| Symbol/Abbreviation |
Description |
|
|
|
| * |
Date of birth |
| ~ |
Baptism/Christening |
| oo |
Marriage |
| I oo |
First marriage (the I may be in parentheses) |
| II oo |
Second marriage (the II may be in parentheses) |
| o/o |
Geschieden (divorced) |
| o-o |
Not married / illegitimate birth |
| + |
Date of death |
| gef. |
Gefallen - fallen soldier, deaths in this category will be limited to war years, i.e., 1870-1871, 1914-1918, 1939-1945) |
|
|
Burial |
| *+ |
Died on day of birth |
| +* |
Stillborn |
| Posthum Nach dem Todes des Vaters geboren |
Born after the death of the father. |
| (42,3,2) |
Example of an age, this example shows 42 years, 3 months, 2 days |
| K |
Confirmation |
| Vor |
Before |
| vorehel. |
Vorehelich, a premarital agreement or marriage contract / engagement |
| |
|
| Family: |
|
| B. |
Bruder (brother) |
| E. |
Eltern (parents) |
| M. |
Mutter (mother) |
| S.d. |
Sohn des (son of) |
| Schw. |
Schwester (sister) |
| T.d. |
Tochter des (daughter of) |
| V. |
Vater (father) |
| Wwe, Wwr |
Witwe(r) (widow, widower) |
| |
|
| Property: |
|
| E |
Enter (ducks) |
| K |
Kühe (cows) |
| O |
Ochsen (oxen) |
| P |
Pferde (horse) |
| Sch |
Schaf (sheep) |
| Schatzung |
Assessment, estimation of value |
| Gl |
Gulden, a Dutch large denomination coin |
| Rt or Rth |
Reichstaler, a large denomination coin |
| Sch |
Schap, a Small coin |
| Witt |
Witt, a very small coin |
| |
|
| References: |
|
| DGB |
Deutsches Geschlecterbuch — volumes of German Genealogy information about the Bourgeois / Published by C.A. Starke Verlag, 219 volumes, indexes are available. |
| Hw |
Hinweis (Reference to) |
| KB |
Kirchenbuch (Church book) |
| Kg. |
Kirchengemeinde (Church community) |
| ki |
kirchlich (Ecclesiastical) |
| OAL |
Ostfriesische Ahnenlisten / pedigrees submitted to Upstalsboom-Geschellschaft, Aurich |
| OFB |
Ortsfamilienbuch – a privately published community lineage book |
| OSB |
Ortssippenbuch – a community lineage book published by the Upstalsboom-Geschellschaft, Aurich (typically one book for one church in a community) |
| procl. |
Proclamiert (Proclamation) |
| QuF |
Quellen und Forschungen zur Ostfrieshen Familien- und Wappenkunde, a genealogy newsletter published by the Upstalsboom-Geschellschaft, Aurich |
| s. |
siehe (see...) |
| S. |
Seite (page...) |
| st |
standesamtl. (Registry Office) |
| St.A |
Standesamt (governement office) |
| StAStaatsarchiv |
State Archive |
| vgl. |
Vergleiche (compare/see also/possibly) |
| |
|
| Occupations: |
|
| Apotheker |
Pharmacist |
| Arb. |
Arbeiter, a day laborer, may also be called a tagelöhner (Dutch) |
| Artz |
Doctor |
| Bäcker |
Baker |
| Bauer |
Farmer |
| Blasebalgmacher |
Bellowsmaker |
| Böttcher |
Cooper, barrel maker |
| Branntweinbrenner |
Distiller |
| Brauer or Bierbraer |
Brewer |
| Buchdrucker |
Printer |
| Chirurg |
Surgeon |
| Destillateur |
Distiller |
| Dienstknecht |
Servant, male |
| Dienstmagd |
Servant, female |
| Drechsler, Dreher |
Turner, lathe operator |
| Färber |
Fabric dyer |
| Fassbinder |
Cooper, barrel maker |
| Fisher |
Fischer |
| Fleischer |
Butcher, see also Metzger |
| Fliesenbrenner |
Tilemaker |
| Gerber |
Hide tanner, leather worker |
| Geschirrmacher |
Saddlemaker |
| Glasbläser |
Glassblower |
| Glaser |
Glazier |
| Graveur |
Etcher |
| Grötzhhändler |
Corn dealer |
| Hutmacher |
Hatmaker |
| Jäger |
Hunter |
| Kap. |
Kapitãn, a sea captain |
| Kaufman |
Merchant, shopkeeper, or trader |
| Kaufmann |
Merchant |
| Kerzengiesser |
Candlemaker |
| Kesselmacher |
Coppersmith |
| Korbmacher or Korbflechter |
Basketmaker |
| Kupferschmied |
Coppersmith |
| Küster |
Gravedigger |
| Landadel |
Landed gentry |
| Landwirt |
Farmer, possible land owner |
| Laternemacher |
Lanternmaker |
| Leimsieder |
Gluemaker |
| Lgbr. |
Landgebraucher, Most likely a renter of tillable acreage
Landowners were "dikke Burren" (Platt) or rich farmers. |
| Lichtzieher |
Candlemaker |
| Maler |
Painter/artist |
| Maurer |
Bricklayer |
| Messerschmied |
Cutler, knife-maker |
| Metzger |
Butcher |
| Militär |
Soldier |
| Müller |
Miller |
| Musikant |
Musician |
| Nadelmacher |
Needlemaker |
| Ölmüller |
Oil miller or oilseed crusher |
| Papiermacher |
Papermaker |
| Pastetenbäcker |
Pastry cook |
| Perückenmacher |
Wigmaker |
| Plattenbrenner |
Tilemaker |
| Ppr |
Pauper / Arm |
| Prinz |
Prince or monarch |
| Pumpenmacher |
Pumpmaker |
| Radierer |
Etcher |
| Sattler |
Saddlemaker |
| Schiff |
Ship |
| Schiffbauer |
Ship carpenter |
| Schiffer |
Sailor, boatman |
| Schiffseigner |
Ship owner |
| Schiffszimmermann |
Ship carpenter |
| Schlittschuhmacher |
Skatemaker |
| Schmeid, Smd, or Smidt |
Blacksmith |
| Schneider |
Tailor |
| Schreiner |
Cabinetmaker |
| Schuhmacher |
Shoemaker |
| Schulmeister |
Schoolmaster |
| Schwertfeger |
Swordmaker |
| Segelmacher |
Sailmaker |
| Seiler |
Ropemaker |
| Soldat |
Soldier |
| Spiegelmacher |
Mirrormaker |
| Spielmann |
Musician |
| Steinhauer |
Stonemason |
| Steinsäger |
Stonecutter |
| Stellmacher |
Wagonmaker |
| Stuhlmacher |
Chairmaker |
| Tagelöhner |
Day laborer |
| Teppichweber, Teppichwirker |
Carpet weaver |
| Tischler |
Cabinetmaker |
| Töpfer |
Potter |
| Torfgräber |
Peat digger |
| Totengräber |
Gravedigger |
| Uhrmacher |
Clockmaker |
| Wagenmacher |
Wagonmaker |
| Warfsmann/Warfsleute |
Social status term; poor member of society with small dwelling with no voting status in the village. |
| Weber |
Weaver |
| Weidmann |
Hunter |
| Wollbereiter |
Wooldresser |
| Zimmermann |
Carpenter |
| Zinngiesser |
Tinsmith |
| Zwirner |
Threadtwister, ropemaker |
OSBs contain a wealth of information about the family members in the church community. Various symbols and abbreviations are used for consistency and a type of shorthand for researchers. The terms below were extracted from OGSA Newsletter articles and references with selected updates to help your research efforts. Main groupings in this list include: