By Kimberly Brown, Family Historian
PERSI, GEDCOM, consanguinity, enumerator.let's be honest, the sea of genealogical terms and abbreviations can be overwhelming, especially if you're a novice. For the next few weeks we'll define and explain these unfamiliar and confusing terms, starting with some of the basics:
. CyndisList is a categorized and cross-referenced list of genealogy links online, found at www.cyndislist.com
. GEDCOM stands for GEnealogical Data COMmunication, and it is a file format that you can use to save your family tree and then open it with any genealogy software program
. Consanguinity is blood relation. In Catholic law, if a man and woman shared the same great-great-grandparent, they were consanguineous within the fourth degree and could not marry in the Church without obtaining a marriage dispensation.
. marriage dispensation - in Catholicism, special permission granted by the bishop allowing a couple to marry
. AG stands for Accredited Genealogist, one who has earned his or her credentials as a professional genealogist through the International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists (ICAPGen)
. CG stands for Certified Genealogist, one who has earned his or her credentials as a professional genealogist through the Board for Certification of Genealogists (BCG)
. PERSI stands for PERiodical Source Index, and PERSI is the largest index to historical and genealogical periodicals in the world; it was created by the staff of the Allen County Public Library, one of the best genealogical libraries in the United States
. A lineage society or heritage society is a group that you cannot join without proving descent from an individual or group. For instance, there are lineage societies for descendants of the original Mayflower passengers.
. grantor - in a deed or land transaction, the one selling or giving property
. grantee - in a deed or land transaction, the one buying or receiving property
. FamilySearch Wiki - at wiki.familysearch.org, you can learn about any genealogy topic under the sun by reading what other researchers have contributed; you can also contribute your own genealogy knowledge