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 |
| idem, eadem; eiusdem | same; of the same |
| dictus, -a | the said |
| predictus, -a; prefatus, -a; anededictus, -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 in the previous month |
| Mortuus est die octavo Octobris anno predicto | He died on the eighth day of October in the aforesaid year |
Place
| Latin Phrase | Meaning |
| Loci Londonie... | In the town of London... |
| In situ Florentie... | In the place of Florence... |
| Parochia... | In the parish... |
| Diocesi... | In the diocese... |
| Ecclesiae parochialis... | Of the parochial church... |
| Ibdem | In the same place |
| Locus baptismi | The place of the baptism |
| Domicilium/ii | Residence/of the residence |
| Civis municipalis | Citizen of the municipality |
| Tenens ibdem | Tenant of the same place |
| Villa Monte Gomeri | Town of Montgomery |
Authority
| Latin Phrase | Meaning |
| parochus | parish priest |
| sacerdos, sacerdotis | priest |
| clericus | clergyman |
| municeps | magistrate |
| prefectus | magistrate |
| bacallarius | bachelor [refers to academic degree, not marital status] |
| vicarius | vicar |
| frater | friar, brother |
| Reverendus Pater | Reverend Father |
| cum licentia | with permission |
| ex licentia parochi | by license of the parish priest |
| cum venia parochi | with permission of the parish priest |
| loci... | of the place... |
Relationship / Legitimacy
| Latin Phrase | Meaning |
| viduus; vidua | widower; widow |
| relictus; relicta | widower; widow |
| filius legitimatus / filia legitimata | legitimate child |
| filius/filia naturalis | natural-born child |
| filius spurius / filia spuria | illegitimate child |
| filius illegitimus / filia illegitima | illegitimate child |
| filius/filia populi | illegitimate child |
| ignoti parentis | of unknown parentage/parents |
| filius inventus / filia inventa | foundling [literally "found child"] |
| filius expositus / filia exposita | abandoned child |
| patris ignoti | of unknown father |
Witnesses / Godparents
| Latin Phrase | Meaning |
| Testes/Testibus | Witnesses... |
| Praesentibus testibus... | Present witnesses... |
| Testes fuerunt... | The (present/eye)witnesses were... |
| Patroni/susceptores fuerunt... | The godparents were... |
| Praesens matrina... | Present godmother |
Certification
| Latin Phrase | Meaning |
| In quorum fidem... | In confirmation whereof/of which (I sign) |
| His/Hiis testibus | With these (people) as witnesses |
| Signum fecit | He/she signed/made a mark |
| Manu propria | (signed) in his/her/my own hand |
Christening
| Latin Phrase | Meaning |
| baptisatus/-a est/erat/fuit | (He/she) was baptized |
| baptisatus/-a | the baptized |
| renatus/-a | reborn (in baptism) |
| natus/-a est | He/she was born |
| genitus/-a est | He/she was born |
| nomen baptisati/-ae | The name of the baptized |
| nomina baptisati/-ae | The names of the baptized |
| baptisavi/baptizavi | I baptized |
Marriage
| Latin Phrase | Meaning |
| ab formatione Santi/Sancti Concilii Tridentini (ab formae S C T) | according to the format of the Holy Council of Trent |
| fiat licentia | Let a (marriage) license be granted |
| Denuntiationibus praemissis tribus continuis diebus festivis | With the banns (having been) published/announced on three successive festival/holy days |
| inter missarum solemnia | in/during solemn mass |
| nulloque legitimo detecto impedimento | And with no legitimate impediment (having been) detected |
| nulloque impedimento detecto | And with no impediment (having been) detected |
| cum dispensatione apostolica | with an apostolic dispensation |
| nomina nuptorum | the names of the married |
| nupti erant | (they) were married |
| conjuncti fuerunt | (they) were married |
| mariti fuerunt | (they) were married |
| connubio juncti erant | (they) were joined in matrimony |
| copulati sunt in matrimonio | (they) were joined in matrimony |
| contraxerunt matrimonium | (they) contracted matrimony |
| uxorem duxit | he took as (his) wife / he took to wife |
| in facie ecclesiae | in the presence of the congregation |
| per verba de prasenti | using words in the 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 the Holy Mother Church |
| testes fuerunt | the witnesses were |
| nuptiae solemnizatae | the solemnized nuptials |
Burial
| Latin Phrase | Meaning |
| mortuus/-a est | (he/she) died |
| sepultus/-a est/erat | (he/she) was buried |
| tumulatus/-a est/erat | (he/she) was buried |
| sepelivi | I 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 of/for the dead [usually in the context of a funeral] |
| omnibus sacramentis provisis | with all last rights (having been) provided |
| sacramentis totiis munitus/-a | (he/she was) fortifed by the last rights |
| testamentum | will |
| suum ordinaverat testamenum ante obitus | he/she had put in order his/her will before his/her death |
