Abbreviations

Decode abbreviations found in ancestor writings.

Many scribes shortened the words they wrote by leaving off the endings or leaving out some letter in the middle of a word to save space and time. They usually warn the reader by placing a line or a comma above the word or a period, comma, or some other symbol at the end of the word. Abbreviations could be unique to the writer, region, organization, etc.

Tip 1: Abbreviations for common words. For example,
a. “sd” for “said”
b. “decd” for “deceased”
c. “do” for “ditto”
d. “chh” for “church”
e. “rect” for “receipt”

Tip 2: The tilde (~) written over a letter indicates that it should be a double letter.

Tip 4: Both name and word abbreviations usually are written with the last letter of the abbreviation raised.

Tip 5: Months of September through December were sometimes abbreviated as follows: 7ber (September), 8ber (October), 9ber (November), and 10ber or Xber (December).

Tip 6: Use of the Mark
The “X” marks of folks who could not write their names are often seen. Once the person made their X, the court clerk or attorney would add the person’s given name in front of the X, the surname behind the X, a “his” or “her” above the X, and a “mark” below the X. Sometimes a person might “make their mark” with a cross (+), their initials, or some other symbol. If the instrument (document) were recorded, the clerk would copy it, the X and all, into his record books. Almost all the signatures and marks seen in court records are in the clerk’s hand.

Perhaps the most crucial consideration about X marks is this: just because a person was illiterate does not mean they were stupid. If fact, there have been many illiterate people who were successful businessmen. Then there were the folks who could write their names but no more, and they could, in a way, fake their literacy.

Tip 7: Chart of Abbreviations

Name Abbreviations
Name Abbreviations
Abraham Abm Abrm Abram
Alexander Alex:r Alexr Alex.
Andrew Andw And.
Anthony Anthy Anth.
Archibald Archd
Barbara Barba
Bartholomew Bartho Bart.
Benjamin Benjn Benj. Benja. Ben:
Bernard Bernd
Burell Burll
Charles Chas Chs
Christian Xian
Christina Christa Xrina
Christopher Christo Xphr Xpr Chris.
Daniel Danl
David Davd
Dorothy Dy Do:
Edmond Edmd
Edward Edwd
Elizabeth Elizath Eliza Eliza: Eliz.
Emma, Emily Em:
Francis Fran.
Frederick Fredk Fred..
George Go: Geo.
Henry Hen.
Hezekiel Hezl Heze.
Honor Hon:
Humphrey Humy Hum:
Issac Isa.
James Jas Jas Ja:
Jeremiah Jereh
John Jno Jn. Jo.
Jonathan Jona Jona:
Joseph Jos Jos:
Margaret Margt Marg.
Mary My
Meredith Merth
Michael Michl Mich.
Nathaniel Nathl
Nicholas Nichs Nicho.
Obediah Obedh Obed.
Patrick Patk Pat.
Phillip Phil.
Richard Richd Rich.
Robert Robt Rob.
Samuel Saml
Solomon Soln Sol. Solo.
Saint St St. Ste.
Sarah Sar.
Stephen Steph. Ste:
Tamasin Tam.
Timothy Timy Timo.
Theodore Theo.
Thomasin Tam.
Thomas Thos Tho: Th:
Virginia Virga
Washington Wash.
William Wm Willm Will;
Zachariah Zach

 

Term/Title Abbreviations
Name Abbreviations
Doctor Doctr Doctr.
Colonel Colo Col
Esquire Esqr Esqre Esq
Gentleman Gent
Governor Govr
Junior Junr Jun
Mister Mr
Misters Messrs.
Mistress Mrs.
Reverend Revd Rev
Senior Senr Sen. Sr.
Sir Sr

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