Genealogy Insider’s Guide to Acronyms

Like any pursuit, genealogy has its share of abbreviations for prominent organizations, go-to resources and often-used terms.

Need help with the alphabet soup? Use our guide to common genealogy acronyms you’ll encounter at the library, on Web sites, and in conversations with fellow family historians. We’ve included special pronunciations where necessary, and links to organizations or online resources where possible.

Check our Genealogy Glossary, too, for definitions to unfamiliar family history terms.

• AAGG: African-American Genealogy Group
• AAHGS: Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society
• ACPL: Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne, Ind.
• AGBI: American Genealogical-Biographical Index
• AAD: Access to Archival Databases (part of NARA’s Web site)
• AIC: American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works
• APG: Association of Professional Genealogists
• ARC: Archival Research Catalog (part of NARA’s Web site)
• atDNA: Autosomal DNA (a type of DNA frequently used in genetic genealogy testing)
• BCG: Board for Certification of Genealogists
• CG: Certified Genealogist
• CGL: Certified Genealogical Lecturer
• CMSR: Compiled Military Service Record
• CWSS: Civil War Soldiers & Sailors System
• DAR:  Daughters of the American Revolution (also NSDAR: National Society, Daughters of the American Revolution)
• ED: Enumeration District, a geographical division defined for a US census
• FEEFHS (“feef-us”): Foundation for East European Family History Societies
• FGS: Federation of Genealogical Societies
• FHC: Family History Center , a branch of the Family History Library
  
• FHL: Family History Library in Salt Lake City
• FHLC: FHL Catalog
• FOIA: Freedom of Information Act
• FTM: Family Tree Maker genealogy software
• GAR: Grand Army of the Republic, a network of organizations for Civil War Union veterans
• GEDCOM (“jed-com”) Genealogical Data Communication, the computer file format for family tree data (.ged is the extension for these files)
• GLO: Bureau of Land Management General Land Office
• GPS: Genealogical Proof Standard
• HQO: HeritageQuest Online genealogy databases, offered through many libraries
• IAJGS: International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies
• ICAPGen: (“eye-cap-jen”) International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists
• IGI: International Genealogical Index
• ISOGG: International Society of Genetic Genealogy
• LOC: Library of Congress
• MRCA: Most Recent Common Ancestor, the most recent ancestor you share with another person
• mtDNA: Mitochondrial DNA (a type of DNA that is used in genetic genealogy testing to research female-line ancestors)
• NARA (“nar-uh”): National Archives and Records Adminstration
• NEHGS (sometimes called “hiss-jen”): New England Historic Genealogical Society
• NGS: National Genealogical Society
• OR: The Civil War reference The War of the Rebellion: A compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies
• PAF (“paf”): Personal Ancestral File genealogy software
• PALAM (“pal-am”): Palatines to America
• PERSI (“per-zee”): Periodical Source Index to family history articles in US and Canadian magazines and journals
• RM: RootsMagic genealogy software
• SAR (“sar”): Sons of the American Revolution
• SCGS: Southern California Genealogical Society
• SCV:  Sons of Confederate Veterans
• SGGEE (sometimes pronounced “squeegee”): Society for German Genealogy in Eastern Europe
• SUVCW: Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War
• TMG: The Master Genealogist genealogy software
• UDC: United Daughters of the Confederacy
• WDYTYA?: The genealogy television series “Who Do You Think You Are?” (can refer to NBC’s US version or BBC’s British version)
• WRHS: Western Reserve Historical Society in Cleveland, Ohio
• YDNA: Y-chromosomal DNA (a type of DNA used in genetic genealogy testing to research male-line ancestors)

Whether you’re breaking through brick walls or just getting started, Family Tree Shop has resources for every genealogist. See the Family Tree Pocket Reference, 2nd edition book for quick and easy answers to your genealogy research questions.