A-B |
C-D |
E-G |
H-L |
M-N |
O-Q |
R-S |
T-Z
|
| Abbreviation |
Definition |
| a |
(as "a 1850") ante, before, not later than. |
| a. |
[1] acre; [2] ampere; [3] anode; [4] atto; [5] ante |
| A. & M. |
(Hymns) Ancient & Modern. |
| A.A. |
[1] Automobile Association; [2] Anti-Aircraft; [3] Alcoholics Anonymous. |
| A.A.A. |
Amateur Athletics Association. American Automobile Association |
| A.A.C. |
Army Air Corps. |
| A.A.F. |
Auxiliary Air Force. |
| A.A.I. |
Associate of the Auctioneers� Institute. |
| A.A.I.P.A. |
Associate of Incorporated Society of Auctioneers (sic Whitaker�s Almanac). |
| A.B. |
Able rating or seaman [from Able Bodied] |
| A.B.S.I. |
Associate of Boot and Shoe Industry. |
| A.C. |
[1] Able Aircraftsman; [2] same as B.C, Before Christ (f. Latin Ante Christum); [3] alternating current. |
| A.C.A. |
Associate of the Institute of Chartered Accountants. |
| A.C.C. |
[1] Army Cyclist Corps (formed 1914; disbanded 1922); [2] Army Catering Corps (formed 1941). |
| A.C.C.S. |
Associate of the Corporation of Certified Secretaries. |
| A.C.D. |
Army Chaplains' Department (designated "Royal" 1919). |
| A.C.G.I. |
Associate of the City and Guilds Institute. |
| A.C.I.A. |
Associate of the Corporation of Insurance Agents. |
| A.C.I.B. |
Associate of the Corporation of Insurance brokers. |
| A.C.I.S. |
Associate of the Chartered Institute of Secretaries. |
| A.C.R.A. |
Associate of the Corporation of Accountants. |
| A.C.T. |
Australian Capital Territory. |
| A.D. |
Anno Domini, in the year of our Lord. |
| A.D.C. |
[1] Aide de Camp; [2] Army Dental Corps (formed 1921; designated "Royal" 1946). |
| A.D.C.Gen. |
Aide de camp General. |
| A.E.C. |
Army Educational Corps (designated "Royal" 1946). |
| A.F. |
Anglo French. |
| A.F.A.S. |
Associate of the Faculty of Architects and Surveyors. |
| A.F.C. |
[1] Air Force Cross; [2] Association Football Club. |
| A.F.R. |
Arbroath and Forfar Railway. |
| A.F.S. |
Auxiliary Fire Service. |
| A.Fr. |
Anglo French. |
| A.H. |
(Anno Hegirae), in the year of Hegira. |
| A.H.Cps |
Army Hospital Corps (British Army) |
| A.H.W.C. |
Associate of the Heriot-Watt College. |
| A.I.A. |
Associate of the Institute of Actuaries. |
| A.I.A.A. |
Associate Member of the Incorporated Association of Architects. |
| A.I.A.C. |
Associate of the Institute of Company Accountants. |
| A.I.A.S. |
Associate Member of the Incorporated Association of Surveyors. |
| A.I.B. |
Associate of the Institute of Bankers. |
| A.I.C. |
Associate of the Institute of Chemistry. |
| A.I.C.S. |
Associate of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers. |
| A.I.F. |
Australian Imperial Forces (WW 1). |
| A.I.I.A. |
Associate of the Institute of Industrial Administration. |
| A.I.Loco.E. |
Associate of the Institute of Locomotive Engineers. |
| A.I.M.T.A. |
Associate of the Institute of Municipal Treasurers and Accountants. |
| A.I.O.B. |
Associate of the Institute of Builders. |
| A.I.S.A. |
Associate of the Institute of Secretaries� Association. |
| A.Inst.P. |
Associate of the Institute of Physics. |
| A.J.R. |
Axholme Joint Railway. |
| a.k.a. |
also known as, alias. |
| A.K.C. |
Associate of King�s College. |
| A.L. |
(Anno Lucis), In the year of Light. |
| A.L.A. |
Associate of the Library Association. |
| A.L.A.A. |
Associate of the London Association of Certified Accountants. |
| A.M., a.m. |
[1] (ante meridiem), before noon; [2] (Anno mundi), In the year of the world. |
| A.M.C. |
Art Master�s Certificate. |
| A.M.D.G. |
to the greater glory of God (f. L. ad majorem Die gloriam). |
| A.M.I.A.E. |
Associate Member of the Institute of Automobile Engineers. |
| A.M.I.Chem.E. |
Associate Member of the Institution of Chemical Engineers. |
| A.M.I.E.E. |
Associate Member of the Institution of Electrical Engineers. |
| A.M.I.Loco.E. |
Associate Member of the Institute of Locomotive Engineers. |
| A.M.I.Mech.E. |
Associate Member of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. |
| A.M.Inst.T. |
Associate Member of the Institute of Transport. |
| A.M.S. |
Army Medical Service or Staff. |
| A.N.C.B. |
Army & Navy Canteen Board |
| A.O.C. |
Army Ordnance Corps (designated "Royal" 1918). |
| A.P.C. |
Army Pay Corps. |
| A.P.D. |
Army Pay Department (designated "Royal" 1919). |
| A.P.T.C. |
Army Physical Training Corps (formed 1940). |
| a.r. |
in the year of the reign (L anno regni). |
| A.R.A. |
Associate of the Royal Academy. |
| A.R.A.M. |
Associate of the Royal Academy of Music. |
| A.R.C.O. |
Associate of the Royal College of Organists. |
| A.R.C.S. |
Associate of the Royal College of Science. |
| A.R.I.B.A. |
Associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects. |
| A.R.P. |
Air Raid Precautions. |
| A.R.P.S. |
Associate of the Royal Photographic Society. |
| A.R.R.C. |
Associate of the Royal Red Cross. |
| A.R.S. |
Army Remount Service. |
| A.R.S.M. |
Associate of the Royal School of Mines. |
| A.R.San.I. |
Associate of the Royal Sanitary Institute. |
| A.R.T.C. |
Associate of the Royal Technical College (Glasgow). |
| A.R.W.S. |
Associate of the Royal Society of Painters and Water Colours. |
| A.S. |
[1] Anglo-Saxon; [2] (Anno Salvatoris or Salutis), In the year of Salvation. |
| A.S.A. |
Amateur Swimming Association. |
| A.S.A.A. |
Associate of the Society of Incorporated Accountants and Auditors. |
| A.S.C. |
Army Service Corps (designated "Royal" 1918). |
| A.S.H. |
The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (Princess Louise's). |
| A.S.L.E.F. |
Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen. |
| A.S.M.E. |
American Society of Mechanical Engineers. |
| A.S.P.L. |
Aberdeen Steam Packet Line. |
| A.S.S.E. |
American Society of Safety Engineers. |
| A.T.C. |
Air Training Corps. |
| A.T.I. |
Associate of the Textile Institute. |
| A.T.S. |
Auxiliary Territorial Service. |
| A.U.C. |
(Anno urbis conditae), In the year from the foundation of Rome. |
| A.V. |
Authorised Version. |
| A.V.C. |
Army Veterinary Corps (designated "Royal" 1918). |
| A.W.C.R. |
Aberystwyth and Welsh Coast Railway. |
| A.W.O.L. |
absent without leave (military). |
| A.Y. |
The Ayrshire Yeomanry (Earl of Carrick's Own). |
| a/c |
account (f. account current). |
| AAGHS |
Afro-American Genealogical and Historical Society |
| AAONMS |
Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine |
| AASR |
Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite (of Freemasons) |
| AASRFM |
Ancient & Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry |
| AB |
Alberta |
| Ab Nepos |
a great-great-grandson |
| Ab Neptis |
a great-great-granddaughter |
| abbrev. |
abbreviation (of). |
| Abcpsia |
blindness |
| ABD |
Aberdeenshire (CCC). |
| Abeyance |
a condition of undetermined ownership - as of an estate that has not yet been assigned |
| ABI |
American Biographical Index |
| Ablepsy |
blindness |
| Abp. |
Archbishop. |
| abr. |
abridged, abridgment |
| absol. |
absolute(ly). |
| abstr. |
abstract(s). |
| abstract |
abbreviated transcription of a document or record that includes the date of the record, every name appearing therein, the relationship (if stated) of each person named and their description (ie., witness, executor, bondsman, son, widow, etc.), and if they signed with their signature or mark. |
| abt. |
about. |
| Abtstract Book |
record books containing abstracts of the information contained on deeds or land entries - usually listed in alphabetical order by surname of the purchasers |
| acad. |
academic, academy. |
| accel. |
accelerando, with increasing rapidity (music). |
| Accelerated |
an index prepared by computer - such as a census index |
| Accomptant |
Accountant |
| acct |
account. |
| ACGB |
Arts Council of Great Britain. |
| ACIS |
Associate of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators (formerly the Chartered Institute of Secretaries). |
| ACP |
African, Caribbean, and Pacific. |
| acpt. |
acceptance. |
| act. |
active. |
| Action |
a proceeding in a court of law |
| ACTU |
Australian Council of Trade Unions. |
| AD |
anno domini (Latin), in the year of the Lord |
| ad inf. |
ad infinitum. |
| ad lib. |
ad libitum, at pleasure. |
| ad litem |
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." |
| ad val. |
ad valorem of a tax imposed at a rate proportional to the stated or estimated value (tax on goods) [L, according to the value]. |
| ADAS |
Agricultural Development and Advisory Service. |
| ADC |
Aide-de-Camp |
| Add. |
Addenda. |
| Addison's Disease |
anemic condition caused by kidney disease |
| Adj. |
Adjutant. |
| adm. |
[1] administration, [2] administrator, [3] admitted. |
| Adm. |
Admiral. |
| admin. |
[1] administration, [2] administrator. |
| 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. |
| Administrator |
an appointee of the court who settles the estate of a deceased who died without leaving a will |
| Administrator's Bond |
a bond posted by an administrator to guarantee the proper performance of his duties |
| Administratrix |
a female administrator |
| admon. |
Letters of Administration (when died intestate). |
| ADR |
American Depositary Receipt. |
| adv. |
[1] adverb; adverbial [2] against [L adversus ]. |
| Adv. |
Advance. |
| advt. |
advertisement. |
| ae |
age, aged. |
| AEA |
Atomic Energy Authority. |
| AEB |
Associated Examining Board. |
| AEC |
Atomic Energy Commission-a US organization. |
| Aegrotantem |
illness - sickness |
| AEI |
Associated Electrical Industries (in the 1960�s became part of GEC). |
| AEOS |
Ancient Egyptian Order of Sciots (Masons) |
| AERE |
Atomic Energy Research Establishment. |
| Aeronaut. |
[1] Aeronautics; [2] Aeronautical. |
| aet., aetat. |
of the specific age; aged [L aetatis]. |
| AEU |
Amalgamated Engineering Union now AUEW. |
| AF |
Ancestral File, database maintained by the LDS FHL |
| AF&AM |
Ancient, Free, & Accepted Masons |
| AFA |
Amateur Football Association. |
| AFAM |
Ancient Free and Accepted Mason |
| Aff |
affidavit |
| aff. |
affidavit. |
| Affidavit |
An oral statement made under oath or a written and signed statement sworn in front of a court officer |
| AFL-CIO |
American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations. |
| AFM |
Air Force Medal. |
| Afr. |
Africa(n). |
| AFRA |
American Family Records Association |
| AFRC |
Agriculture and Food Research Council. |
| aft. |
after. |
| AFV |
armoured fighting vehicle. |
| AG |
[1] adjutant general, [2] attorney general [3] joint stock company [Ger Aktiengesellschaft]., [3] Accredited Genealogist (FHL credential) |
| Ag. L. |
Agricultural Labourer |
| Ag. Lab. |
Agricultural Labourer (1841-81 Census) |
| AGBU |
Armenian General Benevolent Union |
| AGM |
chiefly British, an annual general meeting (e.g. of a society or company). |
| AGRA |
Association of Genealogists and Record Agents. |
| agric. |
agriculture, agricultural. |
| AGSM |
Associate of the Guildhall School of Music. |
| Ague |
recurring fever and chills of malaria |
| AGY |
Anglesey (In April 1974, the island of Anglesey became part of Gwynedd) (CCC). |
| AH |
anno hegirae, used before a date. |
| ahnentafel |
ancestor table - from the German Ahnen (ancestor) and Tafel (table or list), tabulates the ancestry of one individual by generation in text rather than pedigree chart format. A comprehensive ahnentafel gives more than the individual's name, date and place of birth, christening,marriage, death and burial. It should give biographical and historical commentary for each person listed, as well as footnotes citing the source documents used to prove what is stated. |
| ahnentafel Number |
the unique number assigned to each position in an ancestor table is called an ahnentafel number. Number one designates the person in the first generation. Numbers two and three designate the parents of number one and the second generation. Numbers four through seven designate the grandparents of person number one and the third generation. As the ahnentafel extends by generation, the number of persons doubles. |
| AHOJB |
Ancient and Honorable Order of the Jersey Blues |
| A�n� |
Eldest Child of the Family |
| AIS |
Accelerated Indexing System |
| AISB |
Ancient Illuminated Seers of Bavaria |
| AJC |
Australian Jockey Club. |
| AK |
Alaska |
| aka |
also known as, alias. |
| AL |
Alabama |
| ALA |
Associate of the Library Association. |
| Alb. |
Albanian. |
| Alc |
Alice. |
| ALD |
Alderney, Channel Islands (CCC). |
| ald. |
alderman. |
| alien |
a citizen of another country. |
| Almoner |
Giver of charity to the needy |
| als |
alias. |
| ALS |
autograph letter signed. |
| alt. |
[1] alternate, [2] altitude, [3] alto. |
| altm |
at liberty to marry (Quaker) |
| Am. |
[1] America; American, [2] Amos. |
| Am. Rev. |
American Revolution, American War for Independence |
| Amanuensis |
Secretary or stenographer |
| AMDEA |
Association of Manufacturers of Domestic Electrical Appliances. |
| AMDG |
to the greater glory of God [L ad majorem Dei gloriam] |
| Amer. |
American. |
| American Revolution |
1775-83 USA |
| AMORC |
Ancient Mystic Order Rosae Crucis |
| AMOS |
Ancient Mystic Order of Samaritans (Odd Fellows) |
| AMVETS |
American Veterans |
| Anat. |
Anatomy; Anatomical. |
| ANC |
African National Congress. |
| Anc. |
Ancient. |
| ancestor |
a person from whom you descend;grandparents, great-grandparents, 2nd great-grandparents (also called great great- grandparents), 3rd great-grandparents, etc.;direct-line ancestor; forefather; forebear. |
| Ancestral File |
a genealogical system developed ty the Family History Department of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), links individuals to ancestors in pedigree, family group, and descendant formats. It contains genealogical information about millions of people from many nations. |
| ancestry |
denotes all of your ancestors from your parents as far back as they are traceable. Estimates suggest that everyone has approximately 65,000 traceable ancestors, meaning ancestors whose existence can be documented in surviving records. |
| Anglo Dutch |
July 1653 New Netherland |
| Anglo French |
1629 St.Lawrence Riv. |
| Anglo French |
1755-58 Canada |
| Anglo Ind. |
Anglo Indian |
| Anglo Ir. |
Anglo Irish |
| ann. |
[1] annals, [2] annual, [3] annuity, [4] anon, anonymous. |
| annotation |
interpretation, explaination, clarification, definition, or supplement. Many types of genealogical presentations contain statements, record sources, documents, conclusions, or other historical information that require an annotation. Generally, annotations appear in footnotes, end-notes, or in the text itself. Genealogical software provides a field for documentation, comments, notes, and analysis. Genealogists use annotations to explain discrepancies between two or more documents, to add information from another source to support a statement or conclusion made in a different record, and other difficult to interpret situations. |
| Annus |
year |
| anon. |
anonymous. |
| ANS |
Angus (An old name for Forfarshire) (CCC). |
| ANSI |
American National Standards Institute. |
| ANT |
Antrim (CCC). |
| Antiq. |
Antiquities; Antiquity. |
| Anzac |
Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. |
| AOB |
Air Order of Battle |
| AOC |
Air Officer Commanding. |
| AOD |
Ancient Order of Druids |
| AODC |
Ancient Order of Degree Coopermen |
| AOF |
Ancient Order of Foresters |
| AOH |
Ancient Order of Hibernians |
| Ao�t |
August |
| AOUW |
Ancient Order of United Workmen |
| Ap. |
Apprentice (1841-61 Census) |
| Apaches |
1873 Arizona |
| APCWS |
Association for the Preservation of Civil War Sites |
| apd |
attending places of diversion; appointed; appealed (Quaker) |
| APG |
Association of Professional Genealogists |
| Aphonia |
laryngitis |
| Apoplexy |
stroke |
| app |
appointed |
| app. |
apparently; appointed. |
| appl. |
applied, application. |
| appos. |
appositive, appositively. |
| appr. |
appraisal; appraisment. |
| Apr. |
April. |
| Apr�s |
After |
| apt |
[1] appointed, [2] apartment. |
| aq |
aqua, water. |
| AQM |
Assistant Quartermaster (US Civil War) |
| AR |
Arkansas |
| Arab. |
Arabic. |
| ARCA |
Associate of the Royal College of Art. |
| arch. |
[1] archaic, [2] architect; architectural; architecture. |
| Arch. |
archbishop. |
| Archives |
reference to the storage of older records |
| ARCM |
Associate of the Royal College of Music. |
| ARCS |
Associate of the Royal College of Science. |
| ARIBA |
Associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects. |
| Arickaree Indian |
1823 Missouri Riv; Dakota Terr |
| ARL |
Argyllshire (Includes islands: Islay, Jura and Mull) (CCC). |
| ARM |
Armagh (CCC). |
| Arm. |
Armagh. |
| Army |
Members of HM land forces of whatever rank (1841 Census) |
| Aroostook |
"1839 Maine" |
| ARPS |
Associate of the Royal Photographic Society. |
| arr. |
[1] music arranged by, [2] arrival; arrives. |
| ARSS |
Antiquariorum Regiae Societatis Socius (Fellow of the Royal Society of Antiquaries) |
| art. |
[1] article, [2] artificial, [3] artillery. |
| Artificer |
A soldier mechanic who does repairs |
| ASA |
[1] Advertising Standards Authority, [2] Amateur Swimming Association, [3] American Standards Association. |
| Ascendant |
ancestor |
| ASCII |
a computer code consisting of 128 7 bit characters that is used for representing characters as binary numbers storable in a computer memory [A merican S tandard C ode for I nformation I nterchange]. |
| ASE |
Amalgamated Society of Engineers. |
| ASEAN |
Association of South East Asian Nations. |
| ASFD |
American Society of Freedmen's Descendants |
| ASG |
American Society of Genealogists |
| Ashman |
shipman or sailor |
| ASL |
American Sign Language. |
| ASLEF |
Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen. |
| Asphicsia |
lack of oxygen - cyanotic |
| assgn. |
assign, assignee. |
| Assignee |
the person to whom a privilege or some property is signed over to by the court |
| assignment |
grant of property or a legal right, benefit, or privilege to another person. |
| Assignor |
the person who signs over a right or property to another |
| Assistant Marshall |
the census taker prior to 1880 |
| assn. |
association. |
| assoc. |
association. |
| Assoc.M.I.C.E. |
Associate Member of the Institution of Civil Engineers. |
| ASSR |
Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic. |
| asst |
assistant. |
| Astr. |
Astronomy. |
| Astrol. |
Astrology. |
| Astron. |
Astronomy. |
| Astronaut. |
Astronautic(s). |
| atba |
able to bear arms. |
| atm. |
atmosphere. |
| Atrophy |
wasting away |
| att |
attached to; attended (Quaker) |
| att. |
attorney. |
| attrib. |
attributive, ly. |
| ATV |
[1] all terrain vehicle, [2] Associated Television. |
| AUEW |
Amalgamated Union of Engineering Workers. |
| Aug. |
August. |
| Aurifaber |
goldsmith |
| AUS |
Australia |
| Austral. |
Australian. |
| AUT |
[1] Austria, [2] Association of University Teachers. |
| authenticate |
prove a document is not a forgery. |
| Autobiogr. |
Autobiography, ical |
| av |
average; avoirdupois. |
| Ava - Avia |
grandmother |
| Avant |
Before |
| Ave. |
Avenue. |
| AVM |
Air Vice Marshal. |
| AVN |
Avon (CCC). |
| Avorum - Avi |
grandparents |
| Avril |
April |
| Avus |
grandfather |
| AWACS |
airborne warning and control system. |
| AWB |
Afrikaner Weerstandsbeweging: a right wing Afrikaner political group in South Africa. |
| AYR |
Ayrshire (CCC). |
| AZ |
Arizona |
| az. |
azimuth. |
| B |
black, Negro |
| B. |
[1] bachelor, [2] black used especially on lead pencils, [3] British. |
| b. |
[1] born, [2] cricket bowled by, [3] breadth, [4] cricket bye. |
| B.A. |
Baccalaureus Artium, Bachelor of Arts. |
| B.A.C. |
[1] British Agricultural Council, [2] British Aircraft Corporation. |
| B.A.C.S.A. |
British Association for Cemeteries in South Asia. |
| B.A.L.H. |
British Association for Local History. |
| B.A.L.R. |
Burton & Ashby Light Railway. |
| B.A.O. |
Bachelor of Obstectrics. |
| B.Arch. |
Bachelor of Architecture. |
| B.B.C. |
British Broadcasting Association. |
| B.C. |
[1] Before Christ, [2] British Columbia. |
| B.C.E. |
[1] Before the Common Era, [2] Bachelor of Civil Engineering. |
| B.C.L. |
Bachelor of Civil Law. |
| B.C.R. |
Bishop's Castle Railway. |
| B.Ch. |
Bachelor of Surgery. |
| B.Com. |
Bachelor of Commerce. |
| B.D. |
Baccalaureus Divinitatis, Bachelor of Divinity. |
| B.D.A. |
British Dental Association. |
| B.D.J.R. |
Birmingham and Derby Junction Railway. |
| B.D.S. |
[1] Bachelor of Dental Surgery; [2] Boom Defence Service. |
| B.E. |
[1] Bachelor of Education; [2] Bachelor of Engineering; [3] bill of exchange. |
| B.E.A. |
British European Airways. |
| B.E.F. |
British Expeditionary Force. |
| B.E.M. |
British Empire Medal. |
| B.E.R. |
Bristol and Exeter Railway. |
| B.Ed. |
Bachelor of Education. |
| B.Eng. |
Bachelor of Engineering. |
| B.G.R. |
Birmingham and Gloucester Railway. |
| B.H.R. |
The Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment. |
| b.i.d. |
twice a day used in prescriptions [L bis in die]. |
| B.J.R. |
Branding Junction Railway. |
| B.L. |
[1] Baccalaureus Legum, Bachelor of Laws; [2] bill of lading; [3] British Library. |
| B.L.C.J.R. |
Birkenhead, Lancs and Cheshire Junction Railway. |
| B.L.R. |
Bala Lake Railway. |
| B.Lit. |
Baccalaureus Literarum, Bachelor of Literature. |
| B.Litt. |
Baccalaureus Litterarus Bachelor of Letters |
| B.M. |
[1] Baccalaureus Medicinae, Bachelor of Medicine; [2] British Library. |
| B.M.A. |
British Medical Association. |
| B.M.E. |
Bachelor of Mining Engineering. |
| B.M.R. |
Brecon Mountain Railway. |
| B.M.T.J.R. |
Brecon & Merthyr Tydfil Junction Railway Company. |
| B.Mus. |
Baccalaureus Musicae, Bachelor of Music. |
| B.N.C. |
Brasenose College, Oxford. |
| B.O.A.C. |
British Overseas Airways Corporation. |
| B.P.G.V.R. |
Burry Port and Gwendraeth Valley Railway. |
| B.P.R. |
Bolton and Preston Railway. |
| B.Phil. |
Baccalaureus Philosophiae, Bachelor of Philosophy. |
| B.R. |
[1] Barry Railway Company. [2] Birkenhead Railway Company, [3] The Bedfordshire Regiment; [4] The Border Regiment; [5] British Rail(ways). |
| B.R.C.S. |
British Red Cross Society. |
| B.S. |
[1] Bachelor of Surgery; [2] Bachelor of Science (see B.Sc.); [3] British Standard. |
| B.S.A. |
Birmingham Small Arms (Company). |
| B.S.I. |
British Standards Institute. |
| B.S.P.L. |
Barrow Steam Packet Line. |
| B.S.V.R. |
Birmingham, Wolverhampton and Stour Valley Railway. |
| B.S.W.R. |
Baker Street and Waterloo Railway. |
| B.Sc. |
Baccalaureus Scientiae, Bachelor of Science. |
| B.Sc.Tech. |
Bachelor of Technical Science. |
| B.T.R. |
Blyth & Tyne Railway. |
| B.V.M. |
Blessed Virgin Mary. |
| B.W. |
The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment). |
| B.W.A.R. |
Bideford, Westward Ho! and Appledore Railway. |
| B.W.I. |
British West Indies. |
| B.W.I.R. |
British West Indies Regiment (raised 1915; disbanded 1921). |
| B.W.V.R. |
Brynmawr and Western Valleys Joint (GW & LNW) Railways. |
| B.Y. |
[1] The Bedfordshire Yeomanry; [2] The Berkshire Yeomanry (Dragoons),(Hungerford). |
| b/f |
brought forward. |
| b/o |
brother of. |
| B/P |
bill payable. |
| B/R |
bill receivable. |
| Bacon's Rebellion |
1675-76 Virginia |
| Bad Blood |
syphilis |
| BAe |
British Aerospace. |
| BAFTA |
British Academy of Film and Television Arts. |
| Bailie |
Bailiff |
| bal. |
balance used in book |
| BALPA |
British Airline Pilots' Association. |
| BAN |
Banffshire (CCC). |
| Bannock |
"1878 ID, Washington Terr.& Wyoming Terr." |
| Banns |
publication or posting of the announcement of a coming marriage - a period of time before the actual marriage to allow advance notice to those that might have reason to protest. In most churches the banns were read aloud on three successive Sundays. |
| BAOR |
British Army of the Rhine. |
| bap. |
baptised. |
| BAPS |
British Association of Plastic Surgeons. |
| bapt. |
baptised. |
| Bapt. |
Baptist. |
| Baptizatus |
baptized |
| Baptizavi |
I baptized |
| BAR |
Brigade of the American Revolution |
| Barbary Pirates |
"1815 North Coast Africa" |
| BArch |
Bachelor of Architecture. |
| BARE |
Benefit Association of Railway Employees |
| Barrister |
lawyer |
| Bart. |
Baronet. |
| base-born |
a base-born individual was an illegitimate child. |
| bastard |
a bastard is an illegitimate child. |
| Baxter |
Baker |
| BB |
[1] Boys' Brigade, [2] double black used on lead pencils. |
| BBBC |
British Boxing Board of Control. |
| BBC |
British Broadcasting Corporation. |
| BBFC |
British Board of Film Censors. |
| bbl. |
barrel(s). |
| BBS |
Bulletin Board System phone - dial up connection for PC's. |
| BC |
British Columbia |
| BC |
(of a date) before Christ |
| BCC |
British Council of Churches. |
| BCG |
Board for Certification of Genealogists |
| BCG |
Board for Certification of Genealogists |
| BCG vaccine |
a vaccine used to protect people against tuberculosis [B acillus C almette Guerin, fr Albert Calmette 1933 and Camille Guerin 1961 Fr bacteriologists]. |
| BCh |
Bachelor of Surgery [ML baccalaureus chirurgiae ]. |
| BCom |
Bachelor of Commerce. |
| BD |
[1] Bachelor of Divinity, [2] bank draft, [3] barrels per day, [4] brought down. |
| bd |
[1] bond, [2] bound. |
| Bde. |
Brigade. |
| BDF |
Bedfordshire (CCC). |
| BEA |
British European Airways now BA. |
| Beau Fils |
Son-in-Law |
| Beau Pere |
Father-in-Law |
| Beds |
Bedfordshire. |
| bef. |
before |
| beh. |
beheaded |
| BEL |
Belgium |
| Belhoste |
tavern keeper |
| Belle Fille |
Daughter-in-Law |
| Belle Mere |
Mother-in-Law |
| Belleyetere |
bellfounder |
| BEM |
British Empire Medal. |
| BEng |
Bachelor of Engineering. |
| beq. |
bequest, bequeathed. |
| bequeath |
term appearing in a will meaning to leave or give property as specified therein to another person or organization. |
| Bequest |
legacy; usually a gift of real estate by will |
| Berks |
Berkshire. |
| bet. |
between |
| betw. |
between. |
| BEW |
Berwickshire (CCC). |
| BFPO |
British Forces Post Office. |
| BG |
brigadier general. |
| BG |
burial grounds |
| BGC |
British Gas Council. |
| Bibliogr. |
Bibliography, ical |
| bibliography |
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. |
| b-I-l |
brother in law |
| Bilious Fever |
fever caused by liver disorder |
| BIM |
British Institute of Management. |
| Biochem. |
Biochemistry, ical |
| biog. |
biography. |
| biographies |
a biography is a book written about a particular individual. You can also find compiled biographies, which are books that contain short biographies of many different people. A compiled biography normally is about a specific group of people. For example, you can find compiled biographies about individuals who were involved in a particular profession or who lived in a particular area. You can usually find the following information in a biography: occupation, accomplishments, affiliations, and family information. |
| Biol. |
Biology, ical |
| BIR |
Board of Inland Revenue. |
| birth records |
a birth record contains information about the birth of an individual. On a birth record, you can usually find the mother's full maiden name and the father's full name, the name of the baby, the date of the birth, and county where the birth took place. Many birth records include other information, such as the birthplaces of the baby's parents, the addresses of the parents, the number of children that the parents have, and the race of the parents, and the parents' occupations. |
| bk |
[1] bank; [2] book. |
| BK |
Brother's Keeper (software) |
| BK/BroKeep |
Brother's Keeper (computer software) |
| BKM |
Buckinghamshire (CCC). |
| BL |
[1] Bachelor of Law, [2] bill of lading, [3] British Legion, [4] British Leyland (motorcar company), [5] British Library. |
| Bl. S. |
Black Smith |
| Black Death |
typhus |
| Black Hawk |
"1832 Illinois & Wisconsin" |
| Black Lung |
disease from breathing coal dust |
| Black Plague |
bubonic plague |
| bldg |
building. |
| BLitt |
Bachelor of Letters [ML baccalaureus litterarum ]. |
| Blockmaker |
one who crafted pulleys |
| Bloody Flux |
dysentery |
| Bluestocking |
Female writer |
| blvd. |
boulevard. |
| BLW |
Bounty Land Warrant |
| BMD |
Births, Marriages and Deaths. |
| Bn. |
Battalion. |
| BNL |
Brotherhood of the New Life |
| bo. |
boarder. |
| Boluter |
a sieve |
| bond |
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 alone or with others, 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. If a bondsman failed to perform, the court may have demanded payment of a specified sum as a penalty. |
| Boniface |
Keeper of an inn |
| BOR |
Borders (CCC). |
| Borough |
a self-governing incorporated town - larger than a village |
| Bot. |
Botany, ical |
| bounds |
pertaining to measuring natural or man-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. 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. |
| Bounty Land Warrant |
a gift of bounty land due to a person entitled by military service - or to his heirs or assignees |
| bp. |
[1] baptised, [2] birth place. |
| Bp. |
Bishop. |
| BPOE |
Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks |
| bpt. |
baptized. |
| Br. |
[1] British; [2] Brother. |
| br. |
[1] brought; [2] brother. |
| BRA |
Brazil |
| Brand Iron |
the cob irons or fire dogs which confine the brands on an open hearth |
| Brasiler |
dyer |
| Brazier |
One who works with brass |
| BRB |
Barbados |
| BRE |
Breconshire (Also known as Brecknockshire) (CCC). |
| Brewster |
Beer manufacturer |
| Brig. |
Brigadier. |
| Brig. Gen. |
Brigadier General. |
| Bright's Disease |
kidney disease |
| Brightsmith |
Metal Worker |
| Brit. |
Britain, British. |
| BRK |
Berkshire (CCC). |
| bro. |
brother |
| Bronze John |
yellow fever |
| bros |
brothers. |
| Brother |
a male sibling - can also be used to show close friendship |
| Brownsmith |
copper or brass smith |
| BT |
Bishop's Transcript (parish registers). |
| Bt. |
Baronet. |
| btwn. |
between. |
| bu. |
buried. |
| bu. |
bushel(s). |
| Bucks |
Buckinghamshire. |
| Buffs, The |
East Kent Regiment. |
| Bulg. |
Bulgarian. |
| Bundling |
to sleep in the same bed while fully clothed - a practiced commonly by engaged couples in early New England |
| bur. |
buried |
| Burgonmaster |
Mayor |
| Burnisher |
polishes or shines metal |
| Burr's Insurrection |
1806-1807 South Mississippi Valley |
| BUT |
Bute (Consists of islands Arran and Bute) (CCC). |
| But. |
Butcher. |
