Nova Scotia Genealogy Glossary

ACRONYMS:

AF = Ancestral File - a database of genealogy information submitted by other researchers, available through the LDS, in pedigree format

BMD = Birth, Marriage and Death - an abbreviation used to indicate birth, marriage and death records or information

FHC = Family History Center - smaller branches of the FHL found worldwide

FHL = Family History Library - located in Salt Lake City, this main library of the LDS (Mormon) Church contains over 2 million rolls of microfilmed records, 400,000 microfiche, and 300,000 books

GEDCOM = acronym for "GEnealogical Data COMmunication. A file containing information on a family, in a specific format. Usually a GEDCOM file is produced by entering data into a genealogical database program and then outputting the results in GEDCOM format

IGI = International Genealogical Index - database of names that have been extracted from various original records from all over the world and is available on computer via the LDS (Mormon) Church

LDS = Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints ("Mormon Church") - known for their large collection of genealogical records

NA = National Archives of Canada - a repository for Canadian records located in Ottawa, Ontario

NARA = National Archives and Records Administration (U.S.) - a repository for United States Census records, passenger lists, naturalization records, etc.

NEHGS = New England Historic Genealogical Society - a repository for New England genealogical data

PAC = Public Archives of Canada - former name for the National Archives of Canada

PANS = Public Archives of Nova Scotia - a repository for Nova Scotia records and family histories

SSDI = Social Security Death Index - index of Social Security Death Benefit records in the U.S.

DEFINITIONS:

Abstract = a summary of important points such as you will find in a land deed, will, or title

Administrator = the person, a man, assigned by the court to settle the estate of a person who died without a will

Administratrix = the person, a woman, assigned by the court to settle the estate of a person who died without a will

ae. = aged / age

Ahnentafel = a table of one's ancestors, from the German Ahnen (ancestor) and Tafel (table or list)

AKA = abbreviation for "also known as"

Ancestor = a person from whom you are descended from in a direct line

Ancestor Chart (Pedigree Chart) = a chart or form used to show your direct line of ancestors. This would be you, your parents, grandparents, great grandparents, great grandparents, and so forth

Ante = before

Archives = a place where documents or records of a government or organization are kept

Ascendant = ancestor

Atlas = a bound collection of maps and charts

b. = abbreviation for "born"

bap. or bpt. = abbreviation for "baptism"

Bequeath = word used to give personal property by means of a will. The property given in this manner is called a bequest

Bibliography = a list of books about a specific subject, person, area, or other topics

bur. = buried

c. or ca. = abbreviation for "circa". Circa is Latin for meaning about, approximately and is used in front of a date or year on genealogical forms

Census = this was/is the official enumeration, listing, or counting of persons, done every so many years

Citation = page or section reference of a source

Co. = County

Collateral = relatives descended from the same stock, but in a different line (aunts, uncles, cousins) and are not in your direct line

Common ancestor = one shared by any two people

Co. = abbreviation for "County"

d. = abbreviation for "died"

dau. = daughter

Deed = used in land records and is the transfer of property of ownership from one person or more to another

Descendant = one who is descended from a specific ancestor, and those who will come after you, such as children and grandchildren

Direct line = descent from an ancestor through succeeding children

div. = divorced

d.y. = died young

Emigrant = on who emigrates from, or leaves, a country or region to settle in another. This is not to be confused with immigrant who removes from a country

Estate = the property (real or personal) and debts of a deceased person

et. al. = the Latin term for "and others". This is found often in court documents

Executor = a person, a man, named in the deceased's will to settle an estate

Executrix = a person, a woman, named in the will

Family Group Sheet/Record = the chart commonly used to record the family unit (husband, wife, and their children) in keeping track of names, dates, events, places, occupations, etc.

Family history = history of a family in context of the places and times in which they lived

Folio = a number stamped on every other page in a census and is the page number found in all census indexes. Sometimes only stamped on every fourth page. A census page will have more than one page number on it but the folio number is stamped in the upper right corner

Genealogy = study of the origin and descent of families

Given name = one's "first name" given at the time of birth or baptism/christening

Grantee = one who buys property or makes a grant in land records

Grantor = one who sells property or makes a grant in land records

h. = heir / heiress

husb. = husband

Immigrant = one who moves into one country from another

Intestate = the condition when one dies without leaving a will

Issue = children (as in "no issue")

liv. = living or lived

m. or md. = the abbreviation for "married". May also be seen as an "=" sign to indicate a marriage between two individuals

Maiden name = a woman's surname prior to marriage. You always use the female's maiden name on all of your genealogical forms

Maternal = relating to a person's mother. Your maternal line would be the ancestors of your mother

Microfiche = a sheet containing greatly reduced reproductions of documents, records, and books

Microfilm = a roll of film containing greatly reduced reproductions of documents, records, and books

nd = abbreviation for "no date" given

n.i. = no issue

Natural = a term for an illegitimate child (as in "natural son of...

Obituary = the notice of a person's death, usually containing brief biographical information that is published in newspapers or church newsletters

Paternal = relating to a person's father. Your paternal line would be the ancestors of your father

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

pres. = presumed

Primary record = the record created at or near the time of an event

prob. = probably

Probate = the proving of a will or now referred to as the settling of an estate when a person dies

pub. = published

Repository = place where a source can be found

Secondary record = all other records that were not created at or near the time of an event. These records were created or copied from other sources

sic. = a Latin abbreviation for "thus". Used to show that a mis-spelled word was transcribed as it appeared in the document or record

Soundex = a card index system that contains the names arranged by letter and number codes according to the sounds of their consonants (U.S. only)

Source = a record or person that supplies information

Spurious = a term for an illegitimate child (as in "spurious son of...")

Surname = the last (or family) name that a person bears in common with others in his or her family, as distinguished from a given or Christian name

Testate = the condition when one dies leaving a will

Twp. = abbreviation for "township"

ult. = ultimo (last)

unkn. = unknown

unm. = unmarried

Vital records = the civil records of birth, marriage, and death

wid. = widow or widower

Will = a legal declaration of a person's wishes regarding the disposition of his or her property (real and personal) or estate after death

y. = young

yr. = year

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