Abbreviation Table for Meyers Orts und Verkehrs Lexikon Des Deutschen Reichs
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Family History PATRON CLASS HANDOUT Library (Ref 943 E5mo)
Abbreviation Table for Meyers
Orts Und Verkehrslexikon
Historical Perspective[edit | edit source]
From the time of Charlemagne (Karl der Grosse) 800 A.D. to 1806, there was an entity known as the ‘Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation,’ ruled by an emperor and the nobility. From 1701 on, a large chunk of this empire was known as the Kingdom of Prussia. When Napoleon Bonaparte began his conquest, the whole empire began to break up. The last ruling family of the “Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation,” the Hapsburgs, retreated into the Eastern Areas, and reorganized the Germanic areas into a new empire, which they ruled. This became known as the Austrian Empire.
Beginning in 1820, Custom Unions began to be established in the Western Areas of the old empire. In the 1860’s the Prussian ministerial president serving under King Wilhelm of Prussia, made a deal with rulers of those Germanic areas Prussia hadn’t been able to conquer such as the Kingdom of Baden, Bavaria, Württemberg, the Duchy of Mecklenburg, and so forth. If they agreed to join with and organize into a new German Empire, they would have some power and authority in the new regime. By January 1871, agreements were reached, and the 2nd German Empire was established. King Wilhelm of Prussia became emperor (Kaiser) and Otto von Bismark became the chancellor.
All rulers of these various Germanic Kingdoms, Provinces, Principalities, Duchies, Grand Duchies and Free Cities now reported to the “national government” in the form of Emperor Wilhelm. The boundaries of each entity were clarified, and they all became “states” in the new empire.
Meyers Orts-und Verkehrs-Lexikon represents these boundaries as they were between 1871 and 1918.
Abbreviation Table and Glossary[edit | edit source]
Localities in Germany are arranged in the FamilySearch Catalog according to the boundaries of the 1871 German Empire. For cataloging purposes the gazetteer Meyers Orts-und Verkehrs-Lexikon (FHL call no.: book – Ref 943. E5mo; film- 0,496,640 [Localities A-K]; and fiche – 6,000,001-6,000,029) is used. This is an excellent gazetteer, indicating which of the localities have parishes and which have civil registration offices. The entries of the different localities have many abbreviations. The following list is basically an abbreviation table with a few common words, which will be helpful in using the gazetteer. This list should be allowed some freedom due to interpretation and considering the time frame that these terms were used. Some words have different meanings now or are no longer used.
Those abbreviations or words preceded by … indicate that it can also be used as the end or beginning of a combined word.
Abbreviation Table[edit | edit source]
| A | Amt (Amtsbezirk) | Government office, official district |
| Ab.(e.) | Abbau(e) | Surface mine (the “e“ denotes plural); secondary settlement built outside the main town |
| Abt. | Abteilung | Department |
| a/d | An der, auf der | At the, on the, like “Cologne on the Rhine” |
| Ag., …ag. | Agentur, …agentur | Agency, …agency (as part of a word) |
| AG | Amtsgericht | Lower court, county court |
| AH | Amtshauptmannschaft | Government district |
| AK | Armeekorps | Army corps |
| AktGes. | Aktiengesellschaft | Corporation (an “Aktie”=a share of stock) |
| ä.L. | Ältere Linie | Older line |
| AllGut | Allodialgut | Allodial estate |
| Altfath. | Altkatholisch | Old Catholic |
| Altluth. | Altlutherisch | Old Lutheran |
| Anh. | Anhalt | Former duchy |
| Ansdl. | Ansiedlung | Settlement |
| Anst., …anst. | Anstalt, …anstalt | Institute, institution (also as part of a word) |
| Arb. | Arbeiter | Laborer, worker |
| Art. | Artillerie | Artillery |
| Ausg. | Ausgedinge | Life estate |
| Ausg. | Ausgaben | Expenditures |
| B. | Bezirk | District or area |
| BA. | Bezirksamt | District office |
| Bad | Bad | Spa, mineral waters |
| Badanst. | Badeanstalt | Swimming baths, spa |
| Baptistenk. | Baptistenkirche | Baptist church |
| Bat. | Bataillon | Batallion (military) |
| Batt. | Batterie | Battery |
| Bay. | Bayern | Bavaria |
| BGrem. | Bezirksgremiun | District Council |
| Bgu, …bgb. | Bergbau, …bergbau | Mine, mining, also with other word … salt, coal, etc. |
| Bgw. | Bergwerk | Mine |
| Bhf. | Bahnhof | Railroad station |
| Bibl. | Bibliothek | Library |
| Bk. | Bank | Bank (financial institution) |
| BKdo. | Bezirkskommando | District command (military) |
| Blechw. | Blechwerk | Mealworks (tin, sheet metal) |
| B. Loth. | Bezirk Lothringen | District of Lothringen |
| Brandbg. | Brandenburg | Former province of Prussia |
| Brau. | Brauerei | Brewery |
| Braunschw. | Braunschweig | Former duchy |
| Brenn. | Brennerei | Distillery |
| Chauseeh. | Chaußeehaus | Toll house |
| D., Dr. | Dorf, Dörfer | Village, villages |
| Deutsch ref. | Deutsch reformierte | German Reformed religion |
| Dom. | Domäne, dominium, domanial | State-owned estate |
| DomA. | Domäneamt | Estate office in Mecklenburg |
| Drl. | Darlehen | Loan |
| ...dt. | …Distrikt | …district |
| E | Eisenbahnstation oder Haltestelle | Railroad station or stop – |
| E | Eisenbahnstation oder Haltestelle – mit Personen, und Güterverkehr mit Bahntelegraph | Railroad station or stop – with passenger and goods traffic, and telegraph |
| EGt | - mit Bahntelegraph | - with telegraph |
| EPs | - nur mit Personenverkehr | - only with passenger traffic |
| E. | Einwohner | Inhabitants (population count) |
| Ein. | Einöde | Wilderness, lonely spot |
| Einn., einn. | Einnahme oder einnehmerei | Clerk's office such as taxes |
| Eis. | Eisenbahn | Train |
| Eisenhdl. | Eisenhandel | Iron trade |
| Elktr. | Ort hat Elektrizitätsquelle | Place has electric power source |
| Elktrw. | Elektrizitätswerk | Power plant |
| Els. | Elsaß | Alsace |
| Emaillierw. | Emaillierwerks | Enamel works |
| Erziehanst. | Erziehungsanstalt | Reform school |
| Esk. | Eskadron | Squadron |
| Etabl. | Etablissement | Establishment |
| Ev., Ev. | Evangelisch, Evangelische | Evangelical, Protestant (in Germany usually Lutheran) |
| Ev. Pfk. | Evangelisch Pfarrkirche | Protestant parish church |
| F | Fernsprecher | Telephone |
| F | Fernsprecher und Telegraph | Telephone and telegraph |
| Färb. | Färberei | Dye works |
| Fbr., fbr. | Fabrik, fabrikation | Factory, manufacturing plant |
| FG | Forstgutsbezirk | Forest land district |
| Fil. | Filiale | Branch |
| Fl. | Flecken | Country-town |
| Först. | Försterei | Forest ranger station (residence) |
| Försth. | Försthaus | Forester’s house |
| Franz. =ref. | Französisch reformierte | French Reformed religion (Protestant) |
| Fr. | Früher | Formerly |
| Frht. | Freiheit | Market-town (country-town) |
| Fürstt. | Fürstentum | Principality |
| G. | Gericht | Court |
| G. | Gutsbezirk | Land district |
| Garn. | Garnison | Garrison |
| Gasw. | Gaswerk | Gas works |
| GB. | Gerichtsbezirk | Court district |
| Gef. | Gefängnis | Jail |
| geh | Gehörig | Belonging (to) |
| Gem. | Gemeinde | Community (village) |
| Gen. | General... | General |
| Genoss. | Genossenschaft | Cooperative |
| Gerb. | Gerberei | Tannery |
| Ges. | Gesellschaft | Society |
| Getreidehdl. | Getreidehandel | Grain exchange |
| Gew., gew. | Gewerbe, gewerblich(e) | Trade, business, industry, industrial |
| Gieß | Gießerei | foundry |
| Gipsw. | Gipswerk | Gypsum factory |
| Glas. | Glasswerks | Glassworks |
| glehn. | Gleichnamig | of the same name |
| Gr... | Groß | Great (part of place name) |
| Gsth. | Gast-, Wirtshaus, Krug | Inn, pub, tavern, overnight lodging |
| Gtg. | Gerichtstag | Jurisdictional area of a court |
| Gut | Gut | Estate, farmstead |
| Gutsb. | Gutsbezirk | Manorial district |
| Gymn. | Gymnasium | Academically oriented high school |
| H., Hr. | Haus, Häuser | House, houses |
| ...h | ...haus, ...heim | (as part of a work)-house, -home |
| ha. | Hektar | Hectare, 2,471 acres |
| Hann. | Hannover | Hanover, former province of Prussia |
| Hdl. | Handel(s) | Commerce, also business establishment |
| Heilanst. | Heilanstalt | Nursing home, sanitorium |
| Heilst. | Heilstätte | sanitorium |
| Herrsch. | Herrschaft | Manor, estate, domain |
| Hessen | Hessen | Hesse, a grand duchy |
| Hessen-N. | Hessen-Nassau | Former province of Prussia |
| Hf. | Hafen | Harbor, port |
| Hosp. | Hospital | Hospital |
| Holzhdl. | Holzhandel | Timber trade |
| Hpt | Haupt… | Main |
| HptSt. | Haupt Stadt | Capitol city |
| Hr. | Häuser | houses |
| Hrgr.(n) | Häusergruppe (n) | Group of houses |
| Hüttenw. | Hüttenwerk | Foundry |
| hzl. | Herzoglich | Of the duke (pertaining to the duke’s possession) |
| Hzt. (...hzt.) | Herzogtum (…herzogtum) | Duchy |
| Ind. | Industrie | Industry |
| Inf. | Infanterie | Infantry |
| Insp. | Inspektion | inspection |
| Inst. | Institut | Institute |
| J. | Juden, Israelitisch, Israeliten | Jews, Israelitic, Israelites |
| Jagdh. | Jagdhaus | Hunting lodge |
| i. L. | Jüngere Linie | Younger line |
| Int. (...int.) | Intendantur (...intendantur) | Office of the stewart of superintendant. |
| ...k. | ...kasse oder, ...kirche | Bank, collecting agency, also -church |
| K. | Kirche | Church |
| Kalksteinbr. | Kalksteinbruch | Limestone quarry |
| Kalkw. | Kalkwerk | Lime works |
| Kam. | Kammer | Land register |
| Kap. | Kapelle | Chapel |
| Kat. | Kataster | Land register |
| kath., Kath. | Katholisch, Katholiken | Catholic |
| Kath. Pfk. | Katholische Pfarrkirche | Catholic parish church |
| Kav. | Kavallerie | Cavalry |
| Kdo. | Kommando | Command (post) |
| kgl. | Königlich | Royal |
| …khlbgb. | …kohlenbergbau | Coal mine |
| Kl | Klein | Little, small (part of place names) |
| Klbn. | Kleinbahn | Narrow-gauge railway |
| km. | Kilometer | 1,000 meters=3,280.8 ft. or 5/8 mile |
| Kol. | Kolonie | Colony (usually of small houses) |
| Koln. | Kolonien | colonies |
| Kom. | Kommandantur | Office and/or residence of commandant |
| Komm. | Kommission | commission |
| Kr. | Kreis | District |
| KredVer. | Kredit-und (od) Vorschußverein | Loan association |
| Krankenh. | Krankenhaus | Hospital |
| Kr.H | Kreishauptmannschaft | Government district (term used mainly in Sachsen) |
| KrSt. | Kreisstadt | Capitol of Kreis |
| Ksp. | Kirschspiel | Parish |
| Kt. | Kanton | County (state) |
| L. | Land(es) | Land, belonging to land |
| L. | Land | State (like Baden or Lippe) |
| l. | Links | Left (directional) |
| LB. | Landbezirk | Rural district |
| Ldepl. | Ladeplatz | Loading place or dock |
| Ldkr. | Landkreis | Administrative district |
| Lederhdl. | Lederhandel | Leather trade |
| Lehngut, Lehnsgut | Lehnsgut | Estate of feudal lord, fief |
| Lehrersem. | Lehrerseminar | Teacher training college |
| LG. | Landgericht | Court (next higher court after Amtsger.) |
| LGem. | Landgemeinde | Rural community |
| LHerr(en)Sch. | Landherr(en)schaft | Possessions of the sovereign |
| LKr. | Landkreis | District |
| Loth. | Lothringen | Lorraine (Alsace-Lorraine) |
| LrA. | Landratsamt | Office of the landrat or county commissioner |
| Lw., lw. | Landwirtschaft, …liche | Farm, farming operation |
| m | Meter über dem meer | Meters above sea level |
| Mag. | Magazin | Storage room, warehouse |
| Masch. | Maschine(n) | Machine(s) |
| Mdg. | Mündung | Mouth, estuary |
| Meckl.-Schw. | Mecklenburg-Schwerin | Former grand duchy |
| Meckl.-Str. | Mecklenburg-Strelitz | Former grand duchy |
| Mettalw. | Metallwaren | hardware |
| Mil. | Militär | military |
| Mktfl. | Marktflecken | Small market-town |
| Mkt.Gk. | Marktgerechtigkeit | Market jurisdiction |
| Ml. (…ml.) | Mühle (…mühle) | Mill (or –mill as part of a word) |
| Molk. | Molkerei | Dairy |
| N. (n) | Norden (nördlich), neben | North, to the north, next to |
| ...n. | ...nebenstelle | Branch |
| Neum. | Neumark | Eastern part of the province of Brandenburg |
| Nd… | Nieder… | Lower (as in Lower Saxony) |
| NO. (nö) | Nordosten (nordöstlich) | Northeast (northeasterly) |
| NW. (nw) | Nordwestern (nordwestlich) | Northwest (northwesterly) |
| NZA. | Nebenzollamt | Nranch custom office |
| O. (ö.) | Osten (östlich) | East (easterly) |
| O… | Ober… | Upper (as in Upper Silesia) |
| O. | Ortschaft | Inhabited place |
| OA. | Oberamt | Next higher authority after the Amt or (government) office, districts in Württemberg |
| OFörst. | Oberförsterei | Forest service administration office, head forester’s office |
| Oldenb. | Oldenburg | Former grand-duchy |
| OLG. | Oberlandesgericht | (in Prussia) highest court in Province |
| OPDir. | Oberpostdirektion | Higher postal authority |
| Ortsch. | Ortschaft | (inhabited) place |
| Ostpr. | Ostpreußen | East Prussia, Prussian province |
| P | Postanstalt | Post office |
| P | Post und Fernsprecher | Post office with telephone |
| P | Post und Telegraph | Post office with telegraph |
| P | Post, Fernsprecher und Telegraph | Post office with telephone and telegraph |
| Papierw. | Papierwerk | Paper mill |
| PDir. | Postdirektion | District postal authorities |
| Pf… | Pfarr… | Parish- (coupled with another word) |
| Pf. | Pfarrei | Parish |
| Pferdehdl. | Pferdehandel | Horse trade |
| Pfk. | Pfarrkirche | Parish church |
| Pomm. | Pommern | Pomerania |
| Pr., pr. | Preußen (Preußisch), preußisch | Prussia (German Confederation), Prussian |
| Präs. | Präsidium | Presidium |
| Prov. | Provinz …(ial) | Province (provincial)(state in Prussia) |
| Puderw. | Puderwerks | Powder works |
| Pw. | Personenpostwagen oder autoverkehr | Stage-coach or automobile traffic |
| Pz. (…dt.) | Polizei (distrikt) | Police (district) |
| R. | Regierung(s) | Government(al) |
| r. | Rechts | Right |
| Rangierbhf. | Rangierbahnhof | Railroad switch yard |
| RB. | Regierungsbezirk | Administrative district (term used mainly in Bavaria and Prussia) |
| RB. | Raiffeisenbank | Rural loan institution named after Raiffeisen, the founder |
| Realsch. | Realschule | Secondary school (high school) |
| Ref. | Reformierte | Reformed (church), Calvanist |
| Reg. | Regiment | Regiment (military) |
| ResidenzSt | ResidenzSt | Capitol city |
| Rg. | Rittergut | Landed estate |
| Rheinl. | Rheinland, -provinz | Rhineland, Rhine province, Prussian province. |
| Ritt. | Ritterschaft(s) | Knighthood, knightly |
| RittA. | Ritteramt | Estate office |
| S., St., Skt. | Sankt | Saint (St.) in connection with place names, churches and foundations |
| s. (a.) | siehe (auch) | See or look for (also) meaning look under a second reference |
| S. (s) | Süden (südlich) | South (southern) |
| Sa. | Sachsen(Staat) | Saxony, (state) |
| Sa.-A. | Sachsen-Altenburg | Saxony-Altenburg |
| Sa.-C.-G. | Sachsen-Coburg-Gotha | Saxony-Coburg-Gotha former duchy |
| Sägew. | Sägewerk | Sawmill |
| Sa.-M. | Sachsen-Meiningen | Saxony-Meiningen former duchy |
| Sa.-W.-E | Sachsen-Weimar-Eisenach | Saxony-Weimar-Eisenach former duchy |
| Sanat. | Sanatorium | Sanitorium |
| s. auch | siehe auch | See also |
| Sch.,…sch. | Schule, …schule | School, -school |
| Schaumb.-L. | Schaumburg-Lippe | Former principality |
| Schiff. | Schiffahrt(s) | Naval, maritime |
| Schl. | Schleuse | Sluice (lock) |
| Schlachth. | Schlachthaus | Slaughterhouse |
| Schles. | Schlesien | Silesia |
| Schlesw.-Holst. | Schleswig-Holstein | Schleswig-Holstein; former province of Prussia |
| Schl | Schloß | Knight’s castle |
| Schuhm. | Schuhmacherei | Shoemaking |
| Schwarzb.-Rud. | Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt | Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt, former principality |
| Schwarzb.-Sond. | Schwarzburg-Sondershausen | Schwarzburg-Sondershausen, former principality |
| SchwG. | Schwurgericht | Court with a jury |
| Sem. | Seminar | Seminary (not always religious) |
| Slg. | Sammlung | Collection |
| SO. (sö.) | Südosten (südöstlich) | Southeast, southeastern (-easterly) |
| Soz. | Sozietät | Society, (usually commercial) corporation |
| Spinn. | Spinnerei | Spinning factory |
| St. | Stadt | City (municipality) |
| Stahw. | Stahlwerk | Steelworks |
| Stat. | Station | Station |
| StdA. | Standesamt | Civil registrar’s office |
| StKr. | Stadtkreis | Area included in municipal administration district, as opposed to rural or county government which would be “Landkreis” |
| StPlan | Stadt Plan | City map |
| Strbn. (…verz.) | Straßenbahn (…verzeichnis) | Tramway (…register) |
| Strickw. | Strickwerk | Rope works |
| StTeil | Stadtteil | Part of a city, ward |
| St.Verz. | Strassen Verzeichnis | Street index |
| Syn. | Synagoge | Synagogue |
| T | Post telegraph | Telegraph office |
| Thür. | Thüringen | Thuringia |
| Thur. Wald. | Thüringen Wald | Thuringia Forest |
| u... | und | And |
| u... | Unter... | Under, but here pertaining to terrain or territory, like Unterfranken =Lower Franconia, as opposed to Oberfranken =Upper Franconia |
| usw. | Und so weiter | And so forth |
| Verw. | Verwaltung | Administration, government |
| VerwA. | Verwaltungsamt | Administrative office |
| Veihhdl. | Veihhandel | Livestock trade |
| Viehmärkt | Viehmärkt | Livestock market |
| Vw.
|
Vorwerk | Residence and/or farm of the administrator of a landed estate on an outlying tract of land |
| Waisenh. | Waisenhaus | Orphanage |
| Wasserw. | Wasserwerk | Waterworks |
| Weinhdl. | Weinhandlung | Wine shop, tavern |
| Westf. | Westfalen | Westphalia |
| Westpr. | Westpreußen | West Prussia |
| Wlr. | Weiler | Hamlet |
| Wp. | Wohnplatz | Residence |
| Württ. | Württemberg | Former kingdom |
| Zementw. | Zementwerks | Cement works |
| Zgl. | Ziegelei | Brick works, tile works |
| Zh. | Zollhaus | Custom house |
| Zigarrenfbr. | Zigarrenfabrik | Cigar factory |
| Zk. | Zinken | Outlying farm (hamlet) |
| zw. | Zwischen | Between |
Words having the ending …erei; …isch; …ungs are abbreviated with a period (.) (thus these endings will have to be added to make the word). Example: Fischerei = Fisch.; Wendisch =Wend. The words ending in …lich are abbreviated after the “l” by a period. Example: nördlich = nrdl.
Population figures after place names, if printed in italics indicate that the census figures of 1905 were used, rather than the 1910 figures, used otherwise throughout the book.