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From: "Patricia Hall" <>
Subject: What Do Those Initials Mean?
Date: Fri, 24 Jun 2005 21:03:15 -0500

What Do Those Initials Mean?

Initials after your ancestor's names may provide useful information that

you've not expected. 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
supesita)
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
Ob he/she died (obit)
Relict widow or widower (relicta/relictus)
Sic so or thus, exact copy as written
Testes witnesses
Utl late (ultimo)
Ux or vs wife (uxor)
Viz namely (videlicet)

This thread:

• What Do Those Initials Mean? by "Patricia Hall" <>