COMMON TOMBSTONE ABBREVIATIONS
This list is a composition of common tombstone abbreviations and their meaning.
AF & AM | Ancient Free and 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 and Protective Order of Elks |
BPOEW | Benevolent and 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 the American Revolution |
EBA | Emerald Beneficial Association |
FAA | Free and Accepted Americans |
F & AM | Free and Accepted Masons |
FOE | Free 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 |
JOUAM | 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 |
K of H | Knights of Honor |
K of L | Knights of Loyola |
K M | 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 |
KSL | Knights of St. Lawrence |
KSTM | Knights of St. Martin |
K of STP | Knights of St. Patrick |
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 Templar (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 of Knights (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 and 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 |
RAM | Royal Arch Masons |
RO-AUM | Rosicrucian Order (Masonic) |
SBCL | St. Bonifazius Catholic Union |
SBL | Society B. Lafayette |
SCV | Sons of 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 Confederacy |
VFW | Veterans of Foreign Wars |
WOW | Woodsmen of the World |
If you know of any other common abbreviations found on headstones please email them to Steve