You may find Latin terms used in genealogical records. Latin is often found in Roman Catholic sacramental registers. In records from European parishes, you may find a mixture of Latin and the vernacular. Many other pre-twentieth-century records were also kept in Latin, especially those associated with higher education.

 

A B C D E F G H I L M N O P R S T U V

 

 

A

a, ab: from
ablutus: christening
abortivus: premature birth
acatholicus: non-catholic
ad: to
aetas, aetatis: age
altera die: on the next day
ambo: both, both of, two together
anno domini: in the year of our Lord
anno incarnationis: in the year of the incarnation of the Lord
anonyma: stillborn daughter
anonymus: stillborn son
anti, ante: before
apud: near, at
aut: or
autem: however
 

B

banni: marriage banns
bannum: advance marriage announcement
baptismi, baptisatus: christening
biduum: two days
 

C

cautela: caution
civitas, civitatis: city or state
cognomen: name, surname
comitas: county
commater: godmother
compater: godfather
conjuncti: marriage
conjus: husband
conjux: wife
consors: wife
copulatio, copulati: marriage
cras: tomorrow
 

D

decessit: death
decessus: death
defunctus: dead
denatus: death
denuntiatio, denuntiationis: announcement (of banns)
denuntiationes: marriage banns
die sequenti: on the following day
die vero: this very day
 

E

eadem: the same, by the same (f.)
eam: her
ei: them
eis: to, by them
eiustdem die: of the same day
eo tempore: at this time
eodem anno: in the same year
eodem die: on the same day
eodem mense: in the same month
eodem: by the same (m. and n.)
ex: from (place of origin)
 

F

femina: wife
feria: day
filia: daughter of
filius: son of
 

G

genitores: parents
genitus: born
gradus: step, degree (of kindred)
 

H

hac, haec, hoc, huius, his: this
hebdomada: week
hic: here, now
hodie: today
humantus, humantio: burial
 

I

ibi: here
ibidem: in the same place
idem: the same (m. and n.)
infans: infant, child
instans, instantis: present, current, instant
intronisati: marriage
ipse: self
item: also
 

L

lautus: christening
levantes: godparent
ligati: marriage
longum tempore: for a long time
lustratio: christening
 

M

mane: in the morning
manu: by hand (signed)
marita: wife
mariti: marriage
maritus: husband
martimonium: marriage
mater: mother
matrina: godmother
mors, mortis: death
mortuus: death
mulier: wife
 

N

N., N.N. (Nomen): blank space for name(s)
nati, natus, natales: birth
nocte: at night
nomen: name, given name
nox, noctis: night
nudius terius: three days earlier
nunc dies terius: three days earlier
nunc temporis: of the present time
nupti: marriage
 

O

ob: for, because of, in accordance with
obiit: death
obitus: death
oriundus: birth
ortus: birth
 

P

pagus: village
parentes: parents
parochia or paroecia: parish
pater: father
patrini: godparent
perendi: day after tommorow
periculum: peril, danger
peritus: death
plutus: christening
postridie: the day after
pridie: the day before
pro tempore: at the time
proclamationes: marriage banns
proles: child
puer: child
purgatus: christening
 

R

relicta: widow
relictus: widower
renatus: christening
 

S

sepelivi: I have buried
sepulti, sepultus: burial
sepultus: buried
sponsa: bride, wife
sponsati: marriage
sponsus: bridegroom, husband
subscriptus: undersigned
susceptores: godparent
 

T

tamen: nevertheless, yet, however, indeed
testis: witness
triduum: three day period
tunc temporis: of former time
 

U

ubi: where
ultimus: last
uxor, vxor: wife
 

V

vespere: in the evening
vidua: widow
viduas: widower
vir: husband
 
 


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