As you search through old documents, especially church and probate records, you will probably see Latin terms used. Here are some of those most commonly found.
| Latin Terms | |
|---|---|
| ab nepos | a great-great-grandson |
| ab neptis | a great-great-granddaughter |
| Anno Domini (A.D.) | in the year of our Lord |
| circa, circiter (c., ca., circ.) | about |
| connubium | marriage |
| decem | ten |
| de jure | lawfully |
| eodem | to the same place/person/day |
| episcopus | bishop |
| et | and, both |
| et alii (et al.) | and others |
| et cetera (etc., c.) | and so forth |
| familia | household |
| filiam | daughter |
| filium | son |
| impositum | the name bestowed |
| infantem | child |
| inprimis | in the first place |
| inqus | repeat, maintain |
| ipsius | in person, of own accord |
| item | also, likewise |
| loco | to place, establish, give in marriage |
| locus | a place |
| mater | mother |
| materfamilias | (female) head of household |
| mensis (menses) | month(s) |
| mortis (mortem) | death |
| natum | birth |
| nepos | grandson (Also meant "nephew" in some records) |
| neptis | granddaughter (Also meant "niece" in some records) |
| nota bene (N.B.) | take note |
| nuber huc adventis | recently arrived here |
| ob | before, in front of, because of, on account of |
| obit | (he or she) died |
| obit sine prole (o.s.p.) | (he or she) died without offspring |
| pater | father |
| requiescat in pace (R.I.P.) | rest in peace |
| sic | so, thus |
| testes | witnesses |
| ultimo (ult.) | last |
| uxor (ux, vx) | wife |
| Verbi Dei Minister (V.D.M.) | minister of the word of God |
| videlicet (viz, vizt) | namely |
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