This page last modified Thursday, 27-Mar-2008 15:40:46 CDT
120 Tombstone Markings - AF&AM (masonic)
- 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 theWorld
- 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 Confeserate States Army
- DAR Daughters of American Revolution
- EBA Emerald Beneficial Association
- FAA Free and Accepted Americans
- F&AM - Free and Accepted Masons.
- FLT-Friendship, Love, & Truth (Independent Order of Oddfellows)
- FOE Fraternal 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
- IORM Improved Order of Redmen
- ISH Independent Sons of Honor
- 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
- KFM 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
- KSTJ Knights of St. Joseph
- KSL Knights of St. Lawrence
- KSTM Knights of St. Martin
- K of STP Knights of St. Patrick
- KSTP Knights of St. Paul
- 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 Templars (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 Knights (see 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 The 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 (Masonic Order)
- RAM Royal Arch Masons
- RO-AUM Rosicrucian Order (Masonic)
- SBCL Saint Bonifazius Catholic Union
- SBL Society B. Lafayette
- SCV Sons of the 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
- TOTE Totem of the Eagle (goes with IORM)
- UCV United Confederate Veterans
- UDC United Daughters of the Confederacy
- VFW Veterans of Foreign Wars
- WOW Woodsmen of the World
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ More Tombstone Markings When looking at the tombstones of your ancestors, look at the markings on the stone. These symbols can reveal many things about your loved ones.
A good practice would be to take a picture of the stone, for closer examination later. Look for the engravers markings too, look down near the base of the stone.
Don't jump to conclusions when trying to decipher the markings.
Read literature about the work of the individual carvers and about life during the period it was carved.
Keep in mind, any symbol can have more than one accurate interpretation, for example... an anchor is traditionally a sign of hope, but if the deceased was a sailor, it would likely represent his profession, so keep an open mind when doing your research.
The following is a list of symbols and their meanings,
that most scholars agree upon. - Anchor-Hope, Seaman
- Angels-Rebirth, resurrection, protection, judgement, wisdom, mercy, divine love
- Bird-Eternal life, winged soul, spirituality
- Chain with three links-Trinity, faith
- Fish-Christian symbol of plenty
- Frog-Worldly pleasure, sin
- Lamb-Innocence, sometimes used on a child's grave
- Lamp-Immortality, knowledge of God
- Lily-Purity
- Lion-Courage, strength, the Resurrection
- Hand pointing upward-Reward of the righteous; confirmation of life after death
- Hands folded-Devotion, prayer
- Handshakes-Farewell to earthly existence
- Ivy-Fidelity, attachement, undying affection
- Poppies-Eternal sleep, military service
- Rope Circle-Eternity
- Rose-Victory, pride, triumphant love, purity
- Snake with its tail in its mouth-Symbolizes eternity
- Tree Trunk, Leaning-Short interrupted life, mourning
- Urn-Immortality, death of the body and its return to dust
- Wreath on Skull-Victory of death over life
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