Genealogy researchers encounter many abbreviations both in modern compilations and in original records, this list aims to assist the researcher in deciphering those abbreviated terms.
LCBA - Loyal Christian Benefit Association
LDS - Church of Jesus of Latter Day Saints, Mormon Church
LGAR - Ladies of the Grand Army of the Republic
liv - living, lived
LOI - The Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland
LOOM - Loyal Order Of Moose
LS - locus sigilli (Latin), where a seal is placed
ltm - liberated to marry
lvd - lived
lvg - living
LWA - Lightly Wounded in Action (military)
m. - married; month
m1, m (1) - married first
m2, m (2) - married second etc.
M - male
mbr - member
mbrp - membership
mcd - married contrary to Discipline (Quaker)
MCD - minor civil division (Census Soundex)
MG - Minister of the Gospel
MH - meeting house
mi - miles
MIA - Missing in Action (military)
m-i-l - mother in law
MM - monthly meeting
MOLLUS - Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States
MOPH - Military Order of the Purple Heart
mos. - months; married out of society (Quaker)
mou - married out of unity (Quaker)
MOWW - Military Order of World Wars
Mr. - Mister, a title of respect
mnth - month
mt - married to
mtg - meeting
Mu - mulatto, person with one Caucasian and one Negro parent
mvd - moved
MWA - Modern Woodmen of America
na - not applicable; not attending meeting (Quaker)
NAT - North African Theater (military)
NATO - North African Theater of Operations (military, WW2)
NCWA - National Civil War Association (USA)
nd - no date, not dated
neg att - neglecting attendance (Quaker)
NEHGS - New England Historic Genealogical Society
nfr - no further record
NFMP - National Fraternity of Military Pilots
NGS - National Genealogical Society (USA)
NGSQ - National Genealogical Society Quarterly
nm - never married
nmn - no middle name
NOB - Naval Order of Battle
NOK - Next of Kin (military)
np - no page (or publisher) given
n.pub. - no publisher given
NR - not reported (Census Soundex)
NSDAR - National Society Daughters of the American Revolution
NSSDP - National Society Sons and Daughters of the Pilgrims
OA - Order of the Arrow (Boy Scouts)
OBE - Order of the British Empire
OBLI - Ox and Bucks Light Infantry
OC - Order of Canada
OES - Order of the Eastern Star
OHC - Order of the Holy Cross
OM - Ordained Minister; Order of Merit
OMM - Order of Military Merit
OP - Order of Preachers (Roman Catholicism; Dominican)
OS - Old Style (referring to dates)
OSA - Order of St. Anne; Ordinis Sancti Augustini (of the order of St. Augustine)
OSB - Order of St. Benedict
OSIA - Order of the Sons of Italy in America
OSL - Order of St. Luke the Physician
OSM - Order of Servants of Mary
OSSB - Order of the Star Spangled Banner
ou - out of unity (Quaker)
OUAM - Order of United American Mechanics
p. - page
PAF - Personal Ancestral File (software)
PBA - Patrolman's Benevolent Association
PCC - Prerogative Court of Canterbury (UK)
PLAV - Polish Legion of American Veterans
PH - The Order of Patrons Of Husbandry (Grange)
PM - preparative meeting (Quaker)
POSA - Patriotic Sons of America
pp. - pages
prc - produced a certificate (Quaker)
prob. - probably
p.v. - prorare vexilla, patriotically
Qkr - Quaker
QM - quarter master (military); quarterly meeting (Quaker)
QOCH - Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders
RCA - Railway Carmen of America
rcd - recorded; received
RCJ - Rogationists Cordis Jesu (formal name for Rogationists, Roman Catholic Order of Men)
rec - received
recrq - received by request (Quaker)
relfc - released from care of (Quaker)
relrq - released by request (Quaker)
rem. - remove, removed
ret. - retired; returned
ret mbrp - retained membership (Quaker)
rev - reversed
RGLI - Royal Guernsey Light Infantry
RHF - Royal Highland Fusiliers
RJLI - Royal Jersey Light Infantry
RMC - Returned to Military Control (Military)
RMLI - Royal Marine Light Infantry
rm(t) - reported married (to)
RNA - Royal Neighbors of America
roc - received on certificate (Quaker)
rocf - received on certificate from (Quaker)
rol - received on letter (Quaker)
rolf - received on letter from (Quaker)
rpd - reported
RQM - Regimental Quartermaster (US Civil War)
rrq - request, requests, requested
rqc - requested certificate (Quaker)
rqct - requested certificate to (Quaker)
rqcuc - requested to come under care (Quaker)
RSF - The Royal Scots Fusiliers
RSOF - Religious Society Of Friends (Quakers)
rst - reinstate, reinstated (Quaker)
RTD - Returned to Duty (military)
RTT - Royal Templars of Temperance
s. - son
SAR - Sons of the American Revolution
SCV - Sons of Confederate Veterans
SDWA - Society of the Descendants of Washington's Army at Valley Forge
sep. - separated
SEYM - South Eastern Yearly Meeting (Quaker)
SI - sister
s-i-l - sister in law
sis - sister
s/o - son of
SOWD - Special Order War Department (US Civil War)
SSDI - Social Security Death Index (USA)
SUVCW - Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War (USA)
SWA - Seriously Wounded in Action (military)
TAG - The American Genealogist (quarterly journal published since 1922)
temp. - temporarily
TMG - The Master Genealogist (software)
transfrd - transferred
TSSF - Third Order of St. Francis
TVC - Texas Veterans Commission
twp. - township, division of land
uc - under care of (Quaker)
UBCJA - United Brotherhood of Carpenters & Joiners of America
UCV - United Confederate Veterans
UDA - United Daughters of America
UDC - United Daughters of the Confederacy
UFT - Ultimate Family Tree (software)
ult. - ultimo (Latin), of the preceding month
unm. - unmarried
upl - using profane language (Quaker)
USIGS - United States Internet Genealogical Society
USGW - USGenWeb (online collective providing genealogical resources via linked webpages)
USV - United States Volunteers (US Civil War)
VFW - Veterans of Foreign Wars (USA)
viz. - videlicet (Latin), namely
VRC - Veteran Reserve Corps (US Civil War)
VVI - Vermont Volunteer Infantry (US Civil War)
w. - wife
W - white, Caucasian
WAC - Women's Army Corp
w/c - with consent of
wid. - widow
wit. - witness
w/o - wife of
WOTW - Woodmen Of The World
WOW - Woodmen Of The World
w/pwr - with power (Quaker)
WRC - Women's Relief Corps
wrkd - worked
YM - yearly meeting (Quaker)
Evidence!: Citation & Analysis for the Family Historian
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