L genealogical glossary terms

L

Labrador, Canada: A large peninsula in northeastern Canada. It is currently part of Québec and Newfoundland.

Lægdsruller, Denmark: Danish army levying rolls, which are records kept by the parish that list all males up to age 34 in a parish. Beginning in 1788 these records were taken every three years and were used as a list of potential draftees. If a male age 34 or younger moved to a new parish, the levying roll usually notes the new parish's identification number. These records can help establish where a male ancestor was living when other important records were made.

Lair, Scotland: The Scottish word for a burial plot.

Land (not including Deeds), PERiodical Source Index: A record type used in the Locality and Research Methodologies sections of the PERiodical Source Index (PERSI) to identify articles that contain information about land records except for deeds.

Land Act of 1785, New Jersey: A law passed by the New Jersey state government requiring county clerks to record deeds.

Land allotment records: Land grants given to individual Native Americans.

Land and Property, Family History Library Catalog™: A subject heading used in the Family History Library Catalog to categorize records regarding land and other property transactions.

Land Commission, Hawaii: A commission established in Hawaii in 1845 to settle land disputes between the king of Hawaii, who owned all of the land, and settlers who were not native to Hawaii. The king received a portion of the land, and the rest was divided equally between the government, chiefs, and tenants. To acquire ownership of land, an individual made a claim to the commission, whose formal name was the Board of Commissioners to Quiet Land Titles.

Land company: An organization of land speculators that purchased large tracts of land to sell to settlers

Land grant: A piece of land given or sold to an individual or institution by the government.

Land grant record: A record created during the process of applying for and receiving a land grant from the government.

Land lottery: A lottery used to distribute land.

Land lottery: A lottery used to distribute land.

Land Office of Maine: An office of the Maine state government that was established in 1824 to distribute land that Maine purchased from Massachusetts.

Land office records: Records dealing with land transactions kept by land offices

Land ownership map: A map that divides and identifies land according to who owns it. Also called a cadastral map.

Land petition: The formal, written request submitted by a person seeking a land grant.

Land records: A generic term referring to documents concerning land transactions

Land run: A process used in Oklahoma to open an entire district of land to settlement on a first-come basis. This created tremendous runs as people rushed to stake their claims to surveyed sections of land. The first land run was in April 1889. Other runs followed in September 1891, April 1892, September 1893, and May 1895.

Land seizure: When land is confiscated because the owner cannot pay taxes or debts.

Land survey: A written, legal description of the location and size of a piece of land or the process used to create the description.

Land tax assessment, England and Wales: A tax assessed on land that was valued above the fixed rate of 20 shillings. The land tax was collected from about 1692 to 1832. The clerk of the Court of Sessions kept land tax records from 1780 to 1831. These records are very useful because they contain the names of people who paid the tax and how much they paid.

Land tenure accounts, Denmark: Danish land records that usually concerned the transfer of crown land and the evaluations of property. These records also include fines assessed for fornication and taxes on marriage. The Danish word for these records is jordebogsregnkaber.

Land warrant: A certificate authorizing an individual to receive a certain amount of land.

Land-entry: The process of receiving a land grant.

Landsting, Denmark: The Danish court of first appeal. After 1738 these courts maintained an alphabetical register of debtors and creditors. They also kept a register of the land involved in the cases. These courts were discontinued in 1805, and the jurisdiction was transferred to the herred (district) and birke (judicial district) courts.

Language: The vocabulary, pronunciation, and sequencing of words that are understood by a certain group of people.

Language aid: A dictionary or other reference that helps people use a language they do not speak natively. Genealogical word lists and letter-writing guides published by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are some examples of language aids.

Language and Languages, Family History Library Catalog™: A subject heading used in the Family History Library Catalog to categorize records and books related to languages.

Last will and testament: A legal document that disburses a deceased individual’s real property and personal property.

Late Loyalist, Canada: A person who emigrated from the United States to Canada after about 1790 for land or other economic opportunities. Late Loyalists may or may not have been loyal to the British government during the American Revolution.

Latter-day Saint: A name for a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Lavsprotokoller: A type of record kept by Danish trade guilds that include business items and accounts. They may not contain much information of genealogical value.

Law and Legislation, Family History Library Catalog™: A subject heading used in the Family History Library Catalog to categorize works that contain information about a government's laws and how those laws are created.

Law directory: A list of judges and staff of various courts, lawyers, police, notaries, and registration officers.

Law library: A library with holdings that relate to the practice of law.

Law library: A library with holdings that relate to the practice of law.

Lay subsidy: A tax assessed on personal property.

LDS Church: An abbreviated name for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

LDS Search Strategies: A section of the LDS Records Research Outline that describes how to find family history information about people who were members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Lease (noun): A contract that allows an individual to use another's property in return for money or some other form of recompense.

Lease (verb): To rent.

Legal definition: The meaning of a word as used in a court of law.

Legal description of land: The exact size, shape, and location of a piece of land, as determined by a survey.

Legal separation: A court order arranging the conditions of support and maintenance under which a married couple will live separately.

Legislative Assembly, Canada: A governing body in the Ontario and Québec that met from 1841 to 1867. It was succeeded by the Legislative Assembly of Ontario and the National Assembly of Québec and later by the Canadian Parliament.

Leichenpredigten, Germany: The German word for funeral sermon. In Germany, funeral sermons were frequently collected and published. The funeral sermons identify the names and relationships of both living and deceased relatives.

Leo Baeck Institute: An institute located in New York, New York, that has a collection of over 50,000 records of German Jews.

Leon S. Hollingsworth Genealogical Card File: A card file containing 45,000 cards that index censuses, wills, deeds, tax records, marriage records, military records, cemetery records, newspapers, and family Bibles from some southern states.

Letter of administration: A legal document appointing a person to supervise the distribution of an estate belonging to a person who died intestate (without a will). A letter of administration may also be called an admon or administration bond.

Letter of denization: A record used during the American colonial period to give an alien the partial rights of citizenship

Letter of Denization, Hawaii: A record granting Hawaiian citizenship during Hawaii's royal era. There were two types of letters. One gave all rights of citizenship except the right to vote; the second gave all rights of citizenship, including the right to vote.

Letter of guardianship: A legal document that grants to an individual the legal authority to oversee the affairs of a minor child or an adult who is deemed by a court to be incapable of managing his or her own affairs.

Letters of distribution and settlement: Probate records that specify how an estate was settled, who received property, what debts were paid, and so forth.

Letters testamentary: A court document that authorizes the executor named in a will to begin settling an estate.

Levy court, Delaware: A county administrative court in Delaware that keeps records of schools, petitions, tavern licenses, road accounts, probates, and taxes. These courts have existed since 1655 and continue to operate today.

Levy court, Delaware: A county administrative court in Delaware that keeps records of schools, petitions, tavern licenses, road accounts, probates, and taxes. These courts have existed since 1655 and continue to operate today.

Levy court, District of Columbia: A court that was responsible for the ministerial and financial obligations of Washington County in the District of Columbia from 1801 to 1871. It also assessed taxes

Libel (verb): To harm an individual’s reputation by making defamatory statements.

Library: A place that contains books, manuscripts, music, art, and other reference materials.

Library catalog, general: A list and description of a library’s holdings.

Library of Congress: The national library of the United States, the largest library in the world. It provides reference and research services to Congress and the other branches of the federal government. The public can use the library’s materials free of charge. The Library of Congress also participates in interlibrary loan. License: A permit issued by a governing body that allows an individual to perform a certain activity, such as drive a motor vehicle or operate a business:

Lien: A claim against an interest in real or personal property for the payment of a debt.

Lieutenant: A commissioned military officer. In the army, air force, and marines, a lieutenant ranks directly below a captain. In the navy, a lieutenant ranks directly below a commander.

Lieutenant colonel: An officer in the army, air force, or marines who ranks above a major but below a colonel.

Lieutenant general: An officer in the army, air force, or marines who ranks above a major general.

Lieutenant-Governor's Council, Canada: A council in Ontario that had the responsibility before 1837 for most matters of equity, including certain land, business, and family matters.

Limpieza de sagre or limpieza de sangre: A type of record used in Latin America, translated as purity of blood report. These records served as proof of nobility so that hidalgos might join fraternal orders or obtain government positions. They usually contain names, relationships, and birth dates and places for at least three generations of the hidalgo's lineage.

Lineage society: An organization in which membership is based on descent from an individual who served during a particular military conflict; participated in a certain patriotic cause; immigrated from a particular country; was a founder or pioneer of a state; had royal, noble, or baronial lineage; had a particular occupation; or lived during a specified time period. Also called a hereditary society.

Linen Hall Library, Northern Ireland: A library in Belfast, Northern Ireland, that has an extensive collection of genealogical and heraldic material.

LiRaMa collection: A collection of Russian consular records kept by Russian consuls stationed in the Canadian cities of Montreal, Vancouver, and Halifax between 1901 and 1922. The collection is named after the first letters of the three consuls' names. The records are at the National Archives of Canada. The Family History Library™ does not have a copy of the collection.

Lis pendens: A legal doctrine that binds a person who purchases property to the result of any lawsuit affecting the title of the land. Notices of lis pendens are filed in public records to warn prospective buyers that the title to the property is in litigation and that they may be affected by the court's ruling if they purchase the land.

List of Institutions, 1881 British census: A portion of the 1881 British census that alphabetically lists institutions (such as schools, jails, hotels, orphanages, barracks, poorhouses) and the people working and living there.

List of Possible Record Problems: A report available in Personal Ancestral File® 3.0 that lists records that may have inconsistencies or problems in the data. For example, this report identifies all records in which the person's death date comes before the birth, christening, or marriage date.

List of Possible Record Problems: A report available in Personal Ancestral File® 3.0 that lists records that may have inconsistencies or problems in the data. For example, this report identifies all records in which the person's death date comes before the birth, christening, or marriage date.

Lista de revista: A type of military list used in Latin America, translated as review list.

Livery company, England: A craft or trade association in London that is descended from the medieval trade guilds. The term livery originally referred to the distinctive uniform that each guild (or company) used on special occasions. Eventually the term was used to refer to the collective membership of the company.

Livery, probate: A fee that the heir of a landowner paid to the British Crown before taking possession of the land. The term livery also refers to process of delivering legal possession of property

Livery, trade: The distinctive uniform that was used by some craft or trade companies in London, England, for special occasions. The term livery originally referred only to the uniform, but it was eventually used to refer to the collective membership of the company.

Livrets de famille, France: In France, a booklet that a civil registrar gave to a newly married couple. The booklet included an extract of the marriage record and references to the marriage contract. The couple was responsible for taking the booklet to the registrar as each of their children was born. The registrar would update the booklet with the child's birth information and return the booklet to the family. The registrar also recorded deaths in this booklet. Families kept the booklets and often handed them down to their children. The English term for these booklets is family civil registration book.

Lobo: A term used in Catholic Church registers to describe a person from Spanish-speaking Latin America whose ancestry is a mix of Indian (3/4) and African (1/4). Racial classifications were often based on physical appearance or social status; therefore, they were not always accurate.

Local census: A count and description of the population of a city, town, or county. This type of census is not taken by a national government

Local court: A court that has jurisdiction at a local level, such as a town or city

Local history: An account of the historical events surrounding a particular area.

Local history library: A library that collects and writes histories of the people and places in its area.

Local library: A public or other type of library available in an area.

Local unit: In a military context, a military force organized at a local level, such as a militia.

Locality Browse: An option available on the compact disc version of the Family History Library Catalog™. This option allows the user to browse alphabetical lists of the places used in the catalog.

Locality or geographical surname: A last name based on the place where the person lived or came from.

Locality Search: A type of search in the Family History Library Catalog™ that searches for records by place. This type of search is available on both the microfiche and computer versions of the catalog

Locality Sections, PERiodical Source Index: A section in the PERiodical Source Index (PERSI) that organizes the index into articles about specific places. This section has three areas: U.S. Places, Canada, and Foreign Countries. Articles are listed first by locality and then by the record type.

Locality Sections, PERiodical Source Index: A section in the PERiodical Source Index (PERSI) that organizes the index into articles about specific places. This section has three areas: U.S. Places, Canada, and Foreign Countries. Articles are listed first by locality and then by the record type.

Location ticket: A document describing the exact location of a piece of land.

Lodge, court records: To file a complaint or petition in a court of law.

Lodge, societies: A society of people, usually men, organized to pursue common interests or pleasures; also the building in which the society meets.

Loiselle Index, Canada: An index to about one million French-Canadian Catholic marriage records. It is one of the best sources to use to find Catholic marriages performed in Québec and some parishes outside of Québec with large settlements of French Canadians. The index covers marriages that occurred from the mid 1600s to 1900, with a few marriages to 1960.

London Company: A company of merchants and others that was founded in 1606 when King James I chartered it to form a colony in the Americas. The company founded a colony in Jamestown. The company, convinced that the area contained precious metals, promised a share of the profits to the investors and to the settlers. No profits were made. The company reorganized in 1609 and again in 1612 but was still unprofitable. In 1624, King James dissolved the company because of poor management, and Virginia became a crown colony. The official name of the company was the Virginia Company of London.

Long book, Latter-day Saint: A printed book used to record membership records of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints between 1877 and 1900. When open, a long book was about four feet wide.

Loose papers: A file of all documents relating to the settlement of an individual’s estate. Also called probate estate papers, case files, probate packet, or estate files.

Lord Lyon King of Arms, Scotland: The officer in Scotland who oversees the king's heralds. The Lord Lyon King of Arms is responsible for the right to use coats of arms; therefore, he maintains pedigrees of families entitled to use coats of arms.

Lord of regality, Scotland: A titled individual to whom the Crown granted extensive property (regality) which came with civil and criminal jurisdictional powers almost as great as those of the crown. The jurisdiction was much wider than that granted to a baron.

Lost at sea: A sailor who disappeared at sea but who could not be confirmed dead.

Lot, Canada: A division of a county on Prince Edward Island. Some lots had their own municipal governments, although villages and towns within their boundaries may have been independent of them. Other lots were only parcels of land.

Louisiana Purchase: 885,000 square miles of land between the Mississippi River and the Rocky Mountains that the United States purchased from France in 1803.

Lower-level provincial court, Canada: A provincial court in Canada that hears minor civil and criminal cases.

Loyal Land Company of Virginia: A land speculation company that was granted land, which it surveyed. The company then sold the surveys to individuals, who obtained titles to the land by patent from the secretary of the colony or the Virginia Land Office.

Ludlow's Survey: A line surveyed by Israel Ludlow from the source of the Little Miami River to the Great Miami River. This line defined the northern boundary of the area that John Cleves Symmes proposed to purchase.

Lurie index: An index to the names and addresses of voters in Chicago in 1937.

Lutheran churches: A group of Protestant churches that base their doctrine on the Bible and the teachings of Martin Luther. Lutheranism grew out of the Reformation in Germany in the 1500s. The church was formally established by 1531 and quickly spread throughout Germany and Scandinavia. Also called the Evangelical Church.

Lyman Copeland Draper Collection: A collection of diaries, correspondence, original documents, notes, and oral interviews collected by Draper from residents of Kentucky and Tennessee. He collected these records from the 1830s to 1891.

Lysningar: The Swedish word for marriage banns or intentions.