US Census Abbreviations

Ever wonder about the meaning of some of the abbreviations found in the US census? Here's a list of relationship, citizenship, race, and military abbreviations, along with the original instructions given to the census enumerators.



Miscellaneous

do.   ditto which means "same as line above"




1900, 1910, 1920 Citizenship Status

AL Alien (not naturalized and had not filed first papers)
PA First papers filed (declaration of intent)
NA Naturalized
NR Not recorded




1910 Color and Race

W White
BBlack
MuMulatto
ChChinese
JpJapanese
InIndian.
OtAll others




1910 Census Relationship and Occupation Abbreviations

Ad.Adopted
Ad.ClAdopted Child
Ad.DAdopted Daughter
Ad.GclAdopted Grandchild
Ad.MAdopted Mother
Ad.SAdopted Son
ApApprentice
AtAttendant
AsstAssistant
AAunt
AlAunt-In-Law
BarBartender
BoBoarder
B.GirlBound Girl
B.BoyBound Boy
BoyBoy
BBrother
BlBrother-In-Law
BuButler
CapCaptain
ChaChamber Maid
ClChild
CoaCoachman
ComCompanion
CookCook
CCousin
CilCousin-In-Law
DDaughter
DlDaughter-In-Law
DlaDay Laborer
DwDish Washer
DomDomestic
EmpEmployee
EnEngineer
Fa.HFarm Hand
Fa.LFarm Laborer
Fa.WFarm Worker
FFather
FlFather-In-Law
FiFireman
First CFirst Cousin
Fo.BFoster Brother
Fo.SiFoster Sister
Fo.SFoster Son
God ClGod Child
GoGoverness
GclGrand Child
GdGrand Daughter
GfGrand Father
GMGrand Mother
GmlGrand Mother-In-Law
GsGrand Son
GslGrand Son-In-Law
GgfGreat Grandfather
GniGrand Niece (or Great Niece)
GnGrand Nephew (or Great Nephew)
GgmGreat Grandmother
GggfGreat-Great-Grandfather
GggmGreat-Great-Grandmother
GuaGuardian
GuestGuest
H.SiHalf Sister
H.SilHalf Sister-In-Law
HbHalf Brother
HblHalf Brother-In-Law
HelpHelp
HeHerder
H.GiHired Girl
H.HHired Hand
HlgHireling
HkHousekeeper
H.MaidHousemaid
HwHouse Worker
HusbandHusband
InmateInmate
LaLaborer
LauLaundry
LLodger
MaidMaid
ManManager
MatMatron
MMother
MlMother-In-Law
NNephew
NlNephew-In-Law
NiNiece
NilNiece-In-Law
NuNurse
OOfficer
PaPartner
PPatient
PhPhysician
PorPorter
PriPrincipal
PrPrisoner
PrvPrivate
PuPupil
RRoomer
SaSailor
SalSaleslady
SeServant
Se.ClServant's Child
SiSister
SSon
SlSon-In-Law
SbStep Brother
SblStep Brother-In-Law
SclStep Child
SdStep Daughter
SdlStep Daughter-In-Law
SfStep Father
SflStep Father-In-Law
SgdStep Granddaughter
SgsStep Grandson
SmStep Mother
SmlStep Mother-In-Law
SsiStep Sister
SsilStep Sister-In-Law
SsStep Son
SslStep Son-In-Law
SuSuperintendent
TenTenant
UUncle
UlUncle-In-Law
ViVisitor
WtWaiter
WaiWaitress
WardWard
WaWarden
WWife
WkmWorkman




Military Status

The abbreviations in column 30 of the 1910 census are:



UA Survivor of the Union Army
UN Survivor of the Union Navy
CA Survivor of the Confederate Army
CN Survivor of the Confederate Navy



US Census Search

US Census Search Year by Year

Guide, Clues & Finding Aid for the U. S. Federal Census




Instructions given to US census enumerators

Enumerator instructions