I found these the other day and thought I would send out as there are new researchers all the time that may have use for these. Print them out and put them into a note book. I have a copy in several notebooks so I don't have to keep looking back to one all the time when I need to look up just one set of initials.............Beej What Do Those Initials Mean? Initials after your ancestor's names may provide useful information that you'd not expected. The following list includes initials you may comeacross when reading old wills or other documents. a.a.s. died in the year of his/her age (anno aetitis suae) (86 y/o died in year 86) d.s.p. died without issue (decessit sine prole legitima) d.s.p.l. died without legitimate issue (decessit sine prole mascula supesita) d.s.p.m.s. died without surviving male issue (decessit sine prole mascula supersita) d.s.p.s died without surviving issue (decessit sine prole supersita) d.unm died unmarried d.v.p. died in the lifetime of his father (decessit vita patris) d.v.m. died in the lifetime of his mother (decessit vita matris) Et al and others (et alia) Inst present month (instans) Liber book or volume Nepos grandson Nunc Nuncapative will, an oral will, written by a witness Ob he/she died (obit) Relict widow or widower (relicta/relictus) Sic so or thus, exact copy as written Testes witnesses Utl late (ultimo) Ux or vs wife (uxor) Viz namely (videlicet)