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The Ultimate Genealogy Glossary

Writer's picture: tristathegenealogisttristathegenealogist

Updated: Sep 15, 2023

PARDON MY DUST - This glossary already contains quite a few terms, but it won't be complete for a bit. Be sure to bookmark it and come back later!


Use your browser's search tool to find your desired term. This list is updated periodically. Please feel free to comment if you have a suggested entry.


CATEGORIES:

 

FAMILY TREE & RELATIONSHIPS

A

ancestor - someone who you are descended from, usually further back in time than a grandparent.

B

C

Christian name - a personal name given during baptism or at birth. It's usually a person's first name and what they are known by.

collateral line - Line of descent connecting persons who share a common ancestor but are related through an aunt, uncle, cousin, nephew, etc.

collateral relative - Aunts, uncles, siblings, and all other family members who are not direct ancestors or descendants are called “collateral relatives” or “indirect ancestors.”

common ancestor - A person through whom two or more persons claim descent or lineage

consanguinity – the fact of being descended from the same ancestor "the marriage was annulled on grounds of consanguinity"

consort - Wife, husband, spouse, mate, or companion

cousin - Child of an aunt or uncle; in earlier times, this could be a kinsman, close relative, or friend

D

dau. (abbreviation) - Daughter

daughter-in-law - The wife of someone's child; also used to mean a step-daughter (see step)

descendant - Anyone to whom an individual is an ancestor—their children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and so on

direct lineage (or direct line) - Direct ancestors refer to individuals whom you are related to solely through the parent-child connection.

div. (abbreviation) - Divorced

E

F

fam. (abbreviation) - Family

G

gdn. (abbreviation) - Guardian

genealogy - Genealogy refers to tracing the lineage of an ancestor to a descendant in a continuous manner. It also involves the study of ancestral lines.

good brother - Brother-in-law

good sister - Sister-in-law

good son - Son-in-law

grand dame - Grandmother

grdn. (abbreviation) - Guardian

guardian - Person lawfully appointed to care for the person of a minor, invalid, incompetent and his or her interests, such as education, property management and investments

H

husb. (abbreviation) - Husband

I

illegitimate - Person born to unmarried parents

indirect ancestor - Aunts, uncles, siblings, and all other family members who are not direct ancestors or descendants are called “collateral relatives” or “indirect ancestors.”

infant - Person under legal age

J

K

L

lineage - Direct line of descent from an ancestor; progeny

M

m. (abbreviation) - Married

maiden name - A woman's family name prior to marriage

married name - a surname that a person takes after marriage, traditionally a husband’s surname taken by his wife.

major - Person who has reached legal age

majores - Ancestors

majority - Legal age

marita [marita: "married one" (female)] - Wife, married woman

maritus [maritus: "married one" (male)] - Bridegroom, married man

maternal line - An ancestral line that goes through the mother.

matron - Older married woman with children

md. (abbreviation) - Married

minor - A person under legal age; historically, the legal age differed from place to place and over time (check prevailing law to determine the legal age requirement at a specific time)

N

nee - Born, used to denote a woman's maiden name (e.g., Anne Gibson nee West)

neph. (abbreviation) - Nephew

O

P

paternal line - Line of descent traced through the father's side

pedigree - the recorded ancestry of a person or family (family tree)

pedigree chart - A pedigree chart is a diagram that shows the occurrence a particular organism and its ancestors from one generation to the next, most commonly humans

Q

R

S

s. (abbreviation) - Son

s. & h. (abbreviation) - Son and heir

s/o (abbreviation) - Son of

sibling - A brother or sister, persons who share the same parents

sponsor - a person other than the child's parents who takes on the responsibility of their religious education. This role is typically fulfilled during a child's baptism and sponsors are commonly known as godparents.

srnm. (abbreviation) - Surname, last name

step - Used in conjunction with a degree of kinship by marriage

stepchild - a child of one of the spouses by a former marriage who has not been adopted by the stepparent

stepfather - Husband of a child's parent by a later marriage

stepmother - Wife of a child's parent by a later marriage

surname - Last name, family name

T

U

V

W

widow - A woman whose spouse has died

widower - A man whose spouse has died

X

Y

Z

RESEARCH TERMS

A

ACPL - an acronym for the Allen County Public Library

Allen County Public Library - a records repository in Ft. Wayne, Indiana which keeps a premier periodical collection, genealogies, local histories, databases, military, censuses, directories, passenger lists, ethnic collections, Canadian, British, and German collections.

B

birth record - a record of birth kept under governmental authority

"brick wall" - In genealogy, a "brick wall" is a term used to refer to a point in research where progress seems impossible.

C

cemetery records- a record of the names and death dates of people buried in a cemetery or graveyard.

census record - An official enumeration of the population in a particular area. In addition to counting the inhabitants of an area, the census generally collects other vital information, such as names, ages, citizenship status, and ethnic background.

church records - Formal records kept by churches, of important events in the lives of their members, such as christenings, marriages, and burials. These records include names of those involved, dates, locations, and the clergyman who presided. They may also contain additional information like parents' names, witnesses, and addresses.

citation - A citation is a reference to the source from which a given piece of information was obtained. It’s important to add citations to your family tree whenever possible to help you — or someone else looking at your research — retrace your steps in the future.

consent affidavit - a document completed by the parents of a minor in order to give permission for the child to marry. The age for obtaining consent differed based on location, era, and gender. It was generally under 21, but in certain areas, the legal age was 16, 18, or as low as 13 or 14 for females. Additionally, most places had a minimum age requirement and did not allow children under the age of 12 or 14 to marry, even with parental consent.

D

Dallas Public Central Library - a records repository in Dallas, TX which keeps as 111,700 volumes, 64,500 microfilms, 89,000 microfiche, and over 700 maps. It includes state and county marriage, probate, deed, and tax abstracts in book form and microfilm of originals for some states, and online databases.

directory - a listing of information that can be organized alphabetically or by category, containing names, addresses, and other relevant data. The type of directory used depends on what is known about the individual being searched for. The information contained in a directory varies, depending on the type of directory being used. For instance, city directories primarily list names and addresses, but may also include additional details such as birth dates, death dates, marriage dates, and children's names. Church directories may provide information about an individual's participation in church activities, while professional directories can give insights into their work life. Club directories may contain information about social activities an ancestor was involved in.

E

enumeration - the process of counting people; also used to mean a list of people, as in a census

F

family group sheet - a form that presents genealogical information about a nuclear family

family history - a book or other publication that details the basic genealogical facts about one or more generations of a particular family

Family History Library - a records repository located in Salt Lake City, UT which keeps 3.1 million microforms, 4,500 periodicals, 310,000 books, and a collection of microfilmed records such as civil, church, immigration, ethnic, military, and Latter-day Saint records

FHL - an acronym for the Family History Library

G

gazetteer - A book that alphabetically names and describes places in a specific area. For example, a county gazetteer would name and describe the towns, lakes, rivers, and mountains in the county.

GEDCOM (acronym) [GEnealogy Data COMmunications] - a standardized file format for family trees

H

I

index - an alphabetical list of names taken from a specific set of records. For instance, an index for a census record would contain the names of individuals in that particular census record set.

J

K

L

LC - an acronym for the Library of Congress

Library of Congress - Washington, DC repository which includes Local History and Genealogy Reading Room. This part of the Library of Congress, includes 50,000 genealogies, 100,000 local histories, manuscripts, microfilms, maps, newspapers, photographs, and books.

local history - a type of book that is focused on a specific town or county. These books often provide details about the development of the area as well as information about notable families who resided there.

M

manuscript - unpublished family histories or collections of family papers. Often sources of valuable family information.

marriage application - a document required by some jurisdictions to be filled out by a couple with intentions to marry, before a marriage license could be issued.

marriage banns or bans - public notice of an intended marriage between two specified persons on a particular date. The tradition of banns originated in the church and was later enforced by English common law. It involved publicly announcing a couple's intention to marry for three consecutive Sundays, either in a church or a public location. This was done in order to provide a chance for anyone with objections to the marriage to voice their concerns. Common reasons for objections included one or both parties being too young, already married, or too closely related according to the law.

marriage bond - a document obtained by a couple with intentions to marry, which affirmed that there was no moral or legal reason why the couple could not be married.

marriage certificate - a document which confirms a marriage and is signed by the person who officiates the ceremony. The original certificate is typically given directly to the couple, making it difficult to find if it hasn't been passed down in the family. Fortunately, in many places, the details from the certificate, including verification of the marriage, are recorded on the bottom or back of the marriage license or in a separate book.

marriage contract - a legal contract between two individuals with intentions to marry, which establishes their property rights as well as those of their children (similar to what we now refer to as a prenuptial agreement). This type of agreement was often created when a woman owned property in her own name or wanted to ensure that any property left by a previous spouse was passed down to their children instead of their new spouse. Marriage contracts can be found in marriage records or recorded in local court deed books or records.

marriage license - a legal document verifying that the individuals intending to marry meet all legal requirements, such as being of lawful age and not closely related. The license is issued by a local public official, typically the county clerk, once it is confirmed that there are no impediments to the marriage. The license grants permission for authorized individuals, such as ministers or Justices of the Peace, to perform the ceremony. Perhaps the most commonly found record of a marriage.

marriage record - a document containing essential information about a couple's union, such as their full names, and the date and location of the marriage. Additional details may include the names and birthplaces of the spouses' parents, addresses, information on previous marriages, and the names of witnesses present during the ceremony.

marriage register - a book kept by local clerks to record marriages they performed, as well as marriages performed by other officiants once confirmed by receipt of the marriage return record.

marriage return - a document completed by a minister or officiant indicating that they had married the couple and on what date. The marriage return was to be returned to the local registrar as proof that the marriage occurred.

Mid-Continent Public Library, Midwest Genealogy Center - a records repository in Independence, MO which keeps national censuses and indexes, 80,000 family histories, 100,000 local histories, 565,000 microfilms, 7,000 maps, and newspapers.

mortality schedule - A section of the federal census listing information about persons who died during the census year

N

NARA - an acronym for the National Archives and Records Administration

National Archives and Records Administration - the record keeper of all documents and materials created in the course of business conducted by the United States federal government

newspaper announcement - Newspapers contain records of genealogical events like births, deaths, and marriages. The details provided in these announcements may differ.

NEHGS - an acronym for the New England History Genealogical Society

New England History Genealogical Society - a records repository in Boston, MA which keeps a 100 million name database, vital records, genealogies, journals, over 200,000 books, 100,000 microfilms, and over 20 million manuscripts, with emphasis on New England and New York since the 1600s.

New York Public Library - a records repository in New York which keeps a large collection of American history, international genealogy and heraldry, the Dorot Jewish collection, photos, and New York censuses, directories, and vital records.

NYPL - an acronym for the New York Public Library

O

obit. (abbreviation) - Obituary

oral history - A collection of family stories told by a member of the family or by a close family friend

P

p.r. (abbreviation) - Parish register

passenger list - This is a collection of passenger names and information from ships that arrived in the United States. The ship's master submitted these lists to customs collectors at each port. Passenger lists were not officially required by the US government until 1820. Prior to that, the information provided about each passenger varied widely, ranging from just names to details such as the number of bags they carried.

primary evidence - Original or first-hand evidence; the best evidence available that must be used before secondary evidence can be introduced as proof

primary source - "A primary source refers to a firsthand account of an event. This could be a direct testimony from the person who experienced or witnessed it, or a record created within a few days of the event based on the accounts of those present. Examples of primary sources include letters, diaries, vital records, and newspapers.


*While primary sources are generally considered more reliable, it's important to remember that they cannot be blindly trusted. Memories may be inaccurate, and documents may contain incorrect information for various reasons. To ensure the accuracy of the information obtained from a primary source, it's best to verify it with additional sources."

Q

R

S

schedule - Term given each of the types of forms used for U.S. censuses. The most common form of the census is the population schedule.

secondary evidence - Evidence that is inferior to primary evidence or the best evidence

secondary source - A record that was created a significant amount of time after an event occurred. A secondary source is one step removed from the primary source, such as a book or scholarly article that refers to the primary source and analyzes it.

Soundex - Acronym for Sound Index. A phonetic algorithm for indexing names by sound, as pronounced in English.

source - The document, record, publication, manuscript, etc. used to prove a fact

Sutro Library - a records repository in San Francisco, CA which keeps 150,000 books, 65,000 microforms, 40,000 state, county, or town histories, 10,000 genealogies, rare books and manuscripts, indexes, guides, and databases on genealogy and California history.

T

transcribe (genealogical) - To make a full, written (or typewritten) copy of all information in a document as it appears in the original source.

U

V

virgo [virgo: "virgin"] - Used to describe an unmarried woman in English and European marriage records

vital records - Vital records are records that relate to life events, such as birth, marriage, or death. These are an excellent starting point when setting out to find records of your ancestors.

W

X

Y

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HISTORY

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U.S. IMMIGRATION

A

alien - Noncitizens present in the United States. This legal category includes unauthorized immigrants, tourists, students, diplomats, any form of exchange, temporary workers, and legal permanent residents who have not yet undergone naturalization.

amnesty - A pardon for unlawful status and a path to lawful permanent residence signified by a green card.

asylum - Asylum seekers differ from refugees because they arrive without pre-authorization, seeking asylum from persecution.

B

birthright - the concept of things being due to a person upon or by the fact of their birth or due to the order of their birth. These may include rights of citizenship based on the place where the person was born or the citizenship of their parents, and inheritance rights to property owned by parents or others.


*The Fourteenth Amendment (1868) secured citizenship for all persons, regardless of race, gender, or parental status, born in the United States. Birthright citizenship has provided a key pathway to settlement in the United States for immigrant groups otherwise excluded by law. The main exceptions to the Fourteenth Amendment until 1924 were Native Americans. See jus solis.

C

chain migration - The most common pattern for immigration which involves travel in family units and secondary migration that reunites relatives traveling at later times. This form of immigration has been criticized by immigration reformers who believe employment criteria should be the main consideration in admitting new immigrants. Chain migration also refers to the widespread practice of migrating in the footsteps of friends and acquaintances who share information about travel and employment arrangements and other kinds of resources. See family unification.

citizenship - persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.

coverture - Under English and American law, coverture pertains to the legal status of women after marriage. Essentially, once married, the husband and wife were considered as one entity, and the wife's individual legal existence was no longer recognized with regard to property rights and other specified rights.


During the late 18th and early 19th century in American legal history, there were significant changes that expanded women's property rights, specifically with regard to coverture laws. Widows were now entitled to a percentage of their deceased husband's property (known as dower), and certain laws mandated that a woman's consent was necessary if property sales could impact her dower.

D

debarment - Exclusion from the United States without being allowed entry on grounds of being an excludable alien.

deferral of deportation - Administrative process that can delay deportation on various grounds, sometimes as a prelude to a legal adjustment of status.

deportation - Removal from the United States at some point after entry. Excludable aliens and nonimmigrant visa holders who have fallen out of status are liable for detention and deportation after an immigration court hearing.

E

emigrant - Person leaving one country to reside in another country

emigration - Departing the home country to live in another country

enemy - any person who is a native, citizen, subject or denizen of any country, state or sovereignty with which the United States is at war

ethnicity - refers to identifying with a social group that shares cultural practices and beliefs. This can be reflected in language, religion, food preferences, and clothing choices. Ethnicity is often associated with a national or regional identity and has been mistakenly linked to immutable, inherited attributes related to race. Nowadays, ethnicity is considered adaptable and can evolve as various cultures merge to create hybrid identities.

excludable - Persons identified in immigration laws as barred from entry. Categories have varied over time and included paupers, criminals, Chinese as a race, anarchists, polygamists, and persons entering the United States in excess of annual quota allocations to their countries of origin. Excludable aliens are subject to detention, removal, or deportation.

F

family unification - Preserving family unity, particularly of spouses and minor children, has been a priority in immigration restriction. Legal immigrants and U.S. citizens are presumed to have the right to live in the company of their spouses and minor children, a value reflected in immigration laws since 1882. See chain migration.

G

green card - Document verifying status as a legal permanent resident noncitizen or alien. After sufficient years of residency, green card holders may apply for naturalization.

H

I

immigrant – A person moving into a country from another country

immigration - the action of coming to live permanently in a foreign country.

J

jus sanguinis - Literally, Latin for “right of blood.” Citizenship, determined by ancestry or that of one’s parents. This principle can act in contradiction to that of jus solis.

jus solis - Literally, Latin for “right of soil.” Citizenship, determined by the place of one’s birth. The Fourteenth Amendment (1868) secures this right for all persons born in the United States. This principle can act in contradiction to that of jus sanguinis.

K

L

likely to become a public charge - Persons deemed "likely to become a public charge," or the poor or paupers, became liable for exclusion in 1882. Women traveling alone were the most vulnerable to this form of exclusion. “For purposes of determining inadmissibility, ‘public charge’ means an individual who is likely to become primarily dependent on the government for subsistence, as demonstrated by either the receipt of public cash assistance for income maintenance or institutionalization for long-term care at government expense.”

M

migration v. immigration - Migration refers to many kinds of human mobility, with immigration as a major subcategory denoting the crossing of national borders. The latter usually requires compliance with national regulatory mechanisms involving visas and passports signifying permission to cross borders.

N

na. (abbreviation) - Naturalized; not applicable

nation-states - The main system for political organization of territories and persons around the world. The world is governed by nation-states, which have authority over migration, immigration, and citizenship within their borders. International organizations establish global standards for trade, the environment, and human rights.

native-born - U.S.-born persons denied citizenship. Historically, this category has included Native Americans, enslaved blacks, and U.S.-born women who lost their citizenship by marriage to an alien man as mandated by the 1907 Expatriation Act until 1922.

naturalization - Legal process whereby immigrants become U.S. citizens. Standards regarding the length of residency and eligibility have changed over time but have applied to legal immigrants, military veterans, persons receiving amnesty, and nonimmigrants allowed to adjust their status.

naturalization record - Documents recording the process by which an immigrant becomes a citizen

passport - Legal document establishing citizenship with a particular nation-state, individual identities, and permission to leave and reenter that country.

O

P

plenary power - Plenary power means complete authority on an issue. In 1889, the Supreme Court ruled that the U.S. government has full power over immigration, giving aliens fewer rights.

Q

R

race - A system of categorization that relies on physical appearance and ancestry has been used to assert that people possess inherent biological traits, differences, and hierarchies that separate them into different groups.

refugee - Refugees are individuals who enter the US with authorization and have undergone extensive vetting. They have the right to seek and receive asylum in other countries according to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

remote control – A method of enforcing immigration laws wherein individuals seeking entry into the United States apply for a visa at the consulate closest to their home. This process was put in place in the 1920s to improve the efficiency of immigration enforcement by allowing for pre-screening of applicants before they arrive at a U.S. port of entry. By obtaining authorization from the consulate, individuals are able to legally enter the United States in compliance with immigration laws.

S

T

U

V

visa – A visa is a permission to cross borders and obtain different statuses. Immigrant visas are for permanent residence and citizenship, whereas nonimmigrant visas are for temporary residence, employment, education, and other purposes. Without a nonimmigrant visa, individuals may face detention and deportation. Some examples of nonimmigrant visas are J exchange programs, F students, and H-1 temporary workers.

voluntary departure - Individuals who may face deportation have the option to choose voluntary departure. This means they will not have a court hearing, but it also does not prevent them from re-entering the country in the future.

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MILITARY

A

American Revolution (1775-1783) -

B

C

casualty -

Civil War (1861-1865) -

CMSR - Aan envelope (called a jacket) containing a set of cards that provide an overview of an individual’s service in a military company. The jacket is labeled with the soldier’s name, rank, military unit and a list of card numbers.

commanding officer -

Confederacy -

Continental Army -

D

descriptive book -

Desert Shield/Desert Storm (1990-1991) -

desertion -

discharge -

dishonorable discharge -

draft -

draft registration -

E

enlistment -

enlistment book -

F

G

H

honorable discharge -

hospital roll -

I

Indian Wars (approx. 1817-1898) -

J

jacket - (See CMSR)

K

Korean War (1950-1953) -

L

M

Mexican War (1846-1848) -

muster -

muster roll -

N

O

officer -

P

payment voucher -

pension -

private -

Q

R

rank -

regiment -

regular -

S

sailor -

service record -

soldier -

Spanish-American War (1898-1902) -

T

term of enlistment -

U

Union -

unit -

V

Vietnam War (1964-1975) -

volunteer -

W

War Department Record and Pension Office -

War of 1812 (1812-1815) -

wartime -

World War I (1917-1918) -

World War II (1941 –1945) -

X

Y

Z


OCCUPATIONAL

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CITY DIRECTORY ABBREVIATIONS

A

ab - above

agcy - agency

agt - agent

al - alley

agrl - agricultural

apt - apartment

assn, Assn - Association

auto - automobile

av, Av - avenue

B

b, bdg, bds - boards (room and board)

bdg hse - boarding house

bel - below

bet - between

bld, bldg - building

blk - block

blvd, boul - boulevard

br - branch

bros - brothers

C

c, cor - corner

causew - causeway

ch, Ch - church

chmbrs - chambers

civ - civil, civic

ck - creek

co - county

col, col'd - colored

coll - college

com - commission, commons

com'l - commercial

confry - confectionary

cres - crescent

ct - court

D

dept - department

dist - district

div - division

do - ditto (or the same as above)

dom - domestic

drugst - drugstore

E

e, E - east

Ea - east

ec - east central

elec - electric

e.s. - east side

est - estate

ex, exch - exchange

F

f - freeholder (freehold - permanent and absolute tenure of land or property with freedom to dispose of it at will.)

fcty - factory

fl - floor

for - forest

ft - foot

frt - freight

G

gdns - gardens

gds - goods

gen, genl - general

govt - government

gr fl - ground floor

gt - great

H

h - house, householder (owns the house)

hd - hand

hdqtrs - headquarters

hdw - hardware

heth - heath

hngr - hangar

ho - house

hosp - hospital

I

imp - import

implts - implements

imptr - importer

inc - incorporated

ins - insurance

J

jct - junction

K

L

l - lives

la - lane

lbr - lumber

ldg - lodging

ltd, Ltd - Limited

M

mdse - merchandise

mer - merchant

mfg - manufacturing

mfr - manufacturer

mkt - market

mn - man

mut - mutual

N

n, N - north

n, nr - near

nc - north central

n.e. - northeast

n.s. - north side

n.w. - northwest

natl - national

O

off - office

op, opp - opposite

P

pass - passenger

ph - penthouse

pk - park

pkwy - parkway

pl - place

p.o. - post office

pt - point

propr - proprietor (owner)

prov - province

Q

R

r - roomer or resides (renter)

r, rr - rear

R.C. - Roman Catholic

rd - road

regd - registered

real est - real estate

res - residence, resides

ret - retail, retired

rm - room

rms - rooms (renter)

RR - rural route

rw - row

Ry - railway

S

s, S - south

sc - south central

sch - school

s.e. - southeast or side entrance

ship - shipping

side - side entrance

soc - society

spec - special

sq - square

st - store

s.s. - south side

sta - stable

sta, stn - station

sum res - summer residence

s.w. - southwest

T

t - tenant

tav - tavern

tel - telephone

teleg - telegraph

ter - terrace

tn - town

tp - township

trans - transportation

trans - transfer

trav - travelling

U

up - upper

V

var - variety

W

w, W - west

wc - west central

ware - warehouse

wf, whf - wharf

w.s. - west side

whol - wholesale

wid - widow

wks - works

wlk - walk

wmn - woman

X

Y

yd - yard

Z


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LEGAL/PROBATE/LAND & PROPERTY

A

abeyance - A condition of undetermined ownership, as of an estate that has not yet been assigned

ad litem [ad: "for" + litem: "(law)suit"] - Legal term meaning "in this case only." For example, "George Thomas, duly appointed by the court, may administer ad litem the settlement of the estate of Joseph Thomas, deceased"

adm. (abbreviation) - See admin.

admin. (abbreviation) - Administrator, administration

administration - A court action used to settle the estate of a person who died without leaving a will, or a person who left a will that the court disallowed, or where the executor appointed by the deceased refuses to serve in that capacity

admon. (abbreviation) - Letters of administration

affidavit - A written or oral statement made under oath

appr. (abbreviation) - Appraisal; appraisement

assignment - Grant of property or a legal right, benefit, or privilege to another person

B

bequeath - To leave or give property to another person or organization (used in wills)

bond - A written, binding agreement to perform as specified. Many types of bonds have existed for centuries and appear in marriage, land and court records of used by genealogists. Historically, laws required administrators and executors of estates, grooms, and guardians of minors to post bonds. It is not unusual to discover that a bondsman was related to someone involved in the action before the court.

bounds - Pertaining to measuring natural or human-made features on the land

bounty land - Land promised as an inducement for enlistment or payment for military services. A central government did not exist when the Revolutionary War began, nor did a treasury, so land, the greatest asset the new nation possessed, was used to induce enlistment and as payment for military services. Those authorized to bounty land received a Bounty Land Warrant from the newly formed government after the war.

C

civ. (abbreviation) - Civil

civil law - Laws concerned with civil or private rights and remedies, as contrasted with criminal law; body of law established by a nation, commonwealth, county or city; also called municipal law

codicil - Supplement or addition to a will; not intended to replace an entire will

conveyance - Legal document by which the title to property is transferred; warrant; patent; deed

D

declaration of intention - A document filed in a court by an alien who intended to become a United States citizen. It could also be a declaration filed by a couple in a local court, indicating their intention to marry. Also called "declaration of intent."

deed - Document transferring ownership and title of property

devise - Gift of real property by last will and testament of the donor

devisee - Person receiving land or real property in the last will and testament of the donor

devisor - Person giving land or real property in a last will and testament

dowager - Widow holding property or a title received from her deceased husband; title given in England to widows of princes, dukes, earls, and other noblemen

dower - a widow's share for life of her husband's estate

dowry - Land, money, goods, or personal property brought by a bride to her husband in marriage; also spelled dowery

E

entail - To restrict the inheritance of land to a specific group of heirs, such as an individual's sons

estate - Assets and liabilities of a decedent, including land, personal belongings and debts

et al. (abbreviation) - Used for either et alii [et: "and" + alii: "others"], meaning "and other individuals," or et alibi [et: "and" + alibi: "elsewhere"], meaning "elsewhere within this document or record"

et ux. (abbreviation) - Used for et uxor [et: "and" + alii: "wife"], meaning "and wife"

evidence - Any kind of proof, such as testimony, documents, records, certificates, material objects, etc.

exec. (abbreviation) - Executor

executor - Male appointed by a testator (one who wishes are in the will) to carry out the directions and requests in his or her will, and to dispose of the property according to his or her wishes after death

executrix - Female appointed by a testator (one who wishes are in the will) to carry out the directions and requests in his or her will, and to dispose of the property according to his or her wishes after death

exor. (abbreviation) - Executor

exox. (abbreviation) - Executrix; see exec.

F

fee simple - An inheritance having no limitations or conditions in its use

G

grantee - Person purchasing, buying or receiving property

grantee index - Master index of persons purchasing, buying or receiving property

grantor - Person selling, granting, transferring or conveying property

grantor index - Master index of persons selling, granting, transferring or conveying property

H

heir - Person who succeeds, by the rules of law, to an estate upon the death of an ancestor; one with rights to inherit an estate

heir apparent - By law, a person whose right of inheritance is established, provided he or she outlives the ancestor. See primogeniture

holographic will - A handwritten will, signed by the individual who created it; commonly written "holographic" or "olographic."

homestead - Land obtained from the United States government with a home on it. Part of the agreement between the individual and the government was that the individual had to live on the land and make improvements to it, such as adding buildings and clearing fields.

hon. (abbreviation) - Honorable

I

in loco parentis [in: "in" + loco: "place" + parentis: "parent"} - In the stead of one or both parents

inhab. (abbreviation) - Inhabitant; inhabited

intestate - Used to denote a person who died without leaving a will

inventory - A legal list of all the property in a deceased person's estate. The executor of the will is required to make an inventory.

J

jud. (abbreviation) - Judicial

land records - Deeds; proof that a piece of land has been legally transferred to a particular individual. The information you receive from the records will vary, but you will at least get a name, the location of the property, and the period of ownership.

K

L

legacy - Property or money bequeathed to someone in a will

legatee - Someone who inherits money or property from a person who left a will

lessee - Person leasing property from an owner

lessor - Owner leasing property to a tenant

letters testamentary - Court document allowing the executor named in a will to carry out his or her duties

liber [liber: "book"] - Book of public records (as of deeds or wills)

lien - Claim placed on property by a person who is owed money

life estate - Use interest in property an individual has until that person's death

lis pendens [lis: "(law)suit" + pendens: "pending"] - Notices of lawsuits awaiting litigation, usually in matters concerning land

litigant - Person involved in a lawsuit

M

manse - Parsonage; enough land to support a family

metes - Measurements of distance in feet, rods, poles, chains, and so forth; pertains to measuring direction and distance

metes and bounds - Method of surveying property by using physical and topographical features in conjunction with measurements

N

nuncupative will - Oral will declared or dictated by the testator in his last sickness before a sufficient number of witnesses and afterwards put in writing

O

OB (abbreviation) - Order book, as in a court order book

ob. [obitus: "death"] (abbreviation) - Deceased

obiit [obiit: "(he or she) died"] - Died; see also natus

olographic will - See holographic will

oral will - See nuncupative will

orphan - A child whose parents have died

P

p.o.a. (abbreviation) - Power of attorney

patent - A government grant of public lands property in fee simple; land grant

power of attorney - Written instrument where a person, as principal, appoints someone as their agent, thereby authorizing that person to perform certain acts on behalf of the principal, such as buying or selling property, settling an estate, representing them in court, and so forth

pr. (abbreviation) - Proved, probated

preponderance of evidence - Evidence of greater weight or more convincing than the opposing evidence; evidence more credible and convincing, more reasonable and probable, and can be circumstantial in nature

primogeniture - Insures the right of the eldest son to inherit the entire estate of his parents, to the exclusion of younger sons

prob. (abbreviation) - Probably; probated

probate - Legal process used to determine the validity of a will before the court authorizes distribution of an estate. It has come to be understood as the legal process used to appoint someone to administer the estate of someone who died without leaving a will.

probate records - Documents recording the disposition of a deceased individual's property. They may include an individual's last will and testament, if one was made. The information you can get from probate records varies, but usually includes the name of the deceased, either the deceased's age at the time f death or birth date, itemization of property, members of the family, and the last place of residence.

public domain - Land owned by a government

Q

quitclaim deed - Transfer of land or claim without guaranteeing clear title

R

real property - Land and anything attached to it, such as houses, buildings, barns, growing timber, growing crops, and so forth

receiver - Person appointed by a court to hold property until a suit is settled

reconveyance - The process of transferring back to the original owner, property sold to another person

relict - Widow; see also relicta

relicta [relicta: "(female) left behind"] - Widow

relictus [relictus: "(male) left behind"] - Widower

S

statute - A law

T

test. (abbreviation) - Testament

testate - Died leaving a valid will

testator - Man who writes a valid will

testatrix - Woman who writes a valid will

testis - Witness

tithe - English law: the tenth part of one's annual increase paid to support noblemen and clergy; amount of annual poll tax

titheable - A person taxable by law

township - Government survey: a square tract six miles on each side containing thirty-six square miles of land; a name given to the civil and political subdivisions of a county

twp. (abbreviation) - Township

U

unprobated will - A will never submitted for probate

unsolemn will - Will in which an executor is not named

uxor [uxor: "wife"] - Wife, spouse, consort

V

valid - That which is legal and binding

vidua [vidua: "separated (woman)"] - Widow; see also widow

viduus [viduus: "separated (man)"] - Widower; see also widower

W

warranty deed - Guarantees a clear property title from the seller to the buyer

will - A document stating how a person wants real and personal property divided after death

witness - A witness is an individual present at an event such as a marriage or the signing of a document who can vouch that the event took place

writ of attachment - A court order authorizing the seizure of property sufficient to cover debts and court costs for not appearing in court

writ of summons - A document ordering a person to appear in court

X

Y

Z


CHURCH TERMINOLOGY

A

B

banns - Public announcement of an intended marriage, generally made in church

bapt. (abbreviation) - Baptized

C

chr. (abbreviation) - Christened

comm. (abbreviation) - Communion, communicant

communicant - a person receiving communion in a religious ceremony or service

conf. (abbreviation) - Confirmed

D

dissenter - the label given to a person who refused to belong to the Church of England, especially in the American colonies.

E

F

Friend - a member of the Religious Society of Friends; a Quaker.

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

N

O

P

parish - Ecclesiastical division or jurisdiction; the site of a church

Q

Quaker - member of the Religious Society of Friends.

R

R.C. (abbreviation) - Roman Catholic

S

Shaker - member of a religious group formed in 1747 that practiced communal living and celibacy.

T

Tithe - formerly, money due as a tax for support of the clergy or church.

U

V

W

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MISC

A

a.k.a. (abbreviation) - also known as; alias

alien - a citizen of another country

anon. (abbreviation) - anonymous

ante - a Latin prefix meaning before. -

B

base-born – a child born to unmarried parents

bastard - a child born to unmarried parents

bef. (abbreviation) - Before

bet. (abbreviation) - Between

bibliography – a list of writings relating to a specific subject, some of which are annotated. A bibliographic citation describes and identifies the author, edition, date of issue, publisher, and typography of a book or other written material. Generally, bibliographies appear at the end of a publication to indicate the sources used by the author or to suggest titles for additional reading. Bibliographic citations appear in footnotes and end-notes to document the source of a statement made in the body of a writing.

biography - Aa book written about someone's life.

bp. (abbreviation) - see bapt.

bpt. (abbreviation) - see bapt.

bro. (abbreviation) - brother

bu. (abbreviation) - buried

bur. (abbreviation) - buried

C

ca. (abbreviation) - circa [circa: "around"], means "about" or "around"

cem. (abbreviation) - cemetery

D

E

enfranchisement - The act of freeing enslaved people by their enslavers

F

fortnight – a period of two weeks

fraternity – a group of men (or women) sharing a common purpose or interest. -

free man of color – a Black man who was free from birth or freed later in life

freedman – a man released from slavery; emancipated person

freeman – a man of legal age with the right to vote, own land and practice a trade

full age - sge of majority; legal age; adult (legal age varied according to place and current law)

G

gene - a unit of inheritance: a sequence of DNA or RNA that is passed down from parent to child. We’ll explore specific terms relating to DNA below.

ghetto - a section of a city where members of a minority group reside, often due to societal, economic, legal, environmental, or political factors.

H

I

imp. (abbreviation) - imported

indentured servant – a person who is bound into the service of another person for a specified period, usually seven years in the 18th and 19th centuries, to repay the passage to the new country

instant (calendar) - of the current month; of this month

J

Julian Calendar - calendar named for Julius Caesar and used from 45 B.C. to A.D. 1582, called the "Old Style" calendar; replaced by the Gregorian calendar

junr. (abbreviation) - junior

juvenis - juvenile, minor, under legal age

K

knt. (abbreviation) - knight

L

late - denoting someone who is deceased (e.g., the late John Thomas)

legislature – the lawmaking branch of state or national government; elected group of lawmakers

lic. (abbreviation) - license

liv. (abbreviation) - living

lodge - a chapter or meeting hall of a fraternal organization

ltd. (abbreviation) - limited

M

mensis - month

migrant - a person who moves from place to place, usually in search of work. -

migrate - to move from one country or state or region to another

mo. (abbreviation) - month

mortality - death; death rate

mulatto - a person with both Black and White ancestors

N

n.d. (abbreviation) - no date; not dated

n.p. (abbreviation) - no place listed; no publisher listed

natus - born; see also obiit

O

octoroon - a person who is one-eighth Black; someone with a Black great-grandparent

old style calendar - the calendar used before the Gregorian calendar; see Julian Calendar

orphan asylum - a public institution for the care and protection of children without parents; orphanage

OS (abbreviation) - old style, referring to the Julian calendar -

P

paleography - Study of handwriting

post - Latin prefix meaning after, as in post-war economy. -

posthumous - a child born after the death of the father; any action after an individual's death

proximo - in the following month, in the month after the present one. -

Q

q.v. (abbreviation) - see quod vide

quadroon - a person who is one-quarter Black (had a Black grandparent)

quit rent roll - In early Virginia, a list of those who paid the annual fee to the King in exchange for the right to live on and farm property

quod vide - directs the reader to look in another part of the book for further information

R

rec'd (abbreviation) - received

reg. (abbreviation) - register; regular

republic - government in which supreme authority lies with the people or their elected representatives. -

repud. (abbreviation) - repudiate

res. (abbreviation) - residence; research

ret. (abbreviation) - retired

S

SASE (acronym) - Self-Addressed Stamped Envelope; a return envelope that should be included with your letter when requesting records or other information from people and institutions. Of course, an SASE with U.S. postage stamps on it is only good in the United States. If you are expecting return mail from overseas, you should include an International Reply Coupon with your self-addressed envelope. This coupon serves as payment for any international postage you may need to pay. They can be purchased at your local post office.

sic - term signifying that a copy reads exactly as the original; indicates a possible mistake in the original

soc. (abbreviation) - society

St. (abbreviation) - saint (title); street

T

T. (abbreviation) - township

terr. (abbreviation) - territory

territory - area of land owned by the United States, not a state, but having its own legislature and governor. -

tithable - taxable

U

ultimo - in the month before this one

unk. (abbreviation) - unknown

V

W

white rent - used to denote rent to be paid in silver

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Source citations: Berks County Genealogical Society (n.d.). Helpful Tips - Genealogy Terms. Retrieved July 19, 2023, from https://berksgenes.org/helptips-genealogy-terms.html; GenealogyInTime Magazine (n.d.). City Directory Abbreviations. Retrieved July 19, 2023, from http://www.genealogyintime.com/index.html; Dilts, D. (2021, September 27). America's Top Ten Genealogical Repositories. FamilySearch. Retrieved July 22, 2023, from https://www.familysearch.org/en/blog/americas-top-ten-genealogical-repositories;GenealogyInTime Magazine (n.d.). List of Occupation Abbreviations. Retrieved July 19, 2023, from http://www.genealogyintime.com/index.html; Immigration and Ethnic History Society (n.d.). Immigration History. Immigration History. Retrieved July 19, 2023, from https://immigrationhistory.org/glossary/; Powell, Kimberly. "Marriage Records." ThoughtCo, Oct. 11, 2021, thoughtco.com/marriage-records-types-4077752.;Thornber, C. (2023, May 3). GLOSSARY OF MEDICAL TERMS USED IN THE 18TH AND 19TH CENTURIES. History of Medicine. Retrieved July 19, 2023, from https://www.thornber.net/



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