International Black Sheep Society/Fraternal and Grave Marker Acronyms

d International Black Sheep Society/Fraternal and Grave Marker Acronyms

International Black Sheep Society Of Genealogists
A baaad ancestor is good to find.

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The Following Initials are a partial index of many of which are found on Grave Markers across the US and the World. These Fraternal Organizations and Societies are common back to medieval times, and many have evolved into "secret societies", Labor Unions, and Religious entities. Some have criminal reputations, and some have reputations of benevolence, all are an indication of man's desire to belong.

If you know of more Organizations which are not listed, or of more that have existing websites on the Internet, Please contact: Jeff Scism .

Other Sites where information on many of these Organizations and others may be found at

Fraternal Societies- A "Complete" reference of Exonumia

Los Angeles Fraternal Supply Company (Masonic Supplies)

Well Known to Obscure Fraternal Organizations

Frater nal Abbreviations on Gravestones

Fraternal Societies differentiated

Rhode Island US Genweb Page

National Fraternal Congress of America. The member Fraternal organizations are listed at the Bottom of this page. and some as yet unsorted links are below those.

Visit the Rootsweb On-Line Genealogy Lesson on Fraternal Organization History.
Tracing Your Family Tree-Lesson 18


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 (NRF)*
Ancient Order Of United Workmen
ALOH	American Legion of Honor (NRF)*
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
BFCL	International Order of Rainbow Girls ( A Masonic Auxilliary)
BKA	Benevolent Knights Association (NRF)*
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

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 (NRF)*
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, Patriarchs Militant
IORG	International Order of Rainbow Girls ( A Masonic Auxilliary)
IOStL	Independent Order of St. Luke
IOF	Independent Order of Foresters
IORM	Improved Order of Redmen (Sons of Liberty)
IOR	Independent Order of Rechabites
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)
IOV	International Order of Vikings
ISDA	Italian Sons and Daughters of America
ISH	Independent Sons of Honor
IUOM	Independent United Order of Mechanics
IWW	Industrial Workers of the World
IYOB FILIAE	Job's Daughters
JOAM	Junior Order of American Mechanics
JOUAM	Junior Order of United American Mechanics

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 (NRF)*
KOL	Knights of Labor
KofL	Knights of Loyola
KM	Knights of Malta (Masonic)
KMC	Knights of the Mystic Chain (NRF)*
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
RBP	Royal Black Preceptory (AKA: Royal Black Knights) (Masonic) photo
RC	Republican Club
RNA	The Royal Neighbors of America
RSGF	Royal Society of Good Fellows
RSM	Royal and Select Masons
ROJ	Royal Order of Jesters (Masonic)
RSTV	Rite of St. Vaclara (NRF)*
RSTV	Rite of St. Vita
RK	Roman Knights (NRF)*
RTT	Royal Templars of Temperance
SAR	Sisters of the American Revolution
SAR	Sons of the American Revolution
SBCL	Saint Bonifazius Catholic Union (NRF)*
SBL	Society B. Lafayette (NRF)*
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. Georges Society of New York)	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)
THT	Templars of Honor and Temperance
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
X	Ancient Mystic Order of Samaritans: (Association of the IOOF)
YMCA	Young Men's Christian Association
YWCA	Young Women's Christian Association
*(NRF)	NO Internet References Found

Aid Association for Lutherans

American Slovenian Catholic Union

Catholic Aid Association

Catholic Family Life Insurance

Catholic Knights Insurance Society

Catholic Order of Foresters

Concordia Mutual Life Association

Croatian Catholic Union of USA

Croatian Fraternal Union of America

CSA Fraternal Life

Degree of Honor Protective Association

Employe's Mutual Benefit Association

Equitable Reserve Association

Federation Life Insurance of America

First Catholic Slovak Union of USA and Canada

Greater Beneficial Union of Pittsburgh

Independent Order of Foresters

Modern Woodmen of America

National Catholic Society of Foresters

National Mutual Benefit

Police and Firemen's Insurance Association

Polish National Union of America

Polish Roman Catholic Union of America

Royal Neighbors of America

Slovak Catholic Sokol

Slovak Gymnastic Union Sokol of the USA

Slovene National Benefit Society

U.S. Letter Carriers' Mutual Benefit Association

Western Fraternal Life Association

William Penn Fraternal Association

Woman's Life Insurance Society

Woodmen of the World Life Insurance Society

Workmen's Benefit Fund

Initials after ancestors' names may provide useful information. The following list includes initials you may come across when reading old wills or other documents. From: Mark Sutherlin mark@sutherlin.com

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
Ob	he/she died (obit)
Rel. or Relict	widow or widower (relicta/relictus)
Res. or Residue	widow or widower
Sic	so or thus, exact copy as written
Testes	witnesses
Ult	late (ultimo)
Ux or vs	wife (uxor)
Viz	namely (videlicet)

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AAONMS

AASR

ABA

AF&AM

AMD

AMOS

AOF

AOKMC

ALOH

APA

AUM

AUV

BARE

BAY

BKA

BKofM

BofRTM

BLE

BLF&E

BRT

CBL

CMBA

CTAS

CBKA

CCTAS

DAR (NSDAR)

D of A

DoL

DAN

DOKK

EAU

EBA

FAM

F&AM

FOAST

FOF

FOP

GALSTPTR

GLAUM

GUOOF

HZ

IBBH

ICBU

IHSV

IOA

IODE

IOH

IOHH

IOI

IOStL

IOF

IORM

IOR

IOF

IOOF

IOJD

IORG

IOV

ISDA

ISH

IUOM

IWW

IYOB FILIAE

JOAM

JOUAM

JOUAM

KGC

KGC

KGE

KGL

KLH

KM

KofFM

KFM

KofH

KofL

KM

KMC

KOTM

KPC