A dictionary of genealogy abbreviations, acronyms and initials, useful for family history research when trying to read and understand old documents, papers, registers etc.

A.B.           AB Bachelor of Arts 19th century or earlier
A.B.           AB Able-bodied Seaman Military
A.D.C.      ADC Aide-de-Camp Military
A.F.C.       AFC Air Force Cross Medal
A.F.M.       AFM Air Force Medal Medal
A.G.          AG Adjutant General Military
A.M.          AM Master of Arts 19th century or earlier
A.N.Z.A.C.    ANZAC Australian & New Zealand Army Corps Military
A.O.C.      AOC Air Officer Commanding Military
A.T.A.       ATA Air Transport Auxiliary Military
A.T.C.      ATC Air Training Corps Military
A.W.O.L.       AWOL Absent Without Leave Military
abt. about 19th century or earlier
acc. according 19th cent. or earlier
acct. account 19th cent. or earlier
adj. adjoining 19th cent. or earlier
adm. admon. administration 19th cent. or earlier
admr. administrator 19th cent. or earlier
admx. administratrix 19th cent. or earlier
adv. advowson 18th cent. or earlier
aet. aged 18th cent. or earlier
afsd. aforesaid 19th cent. or earlier
agst against 19th cent. or earlier
ald. alderman 19th cent. or earlier
als. alias 19th cent. or earlier
ann. annum, annuity 19th cent. or earlier
ap son 19th cent. or earlier
apoth. apothecary 19th cent. or earlier
app. apparent 19th cent. or earlier
appr. apprentice 19th cent. or earlier
appur. appurtenances 19th cent. or earlier
atty. attorney 19th cent. or earlier
b. born 19th cent. or earlier
B.A.O.R.      BAOR British Army of the Rhine Military
B.E.M.          BEM British Empire Medal Medal
bach. baptized 19th century or earlier
bapt. bachelor 19th cent. or earlier
Bart. Baronet 19th cent. or earlier
Bart. (Bt.) Baronet Honours
bd. bound 19th century or earlier
bef. before 19th cent. or earlier
beq. bequest 19th cent. or earlier
betw. between 19th cent. or earlier
Bish. bishop 19th cent. or earlier
bk book More Recent
blksmth blacksmith 19th century or earlier
BMD Births, Marriages & Deaths More Recent
bo. born 19th century or earlier
bot. bought 19th cent. or earlier
Boyds Boyds Marriage Index More Recent
bp. bishop 19th century or earlier
bro. bros. brother (s) 19th cent. or earlier
bt. baronet 19th cent. or earlier
BTs. Bishops Transcripts More Recent
bur. buried 19th century or earlier
c.    ca. about (circa) 19th cent. or earlier
C.B.          CB Companion of the Bath Honours
C.B.E.      CBE Commander of Order of British Empire Honours
C.C.F.      CCF Combined Cadet Force Military
C.F.          CF Chaplin to the Forces Military
C.G.M.     CGM Conspicuous Gallantry Medal Medal
C.H.         CH Companion of Honour Honours
C.I.           CI Lady of Imperial Order of the Crown of India Honours
C.I.E.       CIE Companion, Order of Indian Empire Honours
C.I.G.S.   CIGS Chief of Imperial General Staff Military
C.M.G.     CMG Companion, Order of St. Michael & St. George Honours
C.O.         CO Commanding Officer Military
C.R.O.     CRO County Record Office More Recent
C.S.I.       CSI Companion, Order of Star of India Honours
C.V.O.     CVO Commander, Royal Victorian Order Honours
Calendar Catalogue of documents with summary of contents More Recent
cap. capital 19th century or earlier
Capt. captain 19th cent. or earlier
Cath. cathedral 19th cent. or earlier
cf. Compare (confer) More Recent
Ch. church 19th century or earlier
ch. chn. child, children 19th cent. or earlier
chan. chancel 19th cent. or earlier
chap. chapter More Recent
chyd. churchyard 19th century or earlier
cir. about (circa) More Recent
cit. citizen 19th century or earlier
clk. clerk 19th cent. or earlier
clthwrkr. clothworker 19th cent. or earlier
co. county, company 19th cent. or earlier
CoA College of Arms More Recent
cod. codicil 19th century or earlier
Coll. college 19th cent. or earlier
com. commission 19th cent. or earlier
cond. conditional 19th cent. or earlier
conf. confirming 19th cent. or earlier
cos. cousin (s) 19th cent. or earlier
coy. company 19th cent. or earlier
cred. creditor 19th cent. or earlier
ct. court 19th cent. or earlier
cur. curate 19th cent. or earlier
cust. customary 19th cent. or earlier
d. (s) daughter(s) 19th cent. or earlier
d. b. n. de bonis non 19th cent. or earlier
D. C. L.        DCL Doctor of Civil Law 19th cent. or earlier
D. D.            DD Doctor of Divinity 19th cent. or earlier
D.B.E.         DBE Dame Commander of Order of British Empire Honours
D.C.M.        DCM Distinguished Conduct Medal Medal
D.C.V.O.     DCVO Dame Commander of the Royal Victorian Order Honours
D.F.C.         DFC Distinguished Flying Cross Medal
D.F.M.         DFM Distinguished Flying Medal Medal
d.m. during minority 19th century or earlier
D.N.B.        DNB Dictionary of National Biography More Recent
D.P. Displaced Persons More Recent
D.S.C.        DSC Distinguished Service Cross Medal
D.S.M.        DSM Distinguished Service Medal Medal
D.S.O.        DSO Companion of Distinguished Order Medal
d.s.p. died without issue (decessit sine prole) 19th century or earlier
d.v.m. died in mothers lifetime (decessit vitae matre) 19th cent. or earlier
d.v.p. died in father's lifetime (decessit vitae patre) 19th cent. or earlier
dat. date, dated 19th cent. or earlier
dau. daus. daughter(s) 19th cent. or earlier
decd. deceased 19th cent. or earlier
def. sen. definitive sentence 19th cent. or earlier
dept. department More Recent
dii died in infancy More Recent
Dioc. diocese 19th century or earlier
dow. dowager 19th cent. or earlier
Dr. doctor 19th cent. or earlier
dur. during 19th cent. or earlier
E. Earl, East 19th cent. or earlier
E.R.D.       ERD Emergency Reserve Decoration Medal
Ebor. York 19th century or earlier
ed edition, editor More Recent
eld. elder, eldest 19th century or earlier
Epi. bishop (episcopus, an overseer) 19th century or earlier
Esq. esquire 19th cent. or earlier
est. estate 19th cent. or earlier
et al and others More Recent
exec. executor, executrix 19th century or earlier
Exor: executor 19th cent. or earlier
Extx: executrix 19th cent. or earlier
f. father 19th cent. or earlier
F.A.N.Y.       FANY First Aid Nursing Yeomanry Military
fath. father 19th century or earlier
FFHS The Federation of Family History Societies More Recent
FHC LDS Family History Centre More Recent
FHS Family History Society More Recent
fo. / fol folio More Recent
form. formerly 19th century or earlier
fr. from 19th cent. or earlier
FRC Family Records Centre More Recent
frd. friend 19th century or earlier
fshmgr. fishmonger 19th cent. or earlier
G.B.E.           GBE Knight or Dame Grand Cross of British Empire Honours
G.C.              GC George Cross Medal
G.C.B.          GCB Knight Grand Cross of the Bath Honours
G.C.I.E.        GCIE Knight Grand Commander of Indian Empire Honours
G.C.M.G.      GCMG Knight Grand Cross of St. Michael & St. George Honours
G.C.S.I.        GCSI Knight Grand Commander of Star of India Honours
G.C.V.O.      GCVO Knight or Dame Grand Cross of Royal Victorian Order Honours
G.H.Q.         GHQ General Headquarters Military
G.M.             GM George Medal Medal
G.O.C.         GOC General Officer Commanding Military
G.R.D.         GRD The Genealogical Research Directory More Recent
G.R.O.         GRO General Register Office More Recent
G.S.O.         GSO General Staff Officer Military
gent. gentleman, gentlewoman 19th century or earlier
gods. godson 19th cent. or earlier
GOONS Guild of One Name Studies More Recent
gr. granted 19th century or earlier
gr. grch. great grandchild 19th cent. or earlier
grch. grchn. grandchild(ren) 19th cent. or earlier
grd. ground 19th cent. or earlier
grds. granson 19th cent. or earlier
gt. great 19th cent. or earlier
guard. guardian 19th cent. or earlier
h. husband 19th cent. or earlier
H.A.C.         HAC Honourable Artillery Company Military
H.M.            HM His/Her Majesty 18th century or earlier
H.M.A.S.     HMAS Her Majesty's Australian Ship Military
H.Q.            HQ Headquarters Military
hbdr. haberdasher 19th century or earlier
hds. hands 19th cent. or earlier
HMSO Her Majesty's Stationery Office More Recent
hosp. hospital 19th century
hou. hous. house, houses 19th century or earlier
hr. heir 19th cent. or earlier
hund. hundred 19th cent. or earlier
husb. husband 19th cent. or earlier
husbm. husbandman 19th cent. or earlier
I. island, isle 19th cent. or earlier
Ibid (ibidem) In the same place More Recent
ibm. same 19th century or earlier
Id (idem) The same More Recent
IGI International Genealogical Index, compiled by the LDS More Recent
incl. including 19th century or earlier
indr., indent. indenture 19th cent. or earlier
Inst In the current month (instant) More Recent
inv. inventory 19th century or earlier
jr. junior 19th cent. or earlier
jt. joint 19th cent. or earlier
K.B.             KB Knight of the Bath 19th cent. or earlier
K.C.B.         KCB Knight Commander of the Bath Honours
K.C.I.E.       KCIE Knight Commander of the Indian Empire Honours
K.C.M.G.     KCMG Knight Commander of the St. Michael & St. George Honours
K.C.S.I.       KCSI Knight Commander of the Star of India Honours
K.C.V.O.     KCVO Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order Honours
K.G.            KG Knight of the Garter Honours
K.T.             KT Knight of the Thistle Honours
kinsm. kinsman 18th century or earlier
kinsw. kinswoman 19th cent. or earlier
Kt. Knight 19th cent. or earlier
Kt. Knight Bachelor Honours
labr. labourer 19th century or earlier
Ld. Lord 19th cent. or earlier
ld. lds. land, lands 19th cent. or earlier
LDS Church of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons) More Recent
leg. legacy, legatee 19th century or earlier
lieunt. lieutenant 19th cent. or earlier
liv. living 19th cent. or earlier
m. mother 19th cent. or earlier
M.B.E.           MBE Member of the British Empire Order Honours
M.C.              MC Military Cross Medal
M.I.                MI monumental inscription 19th cent. or earlier
M.M.              MM Military Medal Medal
M.S.   (MSS) manuscript (s) More Recent
M.V.O.          MVO Member of the Royal Victorian Order Honours
man. manor 19th century or earlier
marr. married, marriage 19th cent. or earlier
md. maid 19th cent. or earlier
mem. memorandum 19th cent. or earlier
merch. merchant 19th cent. or earlier
Merchtayl. Merchant Taylor 19th cent. or earlier
mess. messuage 19th cent. or earlier
min. minority, minor 19th cent. or earlier
Mis Memorial Inscriptions More Recent
mon. monument 19th century or earlier
mort. mortgage, mortgaged 19th cent. or earlier
moth. mother 19th cent. or earlier
Mr. mister, master 19th cent. or earlier
Mris. mistress 19th cent. or earlier
Mrs. misses 19th cent. or earlier
N. North 19th cent. or earlier
n./ nn. note(s) More Recent
N.A.A.F.I.     NAAFI Navy Army & Air Force Institutes Military
N.C.O.         NCO Non-commissioned Officer Military
n.d. no publication date More Recent
n.p. no publisher shown More Recent
N.S.             NS new series, new style More Recent
NA National Archives (formerly PRO) More Recent
nbr. (s) neighbour (s) 19th century or earlier
neph. nephew 19th cent. or earlier
no. number More Recent
not.pub. notary public 19th century or earlier
nr. near 19th cent. or earlier
nunc. nuncupative 19th cent. or earlier
O.B.E.         OBE Officer of British Empire Honours
O.C.            OC Officer Commanding Military
ob died 19th century or earlier
occ. occupation, occupied 19th cent. or earlier
oth. other others 19th cent. or earlier
Overs. overseeer(s) 19th cent. or earlier
p. parish 19th cent. or earlier
p./ pp. page(s) More Recent
p.p. privately printed More Recent
par. parson 19th century or earlier
pars parsonage 19th cent. or earlier
PCC Prerogative Court of Canterbury More Recent
PCY Prerogative Court of York More Recent
pd. paid 19th century or earlier
Pk. park 19th cent. or earlier
poss. possession 19th cent. or earlier
pow. res., p.r. power reserved 19th cent. or earlier
PPR Principal Probate Registery More Recent
pr. proved, probate 19th century or earlier
pres. presence 19th cent. or earlier
prin.(c) principal 19th cent. or earlier
PRO Public Record Office More Recent
prov. provision, provided 19th century or earlier
PRs Parish Registers More Recent
psh. parish 19th century or earlier
pshr. parishoner 19th cent. or earlier
pt. part 19th cent. or earlier
pub. published 19th cent. or earlier
Q.H.C.        QHC Honorary Chaplin to the Queen Honours
Q.M.G.        QMG Quartermaster-General Military
R.A.             RA Royal Artillery Military
R.A.C.         RAC Royal Armoured Corps Military
R.A.M.C.     RAMC Royal Army Medical Corps Military
R.A.O.C.     RAOC Royal Army Ordnance Corps Military
R.A.P.C.     RAPC Royal Army Pay Corps Military
R.A.V.C.     RAVC Royal Army Vetinary Corps Military
R.E.            RE Royal Engineers Military
R.E.M.E     REME Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers Military
R.H.A.        RHA Royal Horse Artillery Military
R.M.            RM Royal Marines Military
R.O.C.        ROC Royal Observer Corps Military
Rcor. Recorder 19th century or earlier
recd. recorded 19th cent. or earlier
rect. rector, rectory 19th cent. or earlier
rel. relict 19th cent. or earlier
Relic widow More Recent
rem. remainder 19th century or earlier
ren. renounced 19th cent. or earlier
rep. repair 19th cent. or earlier
res residue 19th cent. or earlier
res. leg. residuary legatee 19th cent. or earlier
resd. reserved 19th cent. or earlier
rev. ed. revised edition More Recent
S. South 19th century or earlier
s. son 19th cent. or earlier
S. T. P.        STP Professor of Sacred Theology

S.M.S Nurse Subsidiary Medical Services Confinement Nurse

sch. school 19th century or earlier
scr. scrivener 19th cent. or earlier
script. scriptor 19th cent. or earlier
sd. said 19th cent. or earlier
sect. section More Recent
senr. senior 19th century or earlier
sent. sentence 19th cent. or earlier
servt. servant 18th cent. or earlier
sig. signature, signed 19th cent. or earlier
sis. (t) sister 19th cent. or earlier
Sog     S.O.G.
Society of Genealogists More Recent
spr. spinster 19th century or earlier
St. Saint 19th cent. or earlier
supp. supplement More Recent
surr. surrender, surrendered 19th century or earlier
ten. tenant, tenure 19th cent. or earlier
tent. tenement 19th cent. or earlier
test. testament 19th cent. or earlier
testr. testator 19th cent. or earlier
Transcr transcriber More Recent
transl. translator More Recent
und. under 19th century or earlier
univ. universal 19th cent. or earlier
Univ. university 19th cent. or earlier
unm. unmarried 19th cent. or earlier
ux. wife 18th cent. or earlier
uz. wife 18th cent. or earlier
V.C.               VC Victoria Cross Medal
V.R.D.           VRD Volunteer Reserve Decoration Medal
valid validating 19th century or earlier
verch. daughter 19th cent. or earlier
vers. version More Recent
vic. vicar, vicarage 19th century or earlier
viz. namely 18th cent. or earlier
vol. volume More Recent
W. West 19th century or earlier
w. wife 19th cent. or earlier
W.A.A.F.        WAAF Women's Auxiliary Air Force Military
W.O.              WO Warrant Officer Military
W.R.A.C.       WRAC Women's Royal Army Corps Military
W.R.N.S.      WRNS Women's Royal Naval Service (wrens) Military
wch. which 19th century or earlier
wh. where 19th cent. or earlier
wid. widow 19th cent. or earlier
widr. widower 19th cent. or earlier
wits. witness(es) 19th cent. or earlier
wt. with 19th cent. or earlier
X Christ 19th cent. or earlier
Xped Christened 19th cent. or earlier
yd. yard 19th cent. or earlier
yeom. yeoman 19th cent. or earlier
yr. younger 19th cent. or earlier