On a headstone, the abbreviation "dau." is commonly used to mean daughter or, less frequently, daughter-in-law. This concise notation helps to describe the relationship of the deceased to other family members memorialized on the same stone, or to denote their lineage.
Understanding Gravestone Abbreviations
Gravestones often utilize abbreviations due to limited space and to convey information clearly and efficiently. These shorthand terms are vital for genealogists and family historians seeking to trace ancestry and understand familial connections.
Common abbreviations found on headstones include:
- Dau. or Dr. – Daughter
- Son. or S. – Son
- W. – Wife
- H. – Husband
- M. – Mother
- F. – Father
- B. – Born
- D. – Died
- Relict. or Rel. – Widow (often denoting "relict of" a deceased husband)
- Inf. – Infant
- AE. or Aet. – Aged (from the Latin aetatis suae, meaning "of his/her age")
Why "Dau." and Other Abbreviations Are Used
The use of abbreviations like "dau." on headstones serves several practical purposes:
- Space Efficiency: Gravestones have limited surface area, making abbreviations a necessity for fitting all desired information.
- Clarity: Genealogical terms are often abbreviated to convey familial relationships directly.
- Historical Context: Abbreviating terms was a common practice in historical record-keeping and stone carving.
Example Usage on a Headstone
You might see "dau." in phrases like:
- "John Smith, dau. of Mary Smith" (meaning John Smith's daughter Mary is buried there, which is a bit reversed, it would be "Mary Smith, dau. of John Smith" or "Mary Smith, dau. of John and Jane Smith").
- "Sarah Doe, dau. of William and Elizabeth Doe"
- "Beloved Dau."
- "Mary, Dau. of Thomas Jones"
These inscriptions help establish genealogical links, providing invaluable clues for family research. When encountering "dau." on a headstone, you can confidently interpret it as referring to a daughter, or occasionally a daughter-in-law, of the individual(s) mentioned in relation to the deceased. Understanding these common abbreviations is a key aspect of interpreting the rich history inscribed on old gravestones.
