Somewhere in your family history research you have probably come across a term that you’ve never seen before. You may also have seen a common term used in a way that seemed unusual. Genealogy, like many specialty areas of study, has its own nomenclature. When you are reading a book about genealogy, or perusing old records, it is important to understand these terms.
Just What Does That Mean? Some of the following terms may seem foreign at first, but before you know it, you’ll be peppering your sentences with these words like an old pro.
- Ahnentafel Comes from the German Ahnen (ancestor) and Tafel (table). A specific type of table of one’s ancestors. This page contains an example.
- Ascendants One’s lineal ancestors
- Banns A public announcement of an intent to marry, usually done in church.
- Circa An approximate date
- Common Ancestor An ancestor that is shared by two or more people.
- Family History Library and Family History Center The Family History Library is located in Salt Lake City, Utah, and is the most extensive genealogical library in existence. Family History Centers are smaller branches of the Family History Library and are located across the nation. Find the branch closest to you here.
- GEDCOM The acronym for “GEnealogical Data COMmunication”. This format was developed by the LDS church and allows easier transfer of data between genealogical software programs.
- Intestate A person who dies without having a will.
- Lineage One’s ancestry.
- Nee Refers to a woman’s maiden name.
- Patent A government grant of land to an individual person.
- Pedigree An individual’s family tree or ancestry.
A full listing of a variety of genealogical terms can be found at the following sites:
That Couldn’t Possibly Be His Brother! The words used to describe human relationships have either changed meaning or changed in terminology over the years. Occasionally you might see a word no longer in use, and you will have to look it up in a dictionary that lists the meanings and origins of old words. What can really be confusing is when a familiar term is used in an unusual way. Here are some of the common descriptions of our “relations” which might have had very different meanings long ago.
- Mrs. When this term was used in front of a Colonial woman’s name, it did not necessarily mean she was married or a widow. Instead, it was an abbreviation for Mistress, a sign of higher social standing. The term was not generally used during Colonial times. Usually, tombstones and written records refer to a deceased married woman as the wife of if her husband was still living, and as a widow if her
 |
 |
Go To Page: 1 2
