French Abbreviations in Genealogy Records
Understanding abbreviations in French historical records is crucial for accurate genealogical research. This glossary explains common abbreviations found in parish registers, notarial records, and civil registration documents. These originate from the 16th to early 20th centuries. They often confuse researchers.
Parish Register Abbreviations (Abréviations des registres paroissiaux)
| Abbreviation | Full French Term | English Translation | Context and Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| B | Baptême | Baptism | Indicates a baptismal record |
| M | Mariage | Marriage | Indicates a marriage record |
| S | Sépulture | Burial | Indicates a burial record |
| f | fils/fille | son/daughter | Used to indicate relationship |
| fs | fils | son | “fils de” means “son of” |
| fe | fille | daughter | “fille de” means “daughter of” |
| dem. | demeurant | residing | Indicates place of residence |
| nat. | natif/native | native of | Indicates birthplace |
| vf | veuf | widower | Man whose spouse has died |
| ve | veuve | widow | Woman whose spouse has died |
| f.d. | fille de | daughter of | Indicates parentage |
| n.l. | natif/native de lieu | native of this place | Born in the same parish |
| p. | père | father | Often used in signatures |
| m. | mère | mother | Often used in signatures |
| Sr | Sieur | Sir/Mister | Title for middle-class men |
| Dlle | Demoiselle | Miss | Unmarried woman of some status |
| Me | Maître | Master | For guild members or legal professionals |
| ond. | ondoyé | privately baptized | Emergency baptism without ceremonies |
| illeg. | illégitime | illegitimate | Child born outside marriage |
| t. | témoin | witness | Person witnessing an event |
Notarial Record Abbreviations (Abréviations des actes notariés)
| Abbreviation | Full French Term | English Translation | Context and Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| C.M. | Contrat de Mariage | Marriage Contract | Premarital agreement document |
| T. | Testament | Will/Testament | Last will document |
| Inv. | Inventaire | Inventory | List of possessions, often after death |
| Pn | Procuration | Power of Attorney | Authorization to act on behalf of someone |
| Obl | Obligation | Bond/Obligation | Debt contract |
| Qce | Quittance | Receipt/Discharge | Acknowledgment of payment |
| Vte | Vente | Sale | Property sale contract |
| Ech. | Échange | Exchange | Property exchange agreement |
| Aff. | Affermage | Leasing | Farm or property lease |
| Part. | Partage | Division | Division of estate or property |
| Rte | Rente | Annuity | Contract for regular payments |
| Rec. | Reconnaissance | Acknowledgment | Recognition of debt or obligation |
| sgr | seigneur | lord | Feudal title |
| dem.t | demeurant | residing | Indicates place of residence |
| ss.é | soussigné | undersigned | Person who signed document |
| req. | requête | request | Legal petition |
| d.lle | demoiselle | miss/young lady | Unmarried woman of some status |
| cy-dt | ci-devant | formerly | Previously, in the past |
Civil Registration Abbreviations (Abréviations de l’état civil)
| Abbreviation | Full French Term | English Translation | Context and Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| N | Naissance | Birth | Indicates a birth record |
| M | Mariage | Marriage | Indicates a marriage record |
| D | Décès | Death | Indicates a death record |
| dcd | décédé(e) | deceased | Person who has died |
| né(e) | né(e) | born | Indicates birth details |
| j. | jour | day | In dates |
| a. | an/année | year | In dates |
| ° | né(e) | born | Symbol often used for birth |
| + | décédé(e) | died | Symbol often used for death |
| x | marié(e) | married | Symbol often used for marriage |
| âgé | âgé(e) | aged | Followed by age |
| demt | demeurant | residing | Indicates place of residence |
| prof. | profession | occupation | Person’s employment |
| t.t. | tous témoins | all witnesses | Refers to witnesses present |
| s.p. | sans profession | without occupation | Often used for women and children |
| dom. | domicilié | domiciled/residing | Legal residence |
| reconnu | reconnu | recognized | Legitimized child |
| f. | fille/fils | daughter/son | Used to indicate relationship |
| ép. | époux/épouse | husband/wife | Indicates marital relationship |
| dt | dit | called/known as | Indicates nickname or alias |
Administrative and Legal Abbreviations (Abréviations administratives et juridiques)
| Abbreviation | Full French Term | English Translation | Context and Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dépt | Département | Department | French administrative division |
| Cne | Commune | Municipality | Local administrative unit |
| Arr. | Arrondissement | District | Subdivision of a department |
| Cton | Canton | Canton | Group of communes |
| TD | Tables Décennales | Decennial Tables | Ten-year indexes of vital records |
| RP | Registre Paroissial | Parish Register | Church records |
| EC | État Civil | Civil Registration | Government vital records |
| TSA | Tables de Successions et Absences | Succession and Absence Tables | Records of inheritance taxes and estate settlements, valuable for death dates and family relationships |
| AD | Archives Départementales | Departmental Archives | Main genealogical repositories |
| AM | Archives Municipales | Municipal Archives | City-level archives |
| AN | Archives Nationales | National Archives | France’s central archives |
| GG | (Classification) | Parish registers | Archive classification for church records |
| E or 4E | (Classification) | Civil registration | Archive classification for vital records |
| 3E | (Classification) | Notarial records | Archive classification for notary records |
| av. | avant | before | Temporal reference |
| ap. | après | after | Temporal reference |
| env. | environ | approximately | For estimated dates |
Understanding Abbreviations in French Records
When working with French historical documents, consider these important factors about abbreviations:
Historical Context
- Abbreviations varied by time period and region
- Scribes often created personal shorthand systems
- Post-Revolutionary records tend to be more standardized than earlier ones
- Latin abbreviations appear in pre-Revolutionary church records
Interpretation Challenges
- Identical abbreviations may have different meanings in different contexts
- Handwriting can make abbreviations difficult to distinguish
- Regional dialects influenced abbreviation patterns
- Unusual abbreviations should be interpreted considering the document type
Research Tips
- Compare abbreviations with fully written examples in the same document
- Learn abbreviations specific to your research location
- Consider the document type when interpreting ambiguous abbreviations
- Create your own reference list for unusual abbreviations you encounter
This glossary is part of our comprehensive French Genealogy Dictionary. For terms related to other document types, please visit our main dictionary page.
Last updated: April 22, 2025
