Abbreviations of religious, military, fraternal & charitable
organizations seen on antique tombstones
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The following is a list that periodically appears on one or
more of the genealogy mailing lists for the purpose of sharing
with other researchers. I, myself, cannot take credit for
compiling this, but felt that posting it might be of help to
those not active on the lists
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AF&AM = Ancient Free & Accepted Masons
AOF = Ancient Order of Foresters
AOH = Ancient Order of Hibernians
AOKMC = Ancient Order of Knights of Mystic Chain
AOUW = Ancient Order of United Workmen
ALOH = American Legion of Honor
AUM = Ancient Order of Mysteries - Masonic Order
BPOE = Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks
BPOEW = Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks of the World
CK of A = Catholic Knights of America
COOF = Catholic Order of Foresters
CTAS = Catholic Total Abstinence Society
CBKA = Commander Benevolent Knights Association
CCTAS = Crusaders-Catholic Total Abstinence Society
CSA = Confederate States Army
DAR = Daughters of American Revolution
EBA = Emerald Beneficial Association
FAA = Free & Accepted Americans
F&AM = Free & Accepted Masons
FOE = Fraternal Order of Eagles
GALSTPTR = German American Legion of St Peter
GAR = Grand Army of the Republic
GLAUM = Grand Lodge Ancient Order of Mysteries-Masonic Order
GUOOF = Grand United Order of Odd Fellows
IHSV = Red Cross of Constantine
IOI = Independent Order of Immaculates
IOKP = Independent Order of Knights of Pythias
IOOF = Independent Order of Odd Fellows
ISH = Independent Sons of Honor
IORM = Improved Order of Redmen
IWW = Industrial Workers of the World
JAOUW = Junior Order-Ancient Order of United Workmen
JUOAM = Junior Order-Order of United American Mechanics
KGL = Knight Grand Legion
KM = Knights Militant
KC = Knights of Columbus
K of C = Knights of Columbus
K of FM = Knights of Father Matthew
KFM = Knights of Father Matthew
K of H = Knights of Honor
K of L = Knights of Loyola
KM = Knights of Malta (Masonic)
KMC = Knights of the Mystic Chain
KPC = Knights of Peter Claver
KP = Knights of Pythias
K of P = Knights of Pythias
KSC = Knights of St Columbkille
KG = Knights of St George
KSTG = Knights of St George
KSTI = Knights of St Ignatius
K of SJ = Knights of St John
KSTJ = Knights of St Joseph
KSL = Knights of St Lawrence
KSTM = Knights of St Martin
K of STP = Knights of St Patrick
KSTP = Knights of St Paul
KSTP = Knights of St Peter
KSTT = Knights of St Thomas
K of STW = Knights of St Wenceslas
KT = Knights of Tabor
K of T = Knights of Tabor
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
KT = Knights Templars (Masonic)
LAOH = Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians
LK of A = Loyal Knights of America
LOM = Loyal Order of the M.O.O.S.E.
MOLLUS = Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States
MRA = Royal Arcanum
MWA = Modern Woodsmen of America
NOK = New Order Knights (see KKK)
OES = Order of the Eastern Star
OUAM = Order of United American Mechanics
PM = Patriarchs Militant (Independent Order of Odd Fellows)
POSA = Patriotic Order of the Sons of America
RMOKHSJ = Religious & Military Order of Knights of the Holy Sepulchre
of Jerusalem
RSTV = Rite of St Vaclara
RSTV = Rite of St Vita
RK = Roman Knights
SR = Scottish Rite (Masonic Order)
RAM = Royal Arch Masons
RO-AUM = Rosicrucian Order (Masonic)
SBCL = St Bonifazius Catholic Union
SBL = Society B Lafayette
SCV = Sons of the Confederate Veterans
SAR = Sons of the American Revolution
SNA-AUM = Shrine of North America (Masonic)
SV = Sons of Veterans
TH = Temple of Honor-Independent Order of Odd Fellows
UCV = United Confederate Veterans
UDC = United Daughters of the Confederacy
VFW = Veterans of Foreign Wars
WOW = Woodsmen of the World
