Saving
Graves
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, it means that this 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
- UDC - United
Daughters
of
The
Confederacy
- UFL - Union Fraternal League
- UORM - United 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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