Oddfellows organization--3 interlocking oval rings. The F.L.T. stands for
friendship, love and truth.
Religious:
Angels - Angels mean
spirituality and they guard the tomb.
Bible - A single Holy Bible is
often found on Christian stones.
Holy Books (2) - on Mormon headstones
indicates the Bible and the Book of Mormon.
Holy Books (3) - on Mormon
Headstones, these indicate The Scripture of the
Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter Day Saints - the Bible, Book of Mormon, and Doctrine &
Covenants
>Chalice - Usually used to represent the
Sacraments.
Crescent - the deceased was probably a Muslim.
Crown -
The soul's achievement and the Glory of life after death.
Cross - the Cross is an emblem of faith and several other
meanings
Heart (Sacred) - Usually found in Catholic cemeteries, this
heart refers to the suffering of Christ for our sins.
Menorah - An emblem
of Judaism
Star of David or Mogen David - Recognized as the international symbol of
Judaism.
Mortality:
Arrow - Mortality
Broken Column
- This image represents the decay. It usually represents the loss of the Family
head.
Candle being Snuffed - Loss of life.
Coffin -
mortality.
Figure with Dart - Mortality
Grim Reaper - Death
personified.
Hourglass - Time has run out.
Scythe - An instrument
of the harvest, death cuts us down.
Skull and or Skull/ Crossed Bones -
Death.
Butcher - an axe, steel knife and cleaver.
Farmer: -
Coulter (type of hoe), flail (threshing implement), swingletree
(rod for
beating flax), stalk of corn.
Gardener - Rake & Spade.
Mason -
Wedge & Level
Mariner: - Anchor, Sextant & Cross Staff.
Merchant - Scales, some
type of sign.
Minister - Bible
Shoemaker - Leather cutter's Knife,
Nippers, Sole cutter & Awl
Smith - Crown, Hammer &
Anvil
Teacher - Open Book.
Weaver - Loom, Shuttle &
Stretchers.
Wright - (a worker skilled in the manufacture especially of
wooden
objects --usually used in combination <shipwright>
<wheelwright> - Compasses
Resurrection, Eternal Life,
Immortality:
Angel, Flying or Trumpeting - Rebirth;
Resurrection.
Bird or Bird Flying - Eternal life,
Resurrection.
Cross: - The Cross means resurrection to many
Christians.
Dove, Flying - Resurrection.
Flame, Light, Lamp or
Torch: - Immortality of the Spirit, Resurrection.
Garland or Wreath -
Symbol of saintliness and glory, Victory in death.
Horns -- The
Resurrection
Ivy - Immortality
Rooster- Awakening;
Resurrection.
Star - Death could not overpower the Light of the Spirit
which still shines in the darkness.
Sun - A symbol of light and warmth,
renewed life and life everlasting.
Trumpeters -- Harbingers of the
Resurrection
Urn - Immortality (The storing of the vital organs was of
extreme importance to the ancient Egyptians who
believed that life would be restored through the vital organs placed in the
urn).
Animals:
Birds - Eternal life or
resurrection.
Butterfly - Short-life.
Dog - Implies a good master
worthy of love.
Dove - Seen in both Christian and Jewish cemeteries, the
dove meansinnocence and/ or peace.
Lamb - Usually marks the grave of a
child and means Innocence.
Lion - The Lion's eternal watch guards the
tomb and stands for Courage.
>Rooster - Awakening;
Resurrection.
Plants:
Fruits -- Eternal plenty as in the
fruit of life.
Full-Bloom Rose - The deceased died in the prime of
life
Ivy -- Ivy stands for friendship and also immortality.
Laurel
-- A symbol of worldly accomplishment and heroism.
Lily - The virgins'
flower and also the symbol of innocence and purity.
Morning Glory -
Signifies the beginning of Life
Oak., Oak Leaves and Acorn - Oak leaves
on tombs can stand for power
Palm Branch - Signifies Victory and
Rejoicing
Poppy - Eternal Sleep.
Roses - Roses signify completion
and the brevity of earthly existence.
Rosemary - Rosemary is for
remembrance. Thistles can also stand for remembrance.
Thistle - Deceased
was of Scottish descent. Tree or Trees
A Tree stands for life.
A Tree
Sprouting stands for life everlasting.
Tree Trunk stands for the brevity of
life.
Stones shaped liked Tree Stumps usually signify that the deceased was a
member of The Woodmen of the World
>Weeping Willow Tree - Perpetual
Mourning; Grief.
Wheat Strands or Sheaves - The divine
harvest.
Miscellaneous:
Broken Ring -- The family circle has been severed.
Cherub -
Cherubs are angelic and signify innocence.
Crossed Swords - Military
person of high rank.
Hands:
Hands in cemeteries are usually in one
of the following four positions; clasping, praying, pointing, and
blessing.
Hand, Pointing Up - Pathway to heaven.
Hands, Clasped -
Farewells or the bond of marriage
Hands, Praying - Asking God for Eternal
life.
Hands, Blessing - Blessing of those left behind.
Harp - Praise to
the God.
Heart - Love. Stylized hearts stand for the affection of the
living for the
dead. Two joined hearts on a stone mark a marriage,
Rod
or Staff - Comfort for the bereaved.
Stars and Stripes Around Eagle --
Eternal vigilance and liberty. Often seen on military markers.
Urn with
Flame -- Undying remembrance
Initials of Fraternal
Organizations:
AOH- Ancient Order of Hibernians
BPOE- Benevolent &
Protective Order of Elks
CAR- Children of the American Revolution
DAR-
Daughters of the American Revolution
FOE- Fraternal Order of Eagles
FOP-
Fraternal Order of Police
F&AM- Free and Accepted Masons
GAR- Grand
Army of the Republic
I.O.R.M.- Improved Order of Red Men
IOF- Independant
Order of Foresters
IOOF- Independant Order of Odd Fellows
IOJD-
International Order of Job's Daughters
J.O.A.M.- Junior Order of American
Mechanics
J.O.U.A.M.- Junior Order of United American Mechanics
K.of C.-
Knights of Columbus
K.of P.- Knights of Pythias
KT- Knights
Templar
LOM- Loyal Order of Moose
M.W.A. Modern Woodmen of
America
N.O.W. Neighbors of Woodcraft
RA- Royal Academy
RA- Royal
Arcanum
R.A.M.- Royal Arch Masons
R.N.A. Royal Neighbors of
America
SAR- Sons of the American Revolution
S.F.W.C. Supreme Forest
Woodmen Circle
U.S.A.- United States Army
U.S.A.F.- United States Air
Force
U.S.M.C.- United States Marine Corp
U.S.N.- United States
Navy
YMCA- Young Men's Christian Association
YWCA- Young Women's Christian
Association
W.C. Woodmen Circle
W.O.W. Woodmen of the World
W.O.W.
Women of Woodcraft
FRATERNAL ACRONYMS:
AAONMS Ancient Arabic Order
of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (Masonic) ("The Shriners")
AASR Ancient and
Accepted Scottish Rite (Masonic)
ABA American Benefit
Association
AF&AM Ancient Free and Accepted Masons
AMD Allied Masonic
Degree
AMORC Ancient and Mystical Order Rosae Crucis(Rosicrucians)
AMOS
Ancient Mystic Order of Samaritans (see IOOF)
AOF Ancient Order Of
Foresters
AOH Ancient Order Of Hibernians
AOKMC Ancient Order Of Knights
of Mystic Chain
AOUW Ancient Order Of United Workmen
ALOH American Legion
of Honor
APA American Protective Association
AUM Ancient Order of
Mysteries (MASONS)
AUSA Association of the United States Army
AUV
Association of Union Veterans
BARE Benefit Association Of Railway
Employees
BAY Brotherhood of American Yeomen
BKA Benevolent Knights
Association
BKofM Black Knights of Molders
BPOE Benevolent and Protective
Order of Elks
BPOEW Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the
World
BofRTM Brotherhood of Rail Road Track Men
BLE Brotherhood of
Locomotive Engineers
BLF&E Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen &
Engineers
BRT Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen
CBL Catholic Benevolent
Legion
CD of A Catholic Daughters of America
CKofA Catholic Knights of
America
CMBA Catholic Mutual Benefit Association
COOF Catholic Order of
Foresters
CTAS Catholic Total Abstinence Society
CBKA Commandery
Benevolent Knights Association
CCTAS Crusaders-Catholic Total Abstinence
Society
DAC Daughters of the American Colonists
DAR (NSDAR) National
Society Daughters of the American Revolution
DAV Disabled American
Veterans
D of A Daughters of America
DoL Daughters of Liberty
DAN
Daughters of the Nile (Masonic)
DOKK Dramatic Order Knights of Khorassan
(Knights of Pythias)
DOLLUS Dames of the Loyal Legion of the United
States
DUV Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War
ECV E Clampus
Vitus
EAU Equitable Aid Union
EBA Emerald Beneficial Association
FAM
Free and Accepted Masons
F&AM Free and Accepted Masons
FCB Knights of
Pythias
FLT Independent Order of Odd Fellows
FOE Fraternal Order of
Eagles
FOAST Fraternal Order of Alaska State Troopers
FOF Fraternal Order
of Firefighters
FOP Fraternal Order of Police
GALSTPTR German American
Legion of St. Peter
GAR Grand Army of the Republic
GLAUM Grand Lodge
Ancient Order of Mysteries- Masonic Order
GLDS Grand Lodge Daughters of
Scotia
GUOOF Grand United Order of Odd Fellows
HZ Haro Zaro
IBBH
International Brotherhood of Blacksmiths and Helpers
ICBU Irish Catholic
Benevolent Union
IHSV Red Cross of Constantine
IOA International Order of
Alhambra
IODE Independent Order, Daughters of the Empire
IOGT
International Order of Good Templars
IOH Improved Order of Heptasophs
IOHH
International Order of Hoo-Hoo
IOI Independent Order of Immaculates
IOKP
Independent Order of Knights of Pythias
IOOF Independent Order of Odd
Fellows
IOOF-PM Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Past Master
ISH
Independent Sons of Honor
IOStL Independent Order of St. Luke
IOF
Independent Order of Foresters
IORM Improved Order of Redmen (Sons of
Liberty)
IOR Independent Order of Rechabites
IOV International Order of
Vikings
IUOM Independent United Order of Mechanics
IWW Industrial Workers
of the World
IOF Independent Order of Foresters
IOOF Independent Order of
Odd Fellows
IOJD Independent Order of Job's Daughters
IORG International
Order of Rainbow Girls (Masonic)
ISDA Italian Sons and Daughters of
America
JOAM Junior Order of American Mechanics
JOUAM Junior Order of
United American Mechanics
JAOUW Junior Order-Ancient Order of United
Workmen
JOUAM Junior Order-Order of United American Mechanics
KC Knights
of Columbus
KGC Knights of the Golden Chain
KGC Knights of the Golden
Circle
KGE Knights of the Golden Eagle
KGL Knight Grand Legion
KLH
Knights and Ladies of Honor
KM Knights Militant (See KKK)
KofC Knights of
Columbus
KofFM Knights of Father Matthew
KFM Knights of Father
Matthew
KofH Knights of Honor
KOL Knights of Labor
KofL Knights of
Loyola
KM Knights of Malta (Masonic)
KMC Knights of the Mystic
Chain
KOTM Knights of the Macabees
KPC Knights of Peter Claver
KofTM
Knights of the Macabees
KP Knights of Pythias
KofP Knights of
Pythias
KSC Knights of St. Columbkille
KG Knights of St. George
KSTG
Knights of St. George
KSTI Knights of St. Ignatius
KofSJ Knights of St.
John
KSTJ Knights of St. Joseph
KSL Knights of St. Lawrence
KSTM
Knights of St. Martin
KofSTP Knights of St. Patrick
KSTP Knights of St.
Paul
KSTP Knights of St. Peter
KSTT Knights of St. Thomas
KofSTW
Knights of St. Wenceslas
KT Knights of Tabor
KofT Knights of Tabor
KT
Knights Templars (Masonic)
KWM Knights of Wise Men
KGE Knights of Golden
Eagle
KHC Knights of Holy Cross
KKK Knights of Klu-Klux Klan
KOTM Knights of
Macabees
KSF Knights of Sherwood Forest
LAOH Ladies Ancient Order of
Hibernians
LDG Independent Order of Foresters
LGAR Ladies of the Grand
Army of the Republic
LKofA Loyal Knights of America
LOL Loyal Order Orange
Lodge (The Orange Order){Orange Men}
LOM Legion of the MOOSE
LOOM Loyal
Order of the MOOSE
LOVUS Legion of Valor of the United States
MBS Mutual
Benefit Society
MOLLUS Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United
States
MOOSE Loyal Order of the Moose
MOPH Military Order of the Purple
Heart
MOVPER Mystic Order of Veiled Prophets of the Mystic Realm
(Grotto)(Masonic)
MRA Royal Arcanum
MCL Marine Corps League
MWA Modern
Woodmen of America
NCOA Non-Commissioned Officers Association (Military
Society)
NEOP New England Order of Protection
NOK New Order Knights (see
KKK)
NL Navy League
NSDAR National Society Daughters of American
Revolution
NSSUP National Society Sons of Utah Pioneers
NU National
Union
OofA Order of Amaranth (Masonic)
OCF Order of Chosen
Friends
OofUF Order of United Friends
OGC Order of the Golden
Cross
ODHS Des Schwestern Verbandes (Sisters of the Federation
OES Order
of the Eastern Star
OSC Order of Scottish Clans (St. Andrew's
Societies)
OUAM Order of United American Mechanics
PFofA Patriotic Friends
of America
PH The Order of Patrons of Husbandry (The Grange)
PM Patriarchs
Militant (Independent Order of Odd Fellows)
POSA Patriotic Order of the Sons
of America
RA Royal Academy
RA Royal Arcanum
RAM Royal Arch
Masons
RC Republican Club
RMOKHSJ The Religious and Military Order of
Knights of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem
RSGF Royal Society of Good
Fellows
RSM Royal and Select Masons
ROJ Royal Order of Jesters (Masonic)
RSTV Rite of St. Vaclara
RSTV Rite
of St. Vita
RK Roman Knights
RTT Royal Templars of Temperance
SAR
Sisters of the American Revolution
SAR Sons of the American
Revolution
SBCL Saint Bonifazius Catholic Union
SBL Society B.
Lafayette
SCV Sons of the Confederate Veterans
SofE Sons of
England
SMAA Scandinavian Mutual Aid Association
SNA-AUM Shrine of North
America
SR Scottish Rite (Masonic Order)
SofSt.G Sons of St. George
ST
Sons of Temperance
ST.G SoNY St. George's Society of New York
SUVCW Sons
of Union Veterans of the Civil War
SV Sons of Veterans of the United States
of America
TCL Tall Ceders of Lebanon (Masonic)
TH Temple of Honor and
Temperance-Independent Order of Odd Fellows
TPLF Temple of Honor and
Temperance, IOOF
TROA The Retired Officer's Association
UAOD United
Ancient Order of Druids
UCV United Confederate Veterans
UDC United
Daughters of the Confederacy
UFL Union Fraternal League
UFM United Friends
of Michigan
UOPF United Order of Pilgrim Fathers
VFW Veterans of Foreign
Wars
WKSC White Knights of the Southern Cross (See KKK)
WOW Woodmen of the
World
YMCA Young Men's Christian Association
YWCA Young Women's Christian
Association
Initials after ancestors' names may provide useful
information. The
following list includes initials you may come across when
reading old wills
or other documents.
a.a.s. died in the year of
his/her age (anno aetitis suae) ( 86 y/o died in year 86)
d.s.p. died without
issue (decessit sine prole legitima)
d.s.p.l. died without legitimate issue
(decessit sine prole mascula supersita)
d.s.p.m.s. died without surviving
male issue (decessit sine prole mascula supersita)
d.s.p.s died without
surviving issue (decessit sine prole supersita)
d.unm died
unmarried
d.v.p. died in the lifetime of his father (decessit vita
patris)
d.v.m. died in the lifetime of his mother (decessit vita
matris)
Et al and others (et alia)
Inst present month (instans)
Liber
book or volume
Nepos grandson
Nunc Nuncapative will, an oral will, written
by a witness
Author Unknown