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HOW TO INTERPRET GRAVESTONE ABBREVIATIONS

 

Below are abbreviations that are commonly found on gravestones, indicating membership within an organization. Next to the abbreviation is the full name of the organization and where possible a link to that organization's website.


* AAONMS - Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine

* AASR - Ancient & Accepted Scottish Rite

* AF&AM - Ancient Free & Accepted Masons

* ALOH - American Legion of Honor

* AMD - Allied Masonic Degrees of USA

* AMOS - Ancient Mystic Order of Samaritans

* AMVETS - American Veterans

* AOF - Ancient Order Of Foresters

* AOFB - Angelic Order of Fairy Bells

* AOH -Ancient Order Of Hibernians

* AOKMC - Ancient Order Of Knights of Mystic Chain

* AOM - Ancient Order of Mysteries

* AOUW -Ancient Order Of United Workmen

* BARE - Benefit Association of Railway Employees

* BAY - Brotherhood of American Yeomen

* B of LF&E - Brotherhood of Local Firemen and Engineers

* BPOE - Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks

* BPOEW - Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the World

* CBKA - Commandery Benevolent Knights Association

* CE - Christian Endeavor

* CG - California Grays

* CBKA - Commandery Benevolent Knights Association

* CCTAS - Crusaders- Catholic Total Abstinence Society

* CDA - Catholic Daughters of America

* CFUA - Croatian Fraternal Union of America

* CK of A - Catholic Knights of America

* COOF - Catholic Order of Foresters

* CSA - Czechoslovak Society of America

* CTAS - Catholic Total Abstinence Society

* CTAUOA - Catholic Total Abstinence Union of America

* DAR - Daughters of The American Revolution

* DOKK - Dramatic Order Knights of Khorassan

* DOP - Degree of Pocahontas

* DUV - Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War

* EBA - Emerald Beneficial Association

* F&AM - Free and Accepted Masons

* F of A - Foresters of America

* FAA - Free and Accepted Americans

* FHC - The Encampment

* FMC - Fraternal Mystic Circle

* FOAST - Fraternal order of Alaska State Troopers

* FOE - Fraternal Order of Eagles

* FOF - Fraternal Order of Firefighters

* FOO - Fraternal Order Orioles

* FOP - Fraternal Order of Police

* FRA - Fraternal Reserve Association

* GALSTPTR - German American Legion of St. Peter

* GAR - Grand Army of the Republic

* GUO of OF - Grand United Order of Odd Fellows

* IBBH - International Brotherhood of Blacksmiths & Helpers

* IFSC - International Firefighters Square Club

* IHSV - Order of the Red Cross of Constantine

* ILEOSC - International Law Enforcement Officers Square Club

* IOA - International order of Alhambra

* IOBA - Independent Order of Birth Abraham

* IODE - Imperial Order Daughters of the Empire

* IODE - Independent Order Daughters of the Empire

* IOF - Independent Order of Foresters

* IOGT - Independent Order of Good Templars

* IOHH - International Order of Hoo-Hoo

* IOI - Independent Order of Immaculates

* IOKP - Independent Order of Knights of Pythias

* IOOF - Independent Order of Odd Fellows

* IOSL - Independent Order of St. Luke

* IOR - Independent Order of Rebekahs

* IOR - Independent Order of Rechabites

* IORG - International Order of Rainbow Girls

* IORM - Improved Order of Redmen

* IOV - Independent Order of Vikings

* ISH - Independent Sons of Honor

* IUOM - Independent United Order of Mechanics

* JAOUW - Junior Order-Ancient Order of United Workmen

* JOUAM -Junior Order-Order of United American Mechanics

* KC , K of C - Knights of Columbus

* KFM, K of FM - Knights of Father Matthew

* KG, KSTG - Knights of St. George

* KGE - Knights of Golden Eagle

* KGL - Knight Grand Legion

* KHC - Knights of Holy Cross

* KM - Knights of Malta (Masonic) -OR- Knights Militant

* KMC - Knights of Mystic Chain

* KOTM - Knights of the Macabees of the World

* KPC - Knights of Peter Claver

* KP, K of P - Knights of Pythias

* KKK - Knights of Klu-Klux Klan

* KSC - Knights of St. Columbkille

* KSF - Knights of Sherwood Forest

* KSL - Knights of St. Lawrence

* KSTG - Knights of St. George

* KSTI - Knights of St. Ignatius

* KSTJ - Knights of St. Joseph

* KSTM - Knights of St. Martin

* KSTP - Knights of St. Paul -OR - Knights of St. Peter

* KSTT - Knights of St. Thomas

* KT - Knights of Tabor -OR- Knights Tempar (Masonic)

* KWM - Knights of Wise Men

* KWSN - Knights Who Say Ni

* K of L - Knights of Loyola

* K of H - Knights of Honor

* K of P - Knights of Pythias

* K of SJ - Knights of St. John

* K of STP - Knights of St. Patrick -OR- Knights of Richard Petty

* K of STW - Knights of St. Wencelas

* K of T - Knights of Tabor

* LAOH - Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians

* LAPM - Ladies Auxiliary Patriarchs Militant

* LAW - League of American Wheelmen

* LEA - Ladies Encampment Auxiliary

* LK of A - Loyal Knights of America

* LMLOA - The Loyal Mystic Legion of America

* LOBB - Loyal Order Beer Buffalo

* LOL or LOOL - Loyal Order Orange Lodge

* LOM - Legion of the Moose

* LOOM - Loyal Order of Moose

* MM - Modern Maccabees

* MOLLUS - Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States

* MOPH - Military Order of the Purple Heart

* MOS&B - Military Order of the Stars and Bars

* MOVPER - Mystic Order Veiled Prophets of the Enchanter Realm

* MRA - Royal Arcanum

* MWA - Modern Woodsmen of America

* NEOP - New England Order of Protection

* NIWA - National Indian War Veterans

* NOK - New Order of knights

* NS - National Sojourner

* NSCDA - National Society of the Colonial Dames of America

* NSGW - Native Sons of the Golden West

* NW - Neighbors of Woodcraft

* O of A - Order of Amaranth

* O of L - Order of Leibowitz

* OC - Order of Calanthe

* OD - Order of DeMolay

* ODHS - Order der Hermann's Sohns, Sisters of the Federation

* OES - Order of Eastern Star

* OGC - Order of the Golden Chain

* OGC - Order of the Golden Circle

* OGT - Order of Good Times

* OO - Order of Owls

* ORC - Order of the Red Cross

* ORM - Order of Red Men

* OS - Order of Sparta

* OSC - Order of Scottish Clans

* OSH - Order of the Sons of Herman (Texas)

* OSIA - Order of the Sons of Italy in America

* OSM - Order of the Secret Monitor

* OTK - Order of the True Kindred

* OUAM - Order of United American Mechanics

* OWSJ - Order of the White Shrine of Jerusalem

* PDQBAS - Royal order of the Knights of Whoople

* PH - Found on military graves, person received a Purple heart in Combat.

* PM - Patriarchs Militant (Independent Order of Odd Fellows)

* POSA - Patriotic Order of the Sons of America

* RIP - requiescat in pace, Latin for REST IN PEACE

* RK - Roman Knights

* RMBI - Royal Masonic Benevolent Instition

* RMIB - Royal Masonic Institution for Boys

* RNA - Royal Neighbors of America

* ROJ - Royal Order of Jesters

* ROS - Royal Order of Scotland

* RSM - Royal and Select Masters

* RSTV - Rite of St. Vaclara -OR - Rite of St. Vita

* MRA - Royal Arcanum

* RAM - Royal Arch Masons

* RO-AUN - Rosicruian Order

* SBCL - Saint Bonifazius Catholic Union

* SBL - Society B. Lafayette

* SCV - Sons of the Confederate Veterans

* SAR - Sisters of the American Revolution

* SAR - Sons of the American Revolution

* SNA-AUM - Shrine of North America

* SRIA - Societas Rosicruciani in Anglia

* SV - Sons of Veterans

* TCL - Tall Cedars of Lebanon

* TH - Temple of Honor-Independent Order of Odd Fellows

* UCV - United Confederate Veterans

* UFL - Union Fraternal League

* UORM - Uniformed Order of Red Men

* UR - The Uniform Ranks designation.

* USWV - United Spanish War Veterans

* VFW - Veterans of Foreign Wars

* VMC - Royal Arcanum

* WOTM - Women of the Moose

* WOW - Woodmen of the World

 

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