What Do Those Initials Mean?

What Do Those Initials Mean?

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