This is a
collection of legal terms and phrases that you may encounter in land
records for the United States. Also, this site provides references to other
books for those who wish to read further on the subject.
Initials after your ancestor’s names may provide useful information
that you'd not expected. The following list includes initials you may
come across when reading old wills or other documents.
a.a.s. - died in the year of his/her age (anno aetitis suae)
(86 y/o or died in year 86 of his/her life)
d.s.p. - died without issue (decessit sine prole legitima)
d.s.p.l. - died without legitimate issue (decessit sine prole
mascula supesita)
d.s.p.m.s. - died without surviving male issue (decessit sine
prole mascula supersita)
d.s.p.s. - died without surviving issue (decessit sine prole supersita)
d.unm - died unmarried
d.v.p. - died in the lifetime of his father (decessit vita patris)
d.v.m. - died in the lifetime of his mother (decessit vita matris)
Et al - and others (et alia)
Inst - present month (instans)
Liber - book or volume
Nepos - grandson
Nunc - Nuncapative will, an oral will, written by a witness
Ob - he/she died (obit)
Relict - widow or widower (relicta/relictus)
Sic - so or thus, exact copy as written
Testes - witnesses
Utl - late (ultimo)
Ux or vs - wife (uxor)
Viz - namely (videlicet)
Common abbreviations of religious, military, fraternal & charitable
organizations seen on tombstones or in obits/death notices
AF&AM Ancient Free and Accepted Masons
AOF Ancient Order Of Foresters
AOH Ancient Order Of Hibernians
AOKMC Ancient Order Of Knights of Mystic Chain
AOUW Ancient Order Of United Workmen
ALOH American Legion of Honor
AUM Ancient Order of Mysteries- Masonic Order
BPOE Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks
BPOEW Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of theWorld
CK of A Catholic Knights of America
COOF Catholic Order of Foresters
CTAS Catholic Total Abstinence Society
CBKA Commander Benevolent Knights Association
CCTAS Crusaders-Catholic Total Abstinence Society
CSA Confederate States Army
DAR Daughters of American Revolution
EBA Emerald Beneficial Association
FAA Free and Accepted Americans
F&AM Free and Accepted Masons.
FOE Fraternal Order of Eagles
GALSTPTR German American Legion of St. Peter
GAR Grand Army of the Republic
GLAUM Grand Lodge Ancient Order of Mysteries-Masonic Order
GUOOF Grand United Order of Odd Fellows
IHSV Red Cross of Constantine
IOI Independent Order of Immaculates
IOKP Independent Order of Knights of Pythias
IOOF Independent Order of Odd Fellows
ISH Independent Sons of Honor
IORM Improved Order of Redmen
IWW Industrial Workers of the World
JAOUW Junior Order-Ancient Order of United Workmen
JOUAM Junior Order-Order of United American Mechanics
KGL Knight Grand Legion
KM Knights Militant
KC Knights of Columbus
K of C Knights of Columbus
K of FM Knights of Father Matthew
KFM Knights of Father Matthew
K of H Knights of Honor
K of L Knights of Loyola
K M Knights of Malta (Masonic)
KMC Knights of the Mystic Chain
KPC Knights of Peter Claver
KP Knights of Pythias
K of P Knights of Pythias
KSC Knights of St. Columbkille
KG Knights of St. George
KSTG Knights of St. George
KSTI Knights of St. Ignatius
K of SJ Knights of St. John
KSTJ Knights of St. Joseph
KSL Knights of St. Lawrence
KSTM Knights of St. Martin
K of STP Knights of St. Patrick
KSTP Knights of St. Paul
KSTP Knights of St. Peter
KSTT Knights of St. Thomas
K of STW Knights of St. Wenceslas
KT Knights of Tabor
K of T Knights of Tabor
KWM Knights of Wise Men
KGE Knights of Golden Eagle
KHC Knights of Holy Cross
KKK Knights of Klu-Klux Klan
KOTM Knights of Macabees
KSF Knights of Sherwood Forest
KT Knights Templars (Masonic)
LAOH Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians
LK of A Loyal Knights of America
LOM Loyal Order of the M.O.O.S.E.
MOLLUS Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the UnitedStates
MRA Royal Arcanum
MWA Modern Woodsmen of America
NOK New Order Knights (see KKK)
OES Order of the Eastern Star
OUAM Order of United American Mechanics
PM Patriarchs Militant (Independent Order of Odd Fellows)
POSA Patriotic Order of the Sons of America
RMOKHSJ The Religious and Military Order of Knights of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem
RSTV Rite of St. Vaclara
RSTV Rite of ST. Vita
RK Roman Knights
SR Scottish Rite (Masonic Order)
RAM Royal Arch Masons
RO-AUM Rosicrucian Order (Masonic)
SBCL Saint Bonifazius Catholic Union
SBL Society B. Lafayette
SCV Sons of the Confederate Veterans
SAR Sons of the American Revolution
SNA-AUM Shrine of North America (Masonic)
SV Sons of Veterans
TH Temple of Honor-Independent Order of Odd Fellows
