Abbreviations

All fields of study have their own unique abbreviations, acronyms, alphabetic symbols, initials, contractions, etc. Genealogy is no exception! An excellent, complete and authoritative treatise on genealogy abbreviations, etc. is available in book form; i.e. Abbreviations & Acronyms: A Guide for Family Historians, Revised 2nd edition, 2003, compiled by Kip Sperry, published by Ancestry.com (ISBN: 1-59331-026-9).

The following list highlights some of the common terms you will encounter when reading about professional genealogists, major genealogy societies and libraries:

ABBREVIATION	TERMS

AAHGS	Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society
ACPL	Allen County (Indiana) Public Library
AG	Accredited Genealogist
AONS	Association of One-Name Studies
APG	Association of Professional Genealogists
APGI	Association of Professional Genealogists in Ireland
ASG	American Society of Genealogists
BA	Bachelor of Arts
BCG	Board for Certification of Genealogists
BYU	Brigham Young University
CG	Certified Genealogist
CGI	Certified Genealogical Instructor
CGL	Certified Genealogical Lecturer
CGRS	Certified Genealogical Records Specialist
CFGS	Central Florida Genealogical Society
CLS	Certified Lineage Specialist
DipGen	Diploma in Genealogy
FASG	Fellow, American Society of Genealogists
FFHS	Federation of Family History Societies (UK)
FGS	Federation of Genealogical Societies
FGSP	Fellow, Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania
FHC	Family History Center (Local LDS Library)
FHL	Family History Library (LDS - Salt Lake City)
FNGS	Fellow, National Genealogical Society
FOG	Friends of Genealogy (Newberry Library)
FSA	Fellow, Society of Antiquaries
FSG	Fellow, Society of Genealogists
FSGS	Florida State Genealogical Society
FUGA	Fellow, Utah Genealogical Association
GIMA	Genealogical Institute of Mid-America
GSG	Genealogical Speakers Guild
IAJGS	International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies
ICAPGen	International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists
IGHR	Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research (Samford University)
INS	Immigration and Naturalization Service
ISBGFH	International Society for British Genealogy and Family History
ISFHWE	International Society of Family History Writers and Editors
JD	Juris Doctor
JGS	Jewish Genealogical Society
LDS	Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
LOC	Library of Congress
LSG	Librarians Serving Genealogists
MA	Master of Arts
MBA	Master of Business Administration
MDiv	Master of Divinity
MJS	Master of Judicial Studies
MLIS	Master of Library and Information Science
MLS	Master of Library Science
MSLS	Master of Science in Library Science
NARA	National Archives and Records Administration
NEHGS	New England Historic Genealogical Society
NGS	National Genealogical Society
NGSQ	National Genealogical Society Quarterly
NIGR	National Institute of Genealogical Research (National Archives)
NSDAR	National Society Daughters of the American Revolution
OGS	Ohio Genealogical Society
RIGS	Regional In-depth Genealogical Studies
ScD	Doctor of Science
SIG	Special Interest Group
SLIG	Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy
TAG	The American Genealogist (founded by Donald Lines Jacobus)
UGA	Utah Genealogical Association

Note: AG and Accredited Genealogist are service marks of ICAPGen. CG, CGI, CGRS, and CLS (and their unabbreviated forms) are service marks of the Board for Certification of Genealogists and are used under license by Board-certified associates who met program standards and periodic competency evaluations.

CENSUS ABBREVIATIONS

The following list highlights some of the common terms you will encounter when reviewing the U.S. Population Census. In addition, you will encounter many different abbreviations for the names of the states.

CENSUS - COMMON ABBREVIATIONS

ABBREVIATION	TERMS

Citizenship Status Codes
Al	Alien (not naturalized)
Pa	First papers filed (declaration of intent)
Na	Naturalized
NR	Not recorded or not reported

Household & Soundex Abbreviations
Ad	Adopted Ad
AdCl	Adopted Child
AdD	Adopted Daughter
AdGcl	Adopted Grandchild
AdM	Adopted Mother
AdS	Adopted Son
Ap	Apprentice
At	Attendant
Asst	Assistant
A	Aunt
Al	Aunt-In-Law
Bar	Bartender
B	Black (African-American)
Bo	Boarder
B Boy	Bound Boy
B Girl	Bound Girl
B	Brother
Bl	Brother-In-Law
Bu	Butler
Cap	Captain
Cha	Chambermaid
Cl	Child
Coa	Coachman
Com	Companion
C	Cousin
Cil	Cousin-In-Law
D	Daughter
Dl	Daughter-In-Law
Dla	Day Laborer
Dw	Dish Washer
Dom	Domestic
Emp	Employee
En	Engineer
FaH	Farm Hand
FaL	Farm Laborer
FaW	Farm Worker
F	Father or Female
Fl	Father-In-Law
Fi	Fireman
First C	First Cousin
FoB	Foster Brother
FB	Foster Brother
FoSi	Foster Sister
FS	Foster Sister
FoS	Foster Son
God	God Child
Go	Governess
Gcl	Grandchild
Gd	Granddaughter
Gf	Grandfather
GM	Grandmother
Gml	Grandmother-In-Law
Gs	Grand Son
Gsl	Grand Son-In-Law
GGF	Great Grandfather
GGM	Great Grandmother
GGGF	Great Great Grandfather
GGGM	Great Great Grandmother
Gni	Great- or Grandniece
Gn	Great- or Grandnephew
Gua	Guardian
HSi	Half Sister
HSil	Half Sister-In-Law
Hb	Half Brother
Hbl	Half Brother-In-Law
Help	Helper
He	Herder
HGi	Hired Girl
HH	Hired Hand
Hlg	Hireling
Hk	Housekeeper
HMaid	Housemaid
Hw	House Worker
La	Laborer
Lau	Laundry
L	Lodger
Man	Manager
Mat	Matron
M	Mother of Male
Ml	Mother-In-Law
Mu	Mulato
N	Nephew
Nl	Nephew-In-Law
Ni	Niece
Nil	Niece-In-Law
Nu	Nurse
O	Officer
Pa	Partner
P	Patient
Ph	Physician
Por	Porter
Pri	Principal
Pr	Prisoner
Prv	Private
Pu	Pupil
R	Roomer
Sa	Sailor
Sal	Saleslady
Se	Servant
SeCl	Servant's Child
Si	Sister
S	Son
Sl	Son-In-Law
Sb	Step Brother
Sbl	Step Brother-In-Law
Scl	Step Child
Sd	Step Daughter
Sdl	Step Daughter-In-Law
Sf	Step Father
Sfl	Step Father-In-Law
Sgd	Step Granddaughter
Sgs	Step Grandson
Sm	Step Mother
Sml	Step Mother-In-Law
Ssi	Step Sister
Ssil	Step Sister-In-Law
Ss	Step Son
Ssl	Step Son-In-Law
Su	Superintendent
Ten	Tenant
U	Uncle
Ul	Uncle-In-Law
Vi	Visitor
Wt	Waiter
Wai	Waitress
Wa	Warden
W	Wife or White
Wkm	Workman