Acronyms and Abbreviations

There are many abbreviated words related to genealogy and family history research. Some are not easily found in many glossaries that are available. Here is a list of a few of these:


 * AF = Ancestral File (a database within FamilySearch.org)
 * bap / chr = Baptized / Christened
 * BMD / BDM = Births, Marriages, and Deaths
 * c / ca. / circa = approximately (ex. "ca. 1535" means in about 1535)
 * c / ca. / circa = approximately (ex. "ca. 1535" means in about 1535)


 * CNBL = Cannot Be Located
 * dob = Date of Birth
 * FHC = Family History Center (to find a Family History Center near you, click here)
 * FHL = Family History Library (for more information about the Family History Library, click here)
 * FHLC = Family History Library Catalog (searchable on FamilySearch.org)
 * GEDCOM = GEnealogical Data COMmunications (a file format for transferring family history data)
 * ill. = Illegitimate (often recorded on birth certificates and other birth records)
 * IGI = International Genealogical Index
 * LDS = Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
 * PAF = Personal Ancestral File (a free genealogy and family history program by the LDS Church)
 * PRF = Pedigree Resource File (a database within FamilySearch.org)
 * PRO = Public Records Office
 * SSDI =Social Security Death Index (a database within FamilySearch.org)
 * SSDI =Social Security Death Index (a database within FamilySearch.org)

Online Resources
Common Genealogical Acronyms - http://austega.com/familyhistory/courses/acronyms.htm

Association of Professional Genealogists: Abbreviations and Acronyms - http://www.apgen.org/resources/aa.html

Genealogical Acronyms and Glossary - http://homepages.nildram.co.uk/~jimella/acronyms.htm

The A to Z of British Genealogical Research (The Emery Paper): Abbreviations - http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/EmeryPaper.html#Abbreviations

International Society of Genetic Genealogy's: DNA - Newbie Glossary - http://www.worldfamilies.net/glossary.html

List of abbreviations for English given names - Wikipedia - http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Appendix:Abbreviations_for_English_given_names 

Family History Library Resources
There are also books which give the definitions of many abbreviated words. One such book is "Abbreviations &amp; Acronyms: a guide for family historians" compiled by Kip Sperry (FHL book US/Can 929.103Sp37a.)

Use a Title search for "abbreviations" in the Family History Library Catalog found on the www.familysearch.org website for other books which define abbreviations and acronyms such as: Acronyms, Initialisms, and Abbreviations Dictionary: a guide to acronyms, abbreviations, contractions, alphabetic symbols, and similar condensed appellations by Jennifer Mossman (FHL book US/Can 428.1 M855a v.1 pt.1 1995.)