Tombstone Initials and Their Meanings
This article originally appeared in "Business, Institution, and Organization Records" by Kay Haviland Freilich, CG, CGL, and Ann Carter Fleming, CG, CGL in The Source: A Guidebook to American Genealogy
The following is a partial list of tombstone initials and their meaning. More abbreviations may be found at the ObitCentral.
- AF&AM--(Masonic)
- ALOH--American Legion of Honor
- AOH--Ancient Order of Hibernians
- AOKMC--Ancient Order of Knights of Mystic Chain
- AOUW--Ancient Order of United Workmen
- BPOE--Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks
- BPOEW--Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the World
- CK of A--Catholic Knights of America
- CSA--Confederate States Army
- DAR--Daughters of the American Revolution
- FAA--Free and Accepted Americans
- F&AM--Free and Accepted Masons
- FLT--Friendship, Love, and Truth (Independent Order of Oddfellows)
- FOE--Fraternal Order of Eagles
- GAR--Grand Army of the Republic
- IHSV--Red Cross of Constantine
- IOI--Independent Order of Immaculates
- IOKP--Independent Order of Knights of Pythias
- IOOF--Independent Order of Odd Fellows
- IWW--Industrial Workers of the World
- KC/K of C--Knights of Columbus
- KP--Knights of Pythias
- K of STP--Knights of St. Patrick
- K of STW--Knights of St. Wenceslas
- KKK--Knights of Ku Klux Klan
- KSF--Knights of Sherwood Forest
- LAOH--Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians
- LOM--Loyal Order of the M.O.O.S.E.
- MWA--Modern Woodsmen of America
- OES--Order of the Eastern Star
- SAR--Sons of the American Revolution
- SCV--Sons of the Confederate Veterans
- UCV--United Confederate Veterans
- UDC--United Daughters of the Confederacy
- VFW--Veterans of Foreign Wars
- WOW--Woodsmen of the World
See Also
- Researching Business, Institution, and Organization Records
- List of Useful Business, Institution, and Organization Records