400 acronyms and abbreviations in genealogy: practical guide to decipher ancient acts

Discover the most common acronyms and abbreviations in genealogy. A practical guide to decipher ancient acts and move forward in your family research.

400 acronyms and abbreviations in genealogy: practical guide to decipher ancient acts

When you embark on genealogical research, one of the first challenges is reading ancient acts. Between handwriting sometimes difficult to decipher and ancient terms, researchers must also deal with a multitude of acronyms and abbreviations. The latter were commonly used to save space and accelerate the writing of documents.


Whether in parish registers, civil status acts, censuses or notarial documents, these abbreviations come up frequently. Not understanding them can slow down or distort the interpretation of an act. This guide offers you a list of acronyms and abbreviations classified by theme to help you better decipher these precious documents.


📜 acronyms and abbreviations - in acts


généalogie sigles abréviations - dans les actes



🗓️ acronyms and abbreviations - the dates


généalogie sigles abréviations - les dates



🧑´hy


généalogie sigles abréviations - liens familiaux



🏠  Sigles et abréviations - les lieux de vie


généalogie sigles abréviations - lieux de vie



👑 acronyms and abbreviations - The nobility


généalogie sigles abréviations - la noblesse



🧑‍🌾 acronyms and abbreviations - The professions


généalogie sigles abréviations - les métiers



🎖️ acronyms and abbreviations - soldiers and decorations 


généalogie sigles abréviations - militaire et décorations


✍️  Sigles et abréviations - actes notariés


généalogie sigles abréviations - actes notariés


🙏🏻   Sigles et abréviations - religions


généalogie sigles abréviations - la religion


💬 Sigles et abréviations - les prénoms


généalogie sigles abréviations - prénoms 1

généalogie sigles abréviations - prénoms 2



🏛️ acronyms and abbreviations - Archives 


généalogie sigles abréviations - dans les archives



Learning to read and interpret acronyms and abbreviations in genealogy is an essential competence for any ancestor researcher. By understanding these codes, you will gain in efficiency and avoid interpretation errors. This guide will allow you to progress more serenely in the discovery of your family history.


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