MSGHN

The Mississippi Genealogy & History Network










Mississippi Tombstone Abbreviations & their Meanings



To share your information, send it to msghn@outlook.com.




    AAONMS - Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (the Shriners).


a.a.s. - anno aetitis suae (died in the year of his/her age).

    AASR - Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite (Masonic).


ABA - American Benefit Association.

    AF & AM - Ancient Free and Accepted Masons.

    ALOH - American Legion of Honor.

    AMD - Allied Masonic Degree.

    AMORC - Ancient and Mystical Order Rosae Crucis (Rosicrucians).


AMOS - Ancient Mystic Order of Samaritans (Odd Fellows).


AOF - Ancient Order Of Foresters.

    AOH - Ancient Order of Hibernians.


AOM - Ancient Order of Mysteries (Masons).

    AOUW - Ancient Order Of United Workmen.


APA - American Protective Association.

    ATO - Alpha Tao Omega Fraternity.

    AUSA - Association of the United States Army.

    B of RTM - Brotherhood of Railroad Track Men.

    BARE - Benefit Association Of Railway Employees.

    BAY - Brotherhood of American Yeomen.


BK of M - Black Knights of Molders.


BKA - Benevolent Knights Association.

    BLE - Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers.


BLF&E - Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen & Engineers.

    BPOE - Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks.

    BRT - Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen.

    CAR - Children of the American Revolution.


CBKA - Commandery Benevolent Knights Association.


CBL - Catholic Benevolent Legion.

    CD of A - Catholic Daughters of America.


CK of A - Catholic Knights of America.

    Cons. / Consort - Usually used with women. It means the woman's husband was still living at the time of her death.

    COOF - Catholic Order of Foresters.

    CW - Columbia Woodmen


D of A - Daughters of America.

    D of P - Daughters of Pocahontas.

    DAC - Daughters of the American Colonists.

    DAN - Daughters of the Nile (Masonic).

    DAR - Daughters of the American Revolution.

    DAV - Disabled American Veterans.

    DDS - Doctor of Dentistry.

    DOKK - Dramatic Order Knights of Khorassan (Knights of Pythias).


DOL - Daughters of Liberty.

    DOR - Daughters of Rebekah.


DOLLUS - Dames of the Loyal Legion of the United States.


d.s.p. - decessit sine prole legitima (died without issue).


d.s.p.l. - decessit sine prole mascula supersita (died without legitimate issue).


d.s.p.m.s. - decessit sine prole mascula supersita (died without surviving male issue).


d.s.p.s. - decessit sine prole supersita (died without surviving issue) .


d.unm - died unmarried.


d.v.m. - decessit vita matris (died in the lifetime of his mother).


d.v.p. - decessit vita patris (died in the lifetime of his father).


EAU - Equitable Aid Union.


EBA - Emerald Beneficial Association.


ECV - E Clampus Vitus.


Et al - et alia (and others)

    F&AM / FAM - Free and Accepted Masons.

    FATAL - Eastern Star Motto "Fairest Among Thousands, Altogether Lovely."

    FCB - Knights of Pythias.

    FLT - Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

     FNDOZBTKC - "Fear Not Daughter Of Zion Behold The King Cometh" - Female Masonic Symbol.

    FOE - Fraternal Order of Eagles.


FOF - Fraternal Order of Firefighters.

    FOP - Fraternal Order of Police.


GLAUM - Grand Lodge Ancient Order of Mysteries (Masonic).


GLDS - Grand Lodge Daughters of Scotia.

    GUO of OF - Grand United Order of Odd Fellows.

    HHHH - 4H Club.

    HTWSSTSH - Royal Arch Masons. "Hiram the Widows Son Sent to King Solomon"


HZ - Haro Zaro.

    HOJ - Heroines of Jericho (Masonic).


IBBH - International Brotherhood of Blacksmiths and Helpers.

    IB of EW - International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.

    IHS - in hoc salus (there is safety in this); in hoc signo spes mea (In this sign (the cross of Christ) is my hope).

    IHSV - Red Cross of Constantine (Masonic).


inst - instans (present month)

    IOA - International Order of Alhambra.


IODE - Independent Order, Daughters of the Empire.

    IOF - Independent Order of Foresters.


IOGT - International Order of Good Templars.


IOH - Improved Order of Heptasophs.

    IOHH - International Order of Hoo-Hoo.


IOI - Independent Order of Immaculates.

    IOJD - International Order of Job's Daughters.

    IOKP - Independent Order of Knights of Pythias.

    IOOF - Independant Order of Odd Fellows.


IOOF PM - Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Past Master.


IOR - Independent Order of Rechabites.

    IORG - International Order of Rainbow Girls (Masonic).

    IORM - Improved Order of Red Men (Sons of Liberty).


IOStL - Independent Order of St. Luke.

    IOV - International Order of Vikings.

    ISDA - Italian Sons and Daughters of America.

    ISH - Independent Sons of Honor.


IUOM - Independent United Order of Mechanics.


IWW - Industrial Workers of the World.

    IYOB - International Order of Job's Daughters.


JAOUW - Junior Order-Ancient Order of United Workmen.


JOAM - Junior Order of American Mechanics.


JOUAM - Junior Order of United American Mechanics.

    K of C - Knights of Columbus.


K of H - Knights of Honor.


K of L - Knights of Loyola.

    K of P - Knights of Pythias.

    K of SJ - Knights of St. John.

    K of STP - Knights of St. Patrick.


K of STW - Knights of St. Wenceslas.


K of T - Knights of Tabor.

    K of TM - Knights of the Macabees.

    KC - Knights of Columbus.


KFM - Knights of Father Matthew.


KG - Knights of St. George.

    KGC - Knights of the Golden Chain; Knights of the Golden Circle.


KGE - Knights of the Golden Eagle.


KGL - Knight Grand Legion.


KHC - Knights of Holy Cross.

    KKK - Knights of Ku Klux Klan.


KLH - Knights and Ladies of Honor.

    KM - Knights of Malta (Masonic); Knights Militant (KKK).


KMC - Knights of the Mystic Chain.


KOL - Knights of Labor.

    KOTM - Knights of the Macabees.

    KP - Knights of Pythias.

    KPC / K of PC - Knights of Peter Claver.


KSC - Knights of St. Columbkille.


KSF - Knights of Sherwood Forest.


KSL - Knights of St. Lawrence.


KSTG - Knights of St. George.


KSTI - Knights of St. Ignatius.


KSTJ - Knights of St. Joseph.


KSTM - Knights of St. Martin.


KSTP - Knights of St. Paul.

    KSTP - Knights of St. Peter.

    KSTT - Knights of St. Thomas.

    KT - Knights Templar.


KT - Knights of Tabor.


KWM - Knights of Wise Men.

    LAOH - Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians.


LGAR - Ladies of the Grand Army of the Republic.


LK of A - Loyal Knights of America.


LOL - Loyal Order Orange Lodge.

    LOM - Loyal Order of Moose; Legion of the Moose.

    LOOM - Loyal Order of the Moose.

    LOVUS - Legion of Valor of the United States.

    LPN - Licensed Practical Nurse.


MBS - Mutual Benefit Society.

    MCL - Marine Corps League.

    MHP - Mississippi Highway Patrol.

    MOLLUS - Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States.

    MOOSE - Loyal Order of the Moose.

    MOPH - Military Order of the Purple Heart.


MOVPER - Mystic Order of Veiled Prophets of the Mystic Realm (Masonic).

    MRA - Royal Arcanum.

    MUS - Short for Musician (seen on Confederate tombstones).

    MWA - Modern Woodmen of America.


NCOA - Non-Commissioned Officers Association.


Nepos - grandson.

    NL - Navy League.

    NOK - New Order Knights (KKK).

    NOW - Neighbors of Woodcraft.

    NSDAR - National Society Daughters of the American Revolution.


NU - National Union.

    O of A - Order of Amaranth (Masonic).


O of UF - Order of United Friends.

    OOA - Order of Ahepa.

    OOD / OD - Order of DeMolay.


OCF - Order of Chosen Friends.


ODSH - Des Schwestern Verbandes (Sisters of the Federation).

    OES - Order of the Eastern Star.


OGC - Order of the Golden Cross.


OSC - Order of Scottish Clans.


OUAM - Order of United American Mechanics.


PF of A - Patriotic Friends of America.

    PH - The Order of Patrons of Husbandry (The Grange).

    PM - Patriarchs Militant (Independent Order of Odd Fellows).


POSA - Patriotic Order of the Sons of America.


RA - Royal Academy; Royal Arcanum.

    RAM - Royal Arch Masons.


RC - Republican Club.


Rel. - (see Relict)


Relict - Usually used with women. It means the woman's husband was already deceased at the time of her death.


Res. - (see Residue)


Residue - widow or widower.


RK - Roman Knights.

    RMOKHSJ - The Religious and Military Order of Knights of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem.

    RN - Registered Nurse.


RNA - Royal Neighbors of America.

    ROJ - Royal Order of Jesters (Masonic).


RSGF - Royal Society of Good Fellows.

    RSM - Royal and Select Masons.


RSTV - Rite of St. Vaclara; Rite of St. Vita.


RTT - Royal Templars of Temperance.


S of StG - Sons of St. George.

    SAR - Sons of the American Revolution; Sisters of the American Revolution.


SBCL - Saint Bonifazius Catholic Union.


SBL - Society B. Lafayette.

    SCV - Sons of the Confederate Veterans.

    SFWC - Supreme Forest Woodmen Circle.


SNA AUM - Shrine of North America.

    SR - Scottish Rite (Masonic Order).

    ST - Sons of Temperance.


SV - Sons of Veterans of the United States of America.

    TCL - Tall Ceders of Lebanon (Masonic).


TH - Temple of Honor and Temperance-Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

    TOTE - Improved Order of Redmen.


TPLF - Temple of Honor and Temperance.


TROA - The Retired Officer's Association.


UAOD - United Ancient Order of Druids.

    UCV - United Confederate Veterans.

    UDC - United Daughters of the Confederacy.


UFL - Union Fraternal League.


ult. - ultimo (late).

    UMC - United Methodist Clergy

    UMWA - United Mine Workers of America.


UOPF - United Order of Pilgrim Fathers.

    USA - United States Army.


USA - United States of America.

    USAF - United States Air Force.

    USMC - United States Marine Corp.

    USN - United States Navy.

    USNR - United States Navy Reserve.


Ux. - uxor (wife)

    VFW - Veterans of Foreign Wars.

    VMC - Royal Arcanum.

    WC - Woodmen Circle.


WKSC - White Knights of the Southern Cross (KKK).

    WOW - Woodmen of the World.

    WOW - Women of Woodcraft.


YMCA - Young Men's Christian Association.


YWCA - Young Women's Christian Association.