Terminology
Genealogy researchers
encounter many terms which are rarely used except in legal documents, or
genealogical reports, this list is intended to aid with interpreting those
terms.
Abstract - Summary of
important points of a given text, especially deeds and wills.
Accordant (with) - Agreeing.
Acre - 43,560 square
feet; 4,840 square yards; 160 square rods
Administration (of an
estate) - The collection, management and distribution of an estate by proper
legal process.
Administrator (of an
estate) - Person appointed to manage or divide the estate of a deceased
person.
Administratrix - A female
administrator.
Ae. - (latin) Aged; Aet,
"aetatis suae": at the age of.
Affidavit - A written
statement confirmed by oath, for use as evidence in court.
Ahnentafel - A table
of one's ancestors, from the German Ahnen (ancestor) and Tafel (table or
list).
Ahnentafel Numbers -
Numbering system used to identify each individual in a family tree. The
numbers follow the format that an individual's father is twice that individual's
number, and that an individual's mother is twice that individual's number
plus one. Used in pedigree charts.
Alien - (1) To transfer
property; as in a deed the seller "does grant, bargain, sell, alien, enfeoff,
release, and confirm unto [the buyer]" certain property. (2) a foreigner.
ALARS - American Library
Association Records Standards
American Revolution -
U.S. war for independence from Great Britain 1775-1783.
Ancestor - A person from
whom you are descended; a forefather.
Ancestor Chart - Report
or chart that shows a person and all of their ancestors in a graphical
format. As opposed to the Ahnentafel which is more of a narrative report.
Ancestral File - A database
of names in linked genealogies on CD-ROM. Contains names and addresses
of people that have submitted information. Maintained by the LDS FHL.
Ancestry - The lineage
of all the ancestors of a person, from parents backward on time.
Ante - Latin prefix meaning
before, such as in ante-bellum South; The South before the war.
Apprentice - One who
is bound by indentures or by legal agreement or by any means to serve another
person for a certain time, with a view of learning an art or trade.
Appurtenance - That which
belongs to something else such as a building, orchard, right of way, etc.
Archive - Collection
of public or corporate records; place where such records are kept.
Ascendants - lineal ancestors.
ASCII - American Standard
Code for Information Interchange - type of file on a computer that is usually
readable/writable by most word processors.
Attest - To affirm; to
certify by signature or oath.
Banns - Public announcement
of intended marriage, usually read in church on three successive Sundays
Barton - Farmyard; farm
not let with rest of manor.
Base born - born out
of wedlock or of low parentage.
Beneficiary - One who
receives benefit of trust or property.
Bequeath - To give personal
property to a person in a will. Noun: bequest.
Biblography - List of
sources.
Birth Certificate - Documentation
about one's birth.
Bond - A binding agreement
to perform certain actions or duties or requiring payment of a specified
amount of money as a penalty; at different times required of estate administrators
or executors, grooms (for marriage), certain elected officials (such as
constables).
Bondsman - Person acting
as surety for a bond (often, but by no means ordinarily, a relative)
Bordar - a small-holder,
usually on the outskirts of a village
Bounty Land - Land promised
as reward or inducement for enlisting in military service.
Bounty Land Warrant -
A right to obtain bounty land, specific number of acres of an allocated
public land.
Buried, partly - indicates
the heart is buried in one place and the body in another, usually by directions
of a will
Cascading Pedigree Chart
- A series of pedigree charts that span multiple generations for an individual
and then for each person in the last generation of the first chart.
Census - Official enumeration,
listing or counting of citizens.
Certified Copy - A copy
made and attested to by officers having charge of the original and authorized
to give copies.
Chain - 100 links; 66
feet
Chattel - Any property
other than freehold land, including tangible goods (chattels personal)
and leasehold interested (chattels real).
Christen - To receive
or initiate into the christian church by baptism; to name at baptism; to
give a name to.
Christian Name - Name
given at christening or baptism; given name; forename
Circa - About or approximately;
usually referring to a date.
Citation - Page or section
reference of a source.
Civil War - War between
the States; war between North and South, 1861-1865.
Codicil - An addition
explaining, modifying or revoking a will or part of one.
Collateral Ancestor -
Descended from the same ancestral stock but not in the direct line.
Common Ancestor - Ancestor
shared by any two or more people.
Confederate - (adj.)
Pertaining to the Confederacy
Confederacy - Collectively
the Confederate States of America; the southern american states which seceded
from the United States in 1860-1861.
Consanguinity - Blood
relationship.
Consort - A husband or
(more commonly) a wife.
Conveyances - Transfer
of property from one owner to another.
Cottar - a small-holder
Cousin - Child of a person's
Aunt or Uncle; person with whom one shares a common ancestor (excluding
one's direct ancestors and siblings); formerly used as a loose term for
any close friend or relative. N.B. in many Native American societies the
usage differs.
Cousin German - First
cousin.
Daughter-in-Law - Wife
of one's son.
Death Certificate - Documentation
of one's death.
Deceased - Dead.
Decedent - A deceased
person.
Declaration of Intention
- First paper, sworn to and filed in court, by an alien stating that he
wants to be come a citizen.
Deed - A document by
which title and ownership in real property is transferred from one party
to another.
Deposition - A testifying
or testimony taken down in writing under oath of affirmation in reply to
interrogatories, before a competent officer to replace to oral testimony
of a witness.
Descendant - A person
who descends from another given person.
Descendant Chart - Report
or chart that shows a person and all of their descendants in a graphical
format. As opposed to the Modified Register which is more of a narrative
report.
Devise - To give property
in a will.
Devisee - One to whom
property is devised in a will.
Devisor - One who devises
property in a will.
Dissenter - One who did
not belong to the established church, (particularly the Church of England).
District Land Office
Plat Book - Books or rather maps which show the location of the land patentee.
District Land Office
Tract Book - Books which list individual entries by range and township.
Double Dating - A system
of
double dating used in England and America from 1582-1752 because it was
not clear as to whether the year commenced January 1 or March 25
Dower - Legal right or
share which a wife acquired by marriage in the real estate of her husband,
allotted to her after his death for her lifetime (laws regulating dower
rights are dependant upon the year and place: under common law it was 1/3).
Emigrant - A person leaving
a country and moving (permanently) to another.
Enfeoff - To grant property
in fee simple; as in a deed the seller "does grant, bargain, sell, alien,
enfeoff, release, and confirm unto [the buyer]" certain property
Enumeration - Listing
or counting , such as a census.
Epitaph - An inscription
on or at a tomb or grave in memory of the one buried there.
Escheat - The reversion
of property to the state when there are no qualified heirs.
Estate - All property
and debts belonging to a person.
Et Al - Latin for "and
others"
Et Ux - Latin for "and
wife"
Et Uxor - And his wife.
Sometimes written simply Et Ux.
Executor - One appointed
in a will to carry out its provisions.
Executrix - Feminine
form of Executor
Family Group Sheet - A
report listing the father, mother and each child of a family.
Family History Center
(FHC) - A smaller branch of the FHL, found nationwide.
Family History Library
(FHL) - Holds over 2 million rolls of microfilmed records, 400,000 microfiche,
and 300,000 books. It also houses an extensive collection of written manuscripts
including family histories, local histories, indexes, periodicals, and
aids to help in genealogical research. It is located in Salt Lake City,
Utah.
Family Search - CD-ROM
available at Family History Center produced by the Mormon church. Contains
the International Genealogical Index, Ancestral File, SSDI, TempleReady
and Military Death Index.
Father-in-Law - Father
of one's spouse.
Fee - An estate of inheritance
in land, being either fee simple or fee tail. An estate in land held of
a feudal lord on condition of the performing of certain services.
Fee Simple - Absolute
ownership of land to sell or devise without restriction.
Fee Tail - An estate
of inheritance limited to lineal descendant heirs of a person to whom it
was granted.
Franklin, State of -
An area once known but never officially recognized and was under consideration
from 1784-1788 from the western part of North Carolina.
Fraternity - Group of
men (or women) sharing a common purpose or interest.
Freehold - An estate
in fee simple, in fee tail, or for life.
Free Person of Color
(FPC) - A person who was neither (100%) caucasian nor a slave
Friend - Member of the
Religious Society of Friends; a Quaker.
Furlong - 1,000 links;
660 feet
Gazetteer - A geographical
dictionary; a book giving names and descriptions of places usually in alphabetical
order.
Gedcom - An acronym for
"GEnealogical Data COMmunication". A standard format created by the LDS
Church that allows genealogical software programs to transfer data.
Genealogy - Study of
family history and descent.
Gentleman - A man well
born.
Given Name - Name given
to a person at birth or baptism, one's first and middle names (in societies
where the surname is inherited).
Glebe - Land belonging
to a parish church.
Grantee - One who buys
property or receives a grant.
Grantor - One who sells
property or makes a grant.
Great-Aunt - Sister of
one's grandparent (also grand-aunt)
Great-Uncle - Brother
of one's grandparent (also grand-uncle)
Guardian - Person appointed
to care for and manage property of a minor orphan or an adult incompetent
of managing his own affairs.
Half Brother/Half Sister
- Child by another marriage of one's mother or father; the relationship
of two people who have only one parent in common.
Headright - System of
land allocation in colonial Virginia
Heirs - Those entitled
by law or by the terms of a will to inherit property from another.
Holographic Will - One
written entirely in the testator's own handwriting.
Homestead Act - Law passed
by Congress in 1862 allowing a head of a family to obtain title to 160
acres of public land after clearing and improving it for 5 years.
Huguenot - A French Protestant
in the 16th and 17th centuries. One of the reformed or calvinistic communion
who were driven by the thousands into exile in England, Holland, Germany
and America.
Illegitimate - Born to
a mother who was not married (the law generally recognises the children
of a married woman to be those of her husband).
Immigrant - One moving
(permanently) into a country from another.
Indenture - Today it
means a contract in 2 or more copies. Originally made in 2 parts by cutting
or tearing a single sheet across the middle in a jagged line so the two
parts may later be matched.
Indentured Servant -
A person bound into service of another person for a specified number of
years, often in return for transportation to America; a redemptioner.
Infant - (in law) A person
not of full age; a minor.
Instant - Of or pertaining
to the current month. (Abbreviated inst.)
Intentions - Public notification
of an upcoming marriage, see banns.
International Genealogical
Index (IGI) - an database created of names that have been extracted from
various original records from all over the world and also entries submitted
by LDS church members for temple ordinances. Created and maintained by
the LDS FHL.
Intestate - One who dies
without a will or dying without a will.
Inventory - An account,
catalog or schedule, made by an executor or administrator of all the goods
and chattels and sometimes of the real estate of a deceased person.
Issue - Offspring; children;
descendants; progeny.
LDS - Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons).
Late - Recently deceased;
now deceased
Lease - An agreement
which creates a landlord-tenant situation.
Legacy - Property or
money left to someone in a will
Legatee - A person who
inherits money or property through a will
Legislature - Lawmaking
branch of state or national government; elected group of lawmakers.
Lien - A claim against
property as security for payment of a debt.
Lineage - Ancestry; direct
descent from a specific ancestor.
Lineal - Consisting of
or being in as direct line of ancestry or descendants; descended in a direct
line.
Link - Length: 1/100th
of a surveying chain; 7.92 inches
Lis Pendens - Pending
court action; usually applies to land title claims.
Lodge - A chapter or
meeting hall of a fraternal organization.
Loyalist - Tory, an American
colonist who supported the British side during the American Revolution.
Maiden Name - A woman's
last name or surname before she marries.
Manse - Residense of
a cleric.
Manuscript - A composition
written with the hand as an ancient book or an un-published modern book
or music.
Marriage Bond - A financial
guarantee that no legal impediment to the marriage existed, furnished by
representatives for the intended bridegroom and intended bride.
Maternal - Related through
one's mother; on one mother's side of the family.
Messuage - A dwelling
house.
Metes & Bounds -
Property described by natural boundaries, such as 3 whites oaks and a locust
tree etc.
Microfiche - Sheet of
microfilm with greatly reduced images of pages of documents.
Microfilm - Reproduction
of documents on film at reduced size.
Microform - Reproduction
of images, reduced in size, as either: microcard, microfiche or microfilm
Migrant - Person who
moves from place to place, usually in search of work
Migrate - To move from
one country or state or region to another
Migration - The move
from one area to another
Militia - Citizens of
a state who are not part of the national military forces but who can be
called into military service in an emergency; a citizen army, apart from
the regular military forces.
Minor - One who is under
legal age; not yet a adult; an infant.
Minner - Person who surrenders
land to another in exchange for release from contractual obligations.
Mister - In early times,
a title of respect given only to those who held important civil officer
or who were of gentle blood.
Moiety - A half; an indefinite
portion
Mortality - Death; death
rate.
Mortality Schedules -
Enumeration of persons who died during the year prior to June 1 of 1850,
1860, 1870, and 1880 in each state of the United States, conducted by the
bureau of census.
Mortgage - A conditional
transfer of title to real property as security for payment of a debt.
Mortscloth - Shroud to
cover a coffin.
Mother-in-Law - Mother
of one’s spouse.
Mulatto - Strictly a
person of one caucasian and one negro parent, but commonly used for any
person of mixed heritage
Namesake - Person named
after another person.
Necrology - Listing or
record of persons who have died recently
Nee - Born. Used to denote
a woman's maiden name.
Nephew - Son of one’s
brother or sister.
Niece - Daughter of one’s
brother or sister.
Noncupative Will - One
declared or dictated by the testator, usually for persons in last sickness,
sudden illness, or military.
Octaroon - A person with
seven caucasian and one negro great grandparents; 1/8 black
Orphan - Person with
one or both parents dead.
Orphan's Court - Orphans
being recognized as wards of the states provisions were made for them in
special courts.
Passenger List - A ships
list of passengers, usually referring to those ships arriving in the from
Europe.
Patent - Grant of land
from a government to an individual.
Paternal - Related through
one’s father; on one's father's side of the family.
Patriot - One who loves
his country and supports its interests.
Pedigree - Ancestry;
bloodline; Family tree; lineage
Pedigree Chart - A chart
which includes the direct ancestors (parents, grand-parents, etc.) of an
individual. Does not include brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles or other
relatives.
Pension - Money paid
regularly to an individual, especially by a government as reward for military
service during wartime or upon retirement from government service.
Pensioner - One who receives
a pension.
Perch - 5 1/2 yards;
a pole; a rod.
Pole - 5 1/2 yards; a
perch; a rod.
Poll - Head or taxable
person; list or record of persons, especially for taxing or voting.
Post - Latin prefix meaning
after, as in post-war economy.
Posterity - Descendants;
those who come after.
Post nominal - initials
after name indicating rank, honors, or academic achievement.
Power of Attorney - When
a person in unable to act for himself, he appoints another to act in his
behalf.
Pre - Latin prefix meaning
before, as in pre-war military build-up.
Pre-emption Rights -
Right given by the federal government to citizens to buy a quarter section
of land or less.
Prenuptial Agreement
- Legal document (usually involving property) made by a couple before marriage
Primogeniture - The right
of the eldest child (usually the son) to inherit the entire estate of the
parents.
Probate - Legal process
having to do with wills and the administration of estates.
Progenitor - A direct
ancestor.
Progeny - Descendants
of a common ancestor; issue.
Proved Will - A will
established as genuine by probate court.
Provost - A person appointed
to superintend, or preside over something.
Proximo - In the following
month, in the month after the present one.
Public Domain - Land
owned by the government; creative works whose copyright has expired.
Quadroon - A person with
three caucasian and one negro grandparents; 1/4 black
Quaker - Member of the
Religious Society of Friends.
Quitclaim - A deed conveying
the claim or title (usually to land) without guarantee of valid title.
Rector - A clergyman;
the ruler or governor of a country.
Relict - Widow; surviving
spouse when one has died, husband or wife.
Repository - The place
where a source can be found. (i.e.: Library, FHC etc.)
Republic - Government
in which supreme authority lies with the people or their elected representatives.
Revolutionary War - U.S.
war for independence from Great Britain 1775-1783.
Rod - 5 1/2 yards; 16
1/2 feet; a perch or square perch; a pole.
Rood - 5 1/2 to 8 yards
depending upon location; 1/4 of an acre.
Section - 640 acres; one
of the 36 divisions of a township
Shaker - Member of a
religious group formed in 1747 which practiced communal living and celibacy.
Sibling - Person having
one or both parents in common with another; a brother or sister.
Sic - Latin meaning thus;
copied exactly as the original reads. Often suggests a mistake or surprise
in the original.
Social Security Death
Index (SSDI) - Index of Social Security Death Benefit records which document
how much the government has paid to an individual (spouse, child, etc.)
as a result of a relative's death. An individual may appear in the Social
Security Death Benefits Index if he or she died after 1967, had applied
for Social Security during their lifetime, and if someone applied for their
Social Security death benefits at the time of death. It is not a complete
listing of deaths
Son-in-Law - Husband
of one's daughter.
Soundex - A method of
giving names sound codes. This was created in the 1930's due to the fact
that names can be spelled in many different ways. By grouping together
surnames that sound alike, individuals can search for ancestors even when
the surname had several different spellings.
Source - A book, document,
or other record that supplies primary information.
Spinster - Unmarried
woman; woman acting in her own right.
Sponsor - A bondsman;
surety.
Spouse - Husband or wife.
Statute - Law.
Step-Brother/Step-Sister
- Child of one's step-father or step-mother.
Step-Child - Child of
one's husband or wife from a previous marriage.
Step-Father - Husband
of one's mother by a later marriage.
Step-Mother - Wife of
one's father by a later marriage.
Succession - (1) Legal
term in the transfer of property to legal heirs of an intestate estate,
(2) probate; process of determining a will's validity, identifying heirs,
etc.
Surname - Last name;
family name.
Territory - Area of land
owned by the united States, not a state, but having its own legislature.
Testamentary - Pertaining
to a will.
Testate - A person who
dies leaving a valid will.
Testator - A person who
makes a valid will before his death.
Tithable - Taxable; a
person who owes tax to a specified jurisdiction
Tithe - Formerly, money
due as a tax for support of the clergy or church.
Tory - Loyalist; one
who supported the British side in the American Revolution.
Township - A division
of U.S. public land that contained 36 sections, or 36 square miles. Also
a subdivision of the county in many states of the U.S.
Tradition - The handing
down of statements, beliefs, legends, customs, genealogies, etc. from generation
to generation, especially by word of mouth.
Transcribe - To make
a copy in writing.
Tutor - (in Louisiana)
A guardian of minor children
Tutrix - Feminine form
of Tutor
Ultimo - In the month
before this one.
umquhillo - (Scot.) late,
deceased
Union - The United States;
also the North during the Civil War, the states which did not secede.
Vendue - Public auction.
Verbatim - Word for word;
in the same words, verbally.
Vital Records - Records
of birth, death, marriage or divorce.
Vital Statistics - Data
dealing with birth, death, marriage or divorce.
War Between the States
- U.S. Civil War, 1861-1865.
Ward - Chiefly the division
of a city for election purposes.
Warranty Deed - Deed
in which the seller guarantees a clear title to the buyer
Will - Document declaring
how a person wants his property divided after his death.
Witness - One who is
present at a transaction, such as a sale of land or signing of a will,
who can testify or affirm that it actually took place.
WPA Historical Records
Survey - A program undertaken by the US Government 1935-1936 in which inventories
were compiled of historical material.
Yeoman - A servant, an
attendant or subordinate official in a royal household; a subordinate of
a sheriff; an independent farmer; a naval rating.
Zambo - A person with
one native american and one negro parent
