If you’ve ever visited a cemetery, you may have noticed initials, or letters on a tombstone. The letters form acronyms such as GAR, DAR and SCV. These letters may indicate military service or membership in a veteran’s organization. Others, such as AASR, AMOS and KT may indicate fraternal orders. The following list may help in deciphering those letters when you find them:
- AAONMS: Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (Masonic)
- AASR: Anceitn and Accepted Scottish Rite (Masonic)
- ALOH American Legion of Honor
- AMORC: Ancient and Mystical Order or Rosae Crucis (Rosicrucians)
- AOM: Ancient Order of Mysteries (Masonic)
- BPOE: Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks
- BPOEW: Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the World
- BRT: Brotherhood of Reailway Trainmen
- CK of A: Catholic Knights of America
- COOF: Catholic Order of Foresters
- CSA: Confederate States Army
- DAN: Daughters of the Nile (Masonic)
- DAR (or D of R): Daughters of American Revolution
- DOKK: Dramatic Order Knights of Khorassan (Knights of Pythias)
- FCB: Friendship, Charity and Benevolence (see K of P)
- FLT: Friendship, Love, & Truth (Independent Order of Oddfellows)
- FOE: Fraternal Order of Eagles
- FOP: Franternal Order of Police
- GAR: Grand Army of the Republic
- GLAUM: Grand Lodge Ancient Order of Mysteries-Masonic Order
- GUOOF: Grand United Order of Odd Fellows
- IHC or IHS: The first three letters of Jesus’ name in Greek (shown in image above)
- IOF: Independent Order of Foresters
- IOI: Independent Order of Immaculates
- IOKP: Independent Order of Knights of Pythias
- IOOF: Independent Order of Odd Fellows
- KGL Knight Grand Legion
- KC or K of C: Knights of Columbus
- KP or K of P: Knights of Pythias
- LOM: Loyal Order of the Moose
- MWA: Modern Woodmen of America
- MWW: Modern Woodmen of the World
- OES: Order of the Eastern Star
- SCV: Sons of the Confederate Veterans
- SAR: Sons of the American Revolution
- SR: Scottish Rite (Masonic)
- TOTE: Totem of the Eagle (Improved Order of Redmen)
- UAW: United Auto Workers
- UCV: United Confederate Veterans
- UDC: United Daughters of the Confederacy
- UMWA: United Mine Workers of America
- VFW: Veterans of Foreign Wars
- WOW: Woodsmen of the World or Women of Woodcraft
Tags: acronyms, initials, tombstones
[...] one is available. If you’re seeking an ancestor you think is Irish, then you might look for fraternal symbols on the tombstone or look for an inscription on the headstone that might state that person’s [...]