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COMMON RECORD PHRASES
COMMON PHRASES USED IN PARISH RECORDS
Reading old parish records can be much easier when one understands and becomes familiar with the format of those records. Most christening, marriage, and burial records written after the Council of Trent follow the same pattern and include basically the same phrases. The following is a list of commonly used phrases found in old christening, marriage, and burial records.
General
| LATIN PHRASE | MEANING |
|---|---|
| ídem, eadem; eiusdem, eiusdem | same; of the same |
| dictus -a | the said |
| predictus -a, prefatus -a, andedictus -a | the aforesaid |
| infrascriptus, -a, subscriptus -a | undersigned |
| ut supra | as above, as stated above (usually refers to the date) |
Date
| LATIN PHRASE | MEANING |
|---|---|
| Anno Domini milmo septingmo decimo octavo | In the year of the Lord one thousand seven hundred eighteen |
| sexto Martii 1601 | On the sixth of March of 1601 |
| Die XXI ultimo | On the twenty-first day of the previous month |
| Mortuus est die octavo Octobris anno predicto | he died on the eighth day of October of the aforesaid year |
Place
| LATIN PHRASE | MEANING |
|---|---|
| Loci Londonie… | In the town of London… |
| In situ Florentie… | In the place of Florence… |
| Ecclesiae parochialis… | In the parochial church... |
| Parochia… | In the parish… |
| Diocesi | In the diocesis of... |
| Ibdem | In the same place |
| Locus baptismi | The place of the baptism |
| Domicilium/ii | Residence/of the residence |
| Civis municipalis... | Citizens of the minicipality... |
| Tenens idben | Tenant of the same place |
| Villa Monte Gomeri | Town of Montgomery |
Authority
| LATIN PHRASE | MEANING |
|---|---|
| parochus | the parish priest |
| sacerdos/sacerdotis | the priest |
| clericus | the clergyman |
| municeps | the magistrate |
| prefectus | the magistrate |
| bacallarius | the bachelor (This term refers to the person's academic degree, not his marital status) |
| vicarius | the vicar |
| frater | friar or brother |
| Reverendus Pater | the reverend father |
| cum licentia | with permission |
| ex licentia parochi | by license of the parish priest |
| cum venia parochi | with permission of the parish priest |
| officium | performing the office of |
| juez eclesiástico | ecclesiastical judge |
| loci | of the place ... |
| in parrochie | of the parish (church) |
Relationships/Legitimacy
| LATIN PHRASE | MEANING |
|---|---|
| viduus -a | widower/widow |
| relictus -a | widower/widow |
| filius -a legitimatus -a | legitimate child |
| filius -a naturalis | natural-born child |
| filius -a spurius -a | illegitimate child |
| filius -a illegitimus -a | illegitimate child |
| filius -a populi -ae | illegitimate child |
| ignoti parentis | of unknown parents |
| filius -a relinquit | abandoned child |
| filius -a inventus -a | abandoned child |
| filius -a expositus -a | abandoned child |
| parentis ignotis | of unknown parents |
| patris ignotis | of unknown father |
Witnesses/Godparents
| LATIN PHRASE | MEANING |
|---|---|
| Testes/Testibus... | Witnesses... |
| Praesentibus testibus... | Present witnesses... |
| Testes furerunt... | the (present/eye)witnesses were... |
| Patrini/suseptores/ fuerunt… | The godparents were… |
| Praesenti matrina | [the] present godmother |
Certification
| LATIN PHRASE | MEANING |
|---|---|
| In quorum fidem | In confirmation wherof (I sign) |
| Hiis testibus | These (being) witnesses |
| Signum fecit | He/she signed/made a mark |
| Manu propria | (signed) in one's own hand |
Christening
| LATIN PHRASE | MEANING |
|---|---|
| baptisatus -a est -erat -fuit | Was baptized |
| baptisati, baptismata | The baptized |
| renatus -a -i | Reborn (in baptism) |
| natus -a est | He/she was born |
| genitus -a est | He/she was born |
| nomen -ina baptisati -ae | The names of the baptized |
| baptizavi | I baptized |
Marriage
| LATIN PHRASE | MEANING |
|---|---|
| ab forma[tion]e S[antii] C[oncilii] T[ridentini] | according to the format required by the Holy Council of Trent |
| fiat liencia intef | Let a marriage license be granted |
| Denuntiationibus praemissis tribus continuis diebus festivis | The banns being publishd on three successive festival/holy days |
| tribis continuis diebus festivis praemiis denuntiationibus | Banns announced on three consecutive festival/holy days |
| inter missarum solemnia | in solemn mass |
| nulloque legitimo detecto impediment | detecting no legitimate impediment |
| nulloque impedimento detecto | and no impediment [being] detected |
| cum dispensation apostolica | with an apostolic dispensation |
| nomina nuptorum | the names of the married |
| nupti erant | were married |
| conjuncti fuerunt | were married |
| mariti fuere (abbreviated) | were married |
| connubio juncti erant | were joined in matrimony |
| copulati sunt in matrimonio | were joined in matrimony |
| contraxerunt matrimonium | contracted matrimony |
| uxorem duxit | he took to wife |
| in facie ecclesiae | in the presence of the congregation |
| solemniter per verba de praesenti | using words in present tense [performing an actual marriage as opposed to a promise to marry] |
| secundum Rituale Romanum | according to Rituale Romanum [a book prescribing the form of Catholic ceremonies] |
| juxta ritum Sancti Matris Ecclesiae | according to the order of our Holy Mother Churchtest |
| praesentibus testibus | I was present at the marriage of |
| testas fuerunt | witnesses were |
| nuptiae solemnitizatae | the marriage was solemnised |
Burial
| LATIN PHRASE | MEANING |
|---|---|
| mortuus -a est | died |
| sepultus/tumulatus -a est; sepelivi | I buried |
| sepultus/tumulatus -a erat | was buried |
| nomen defuncti -ae | the name of the dead |
| nomen sepulti -ae | the name of the buried |
| Missa pro defunctis | a mass for the dead, usually in the context of a funeral |
| Missa defunctorum | a mass for the dead, usually in the context of a funeral |
| omnibus sacramentis provisis | she/he was provided with the last rights |
| sacramentis totiis munitiis | she/he was fortified by the last rights |
| will | |
| suum ordinaverat testamentus ante obitus | his will [being] put in order shortly before his death |
| no testó | he/she did not leave a will |
| no testó por ser pobre de solemnidad | he/she did not leave a will because of his/her destitute condition/extreme poverty |
| dejó testamento ante el escribano… | left his/her last will and testament before the notary… |
| nombró como su albacea a | named … as his/her executor |
| nombró como único y universal heredero a… | named … as sole and universal heir |
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The Center for Family History & Genealogy
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Department of History