}}
+:Circa. Approximately (ex. "ca 1535" means "in about 1535")
 ;CNBL
-{{Block indent|Cannot Be Located}}
+:Cannot Be Located
 ;DAR
-{{Block indent|[http://www.dar.org/ Daughters of the American Revolution]; Lineage society for female descendants of soldiers who fought in the Revolutionary War. The [[Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Library|DAR Library]] in Washington, D.C. houses significant genealogical collections and is open to the public.}}
+:[http://www.dar.org/ Daughters of the American Revolution]; Lineage society for female descendants of soldiers who fought in the Revolutionary War. The [[Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Library|DAR Library]] in Washington, D.C. houses significant genealogical collections and is open to the public.
 ;DOB / DOD
-{{Block indent|Date of Birth / Date of Death}}
+:Date of Birth / Date of Death
 ;DUP
-{{Block indent|[http://www.dupinternational.org/ International Society Daughters of the Utah Pioneers]; Lineage society for female descendants of early Utah settlers. Sponsors Pioneer Memorial Museum, and Pioneer Histories Digitization Project.}}
+:[http://www.dupinternational.org/ International Society Daughters of the Utah Pioneers]; Lineage society for female descendants of early Utah settlers. Sponsors Pioneer Memorial Museum, and Pioneer Histories Digitization Project.
 ;EKA
-{{Block indent|Earliest known ancestor.}}
+:Earliest known ancestor.
 ;Est
-{{Block indent|Estimated. The date was estimated based upon family stories / traditions / standard genealogical estimations, e.g. "Est 1848". Standard genealogical standards include: man marrying at 25, woman marrying at 21, first child one year after marriage, and subsequent children every two years. For example, marriage in 1825, would give the husband's birth "Est 1800", wife's birth "Est 1804", first child's birth "Est 1826", second child's birth "Est 1828", etc.}}
+:Estimated. The date was estimated based upon family stories / traditions / standard genealogical estimations, e.g. "Est 1848". Standard genealogical standards include: man marrying at 25, woman marrying at 21, first child one year after marriage, and subsequent children every two years. For example, marriage in 1825, would give the husband's birth "Est 1800", wife's birth "Est 1804", first child's birth "Est 1826", second child's birth "Est 1828", etc.
 ;FASG
-{{Block indent|Fellow of the American Society of Genealogists.}}
+:Fellow of the American Society of Genealogists.
 ;FGS
-{{Block indent|Federation of Genealogical Societies}}
+:Federation of Genealogical Societies
 ;FGRA
-{{Block indent|[[Family Group Records Collection|Family Group Records Archive]]. This file was maintained by the [[Genealogical Society of Utah|Genealogical Society of Utah]], a forerunner of the current FamilySearch Library and FamilySearch. The archive consists of Family Group sheets in two parts: a MAIN section containing patron submissions from 1942-1969; and a PATRON section containing patron submissions from 1962-1979.}}
+:[[Family Group Records Collection|Family Group Records Archive]]. This file was maintained by the [[Genealogical Society of Utah|Genealogical Society of Utah]], a forerunner of the current FamilySearch Library and FamilySearch. The archive consists of Family Group sheets in two parts: a MAIN section containing patron submissions from 1942-1969; and a PATRON section containing patron submissions from 1962-1979.
-{{Block indent|Submissions to the MAIN section were verified for accuracy and received additional processing when they were submitted. Both sections were microfilmed and made available to FamilySearch Centers.}}
+:Submissions to the MAIN section were verified for accuracy and received additional processing when they were submitted. Both sections were microfilmed and made available to FamilySearch Centers.
 ;FHC
-{{Block indent|[https://www.familysearch.org/en/centers/about FamilySearch center] (to find a FamilySearch center near you, '''[https://www.familysearch.org/centers/locations/ click here]''')<br>}}
+:[https://www.familysearch.org/en/centers/about FamilySearch center] (to find a FamilySearch center near you, '''[https://www.familysearch.org/centers/locations/ click here]''')<br>
 ;FHL
-{{Block indent|[https://www.familysearch.org/en/library/ FamilySearch Library], largest genealogical library in the world. Located in Salt Lake City, Utah and sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.<br>}}
+:[https://www.familysearch.org/en/library/ FamilySearch Library], largest genealogical library in the world. Located in Salt Lake City, Utah and sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.<br>
 ;FamilySearch Catalog
-{{Block indent|[[Introduction to the FamilySearch Catalog|FamilySearch Catalog]]; searchable catalog of microfilm, fiche, books and periodicals available through [https://www.familysearch.org/ FamilySearch.org].<br>}}
+:[[Introduction to the FamilySearch Catalog|FamilySearch Catalog]]; searchable catalog of microfilm, fiche, books and periodicals available through [https://www.familysearch.org/ FamilySearch.org].<br>
 ;FSG
-{{Block indent|Fellow of the Society of Genealogists (London).}}
+:Fellow of the Society of Genealogists (London).
 ;GEDCOM
-{{Block indent|[[Gedcom|GEnealogical Data COMmunications]] (industry standard file format used by genealogy software programs to transfer data)}}
+:[[Gedcom|GEnealogical Data COMmunications]] (industry standard file format used by genealogy software programs to transfer data)
 ;IAJGS
-{{Block indent|[http://www.iajgs.org International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies]}}
+:[http://www.iajgs.org International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies]
 ;ill.
-{{Block indent|Illegitimate (often recorded on birth certificates and other birth records)}}
+:Illegitimate (often recorded on birth certificates and other birth records)
 ;inst.
-{{Block indent|Instant. Present or current month; e.g., "He departed this life on the 25th inst., after a long illness..."}}
+:Instant. Present or current month; e.g., "He departed this life on the 25th inst., after a long illness..."
 ;IGI
-{{Block indent|[https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/list International Genealogical Index]}}
+:[https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/list International Genealogical Index]
 ;JGS
-{{Block indent|Jewish Genealogical Society (see IAJSG)}}
+:Jewish Genealogical Society (see IAJSG)
 ;LDS
-{{Block indent|[https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]}}
+:[https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]
 ;LOC
-{{Block indent|[https://www.loc.gov/ Library of Congress]; Research arm of the United States Congress. Digital collections include historic newspapers, photographs, family genealogies, biographies and other items of interest to family history researchers.}}
+:[https://www.loc.gov/ Library of Congress]; Research arm of the United States Congress. Digital collections include historic newspapers, photographs, family genealogies, biographies and other items of interest to family history researchers.
 ;NARA
-{{Block indent|[http://www.archives.gov/ National Archives Records Administration]; repository of official US government records including census, military, immigration, and other documents of interest to family history researchers.}}
+:[http://www.archives.gov/ National Archives Records Administration]; repository of official US government records including census, military, immigration, and other documents of interest to family history researchers.
 ;NEHGS
-{{Block indent|[[New England Historic Genealogical Society|New England Historic Genealogical Society]]}}
+:[[New England Historic Genealogical Society|New England Historic Genealogical Society]]
 ;NGS
-{{Block indent|[https://www.ngsgenealogy.org/ National Genealogical Society]; provides education and training in genealogical research methods and works to promote access to and preservation of genealogical records.}}
+:[https://www.ngsgenealogy.org/ National Genealogical Society]; provides education and training in genealogical research methods and works to promote access to and preservation of genealogical records.
 ;PERSI
-{{Block indent|The PERiodical Source Index maintained by the [[Allen County Public Library|Allen County Public Library]] of genealogical and local history periodicals, listed by source. PERSI's objective is to, over time, compile a complete subject index of all such periodicals--past and present.}}
+:The PERiodical Source Index maintained by the [[Allen County Public Library|Allen County Public Library]] of genealogical and local history periodicals, listed by source. PERSI's objective is to, over time, compile a complete subject index of all such periodicals--past and present.
 ;PAF
-{{Block indent|Personal Ancestral File; freeware genealogy software previously provided by [[FamilySearch]]; discontinued July 15, 2013. }}
+:Personal Ancestral File; freeware genealogy software previously provided by [[FamilySearch]]; discontinued July 15, 2013.
 ;PRF
-{{Block indent|[[Pedigree Resource File|Pedigree Resource File]]; lineage-linked family information submitted by patrons to [[FamilySearch]].}}
+:[[Pedigree Resource File|Pedigree Resource File]]; lineage-linked family information submitted by patrons to [[FamilySearch]].
 ;PRO
-{{Block indent|Public Records Office; [https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/default.htm National Archives] repository for official public records (birth, marriage, death, census, etc.) for the United Kingdom.<br>}}
+:Public Records Office; [https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/default.htm National Archives] repository for official public records (birth, marriage, death, census, etc.) for the United Kingdom.<br>
 ;SSDI
-{{Block indent|[[Social Security Death Index (SSDI)|Social Security Death Index]]; master file of US death records reported to the [https://www.ssa.gov/ Social Security Administration] available for free on-line through {{RecordSearch|1202535|Social Security Death Index}}, [https://www.ancestry.com/c/family-history-learning-hub/ssdi Ancestry], [https://www.genealogybank.com/explore/ssdi/all GenealogyBank] and other websites.}}
+:[[Social Security Death Index (SSDI)|Social Security Death Index]]; master file of US death records reported to the [https://www.ssa.gov/ Social Security Administration] available for free on-line through {{RecordSearch|1202535|Social Security Death Index}}, [https://www.ancestry.com/c/family-history-learning-hub/ssdi Ancestry], [https://www.genealogybank.com/explore/ssdi/all GenealogyBank] and other websites.
 ;TIB
-{{Block indent|Temple Records Index Bureau, a card-file index system maintained from 1927-1970 containing references to births, christenings and marriages for deceased (dating from 1500) and living persons (to 1970). The TIB was replaced by the CFI (later the [[International Genealogical Index (IGI)|IGI]]).}}
+:Temple Records Index Bureau, a card-file index system maintained from 1927-1970 containing references to births, christenings and marriages for deceased (dating from 1500) and living persons (to 1970). The TIB was replaced by the CFI (later the [[International Genealogical Index (IGI)|IGI]]).
 === Additional Resources  ===