Genealogy - TERMS & ABBREVIATIONS

by Joelle Steele

The following are just a few of the many terms and abbreviations that are found when doing genealogical research. There is also a FREE, very lengthy alphabetical list of Latin and archaic terms that you will likely encounter when reading old books about your earliest ancestry: Latin Genealogy Terms.pdf.

ab/ap/mab = son of (Wales)
als/aka = alias, also known as
aetatis suae = at the age of (Latin)
b/bap/m/d/bur = born, baptized, married, died, buried
c/ca/circa/abt = about or approximate date
d/o, s/o = daughter of, son of
de/de la/degli = of
ferch/verch = daughter (Wales)(pronounced firk/virk)
filius = son (Latin)
fitz or fitz de = son of (French)
floruit = the time a person was living or flourished (Latin)
gf/gm = grandfather, grandmother
h/o, w/o = husband of, wife of
ingen = unknown (Ireland, Scandinavia, others)
mnu = missing or unknown
n.d. = not dated
n.s. = new style dating (Gregorian calendar)
ni = daughter of (Ireland, others)
NN/nomen nescio = name not known (Latin)
NPE/MPE = in DNA tests a man is not the biological parent
o.s. = old style dating (Julian calendar)
quod vide or QV = which see (Latin)
unk. = unknown
von/van = of