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Glossary

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

ABATEMENT

In law, the doing away with; eliminating.

ABBREVIATION

A shortened form of a written word, phrase or name used in place of the whole. In genealogy, abbreviations of a name (see: nickname) are sometimes found in place of the real names in records and documents.

ABROGATE

In law, to annul by authority; abolish; repeal.

ABSTRACT

Summary of documents or records, or of important points of a given text, especially deeds and wills. Sometimes used instead of original documents in genealogical research.

ACRE

Unit of land measurement equal to 43,560 square feet, or 160 square rods. One acre is equivalent to 0.4047 hectares (4,047 square metres).

ACRONYM

A word formed from the initial letters of a name, such as WAC for Women's Army Corps, or by combining initial letters or parts of a series of words, such as radar for radio detecting and ranging.

ADMINISTRATION (of estate)

The collection, management and distribution of an estate by proper legal process.

ADMINISTRATOR

An appointee of the court who settles the estate of a deceased person who died without
leaving a will. Female (see Administratrix).

ADMINISTRATRIX

A female administrator.

AFFIDAVIT

A statement in writing, sworn to before proper authority.

Acronym For: Accredited Genealogist

AGLL

Acronym For: American Genealogical Lending Library

AGRICULTURAL SCHEDULE

An addition to the U.S. Census for 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880, the Agricultural Schedule lists the holdings of individual farms. The first agricultural census recorded the name of the owner, agent or manager of the farm; the value of farming implements and machinery; horses, asses and mules; milch (milk) cows; working oxen; other cattle; sheep; swine; the value of livestock; bushels of wheat; bushels of Indian corn; bushels of oats; pounds of rice; and pounds of tobacco. Even more detailed information was added for subsequent years. Note: The U.S. agricultural schedules are a gold mine of information for the many Americans with ancestors who were farmers.

AHNENTAFAL

A system used to identify each individual in a family tree. The formula states 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. If your ahnentafel number is 1, your father's is 2, and your mother's is 3. [From the German Ahnen meaning ancestor, and Tafel, table or list.]

AHNENTAFAL CHART

A listing of information using a numbering system of the father's number always twice that of the child. The mother's number is twice plus one of the child. To find the child of any individual divide that number by two. If the parent is female, drop the half. The list so created usually gives only the name and one piece of information on the person.

On a standard pedigree chart, each person is assigned a number. By looking at a number you can know the relationship of any person on the chart to yourself. You are always 1, your father 2, your mother 3, paternal grandfather 4, paternal grandmother 5, maternal grandfather 6, maternal grandmother 7, patrilineal great grandfather 8, and so and so on.

Below is a typical Ahnentafal Chart numbering pattern:
1. your name
2. your father
3. your mother
4. your father’s father
5. your father’s mother
6. your mother’s father
7. your mother’s mother
8. your father’s father’s father
9. your father’s father’s mother
10. your father’s mother’s father
11. your father’s mother’s mother
12. your mother’s father’s father
13. your mother’s father’s mother
14. your mother’s mother’s father
15. your mother’s mother’s mother
16-31. your great-great-grandparents
32-63. your great-great-great grandparents

ALIAS

1) Assumed name. 2) False name used to conceal identity. 3) Also used where a person became known by a nickname.

ALIEN

Foreigner.

AMERICAN REVOLUTION

U.S. war for independence from Great Britain 1775-1783.

ANCESTOR

A person from whom you are descended; forefather.

ANCESTRAL

Of or inherited from an ancestor or ancestors.

ANCESTRAL FILE

A computerized file of individual and family records, created from records and pedigree charts submitted to the Family History Department of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since 1979. The purpose of the Ancestral File is to help people coordinate their research.

ANCESTRY

1) Family descent or lineage. 2) Ancestors collectively.

ANTE

Latin prefix meaning before, such as in ante-bellum South, 'The South before the war'

APG

Acronym For: Association of Professional Genealogists. APG members promote genealogy as a profession and encourage professionalism in genealogy. They also conduct research or serve in related fields such as librarians, archivists, writers, editors, consultants, indexers, instructors, lecturers, booksellers, publishers, computer specialists and geneticists.

APPRENTICE

1) One bound by indenture to serve another for a prescribed period with a view to learning an art or trade. 2) One who is learning by practical experience under skilled workers a trade, art, or calling.

APPURTENANCE

A right, privilege, or property that is considered incident to the principal property for purposes such as passage of title, conveyance, or inheritance.

ARCHIVES

Records of a government, organization, institution; the place where records are stored.

ASCENDANT

An ancestor, or one who precedes in genealogy or degrees of kindred; a relative in the ascending line; a progenitor.

ASCII

Acronym For: 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.

AUNT

1) The sister of one's father or mother. 2) The wife of one's uncle.