Ortssippenbuch (OSB) Symbols and Terms

 ▄OSBs contain a wealth of information about the family members in the church community.  Various symbols and abbreviations are used for consistency and a type of shorthand for researchers.  The terms below were extracted from OGSA Newsletter articles and references with selected updates to help your research efforts.  Main groupings in this list include:

Symbol/Abbreviation Description
 
Births/Marriages/Deaths:
 
* Date of birth
~ Baptism/Christening 
oo Marriage
I oo First marriage (the I may be in parentheses)
II oo Second marriage (the II may be in parentheses)
o/o Geschieden (divorced)
o-o Not married / illegitimate birth
+ Date of death
gef. Gefallen - fallen soldier, deaths in this category will be limited to war years, i.e., 1870-1871, 1914-1918, 1939-1945)
 # or   ▄
Burial
*+ Died on day of birth
+* Stillborn
Posthum Nach dem Todes des Vaters geboren Born after the death of the father.
(42,3,2)     Example of an age, this example shows 42 years, 3 months, 2 days
K Confirmation
Vor Before
vorehel. Vorehelich, a premarital agreement or marriage contract / engagement
   
Family:  
B. Bruder (brother)
E. Eltern (parents)
M. Mutter (mother)
S.d. Sohn des (son of)
Schw. Schwester (sister)
T.d. Tochter des (daughter of)
V. Vater (father)
Wwe, Wwr Witwe(r) (widow, widower)
   
Property:  
E Enter (ducks)
K Kühe (cows)
O Ochsen (oxen)
P Pferde (horse)
Sch Schaf (sheep)
Schatzung Assessment, estimation of value
Gl Gulden, a Dutch large denomination coin
Rt or Rth Reichstaler, a large denomination coin
Sch Schap, a Small coin
Witt Witt, a very small coin
   
References:  
DGB Deutsches Geschlecterbuch — volumes of German Genealogy information about the Bourgeois / Published by C.A. Starke Verlag, 219 volumes, indexes are available.
Hw Hinweis (Reference to)
KB Kirchenbuch (Church book)  
Kg. Kirchengemeinde (Church community)
ki kirchlich (Ecclesiastical)
OAL Ostfriesische Ahnenlisten / pedigrees submitted to Upstalsboom-Geschellschaft, Aurich
OFB Ortsfamilienbuch – a privately published community lineage book
OSB Ortssippenbuch – a community lineage book published by the Upstalsboom-Geschellschaft, Aurich  (typically one book for one church in a community)
procl. Proclamiert (Proclamation)
QuF Quellen und Forschungen zur Ostfrieshen Familien- und Wappenkunde, a genealogy newsletter published by the Upstalsboom-Geschellschaft, Aurich
s. siehe (see...)
S. Seite (page...)
st standesamtl.  (Registry Office)
St.A Standesamt (governement office)
StAStaatsarchiv State Archive
vgl. Vergleiche (compare/see also/possibly)
   
Occupations:  
Apotheker Pharmacist
Arb. Arbeiter,  a day laborer, may also be called a tagelöhner (Dutch)
Artz Doctor
Bäcker Baker
Bauer Farmer
Blasebalgmacher Bellowsmaker
Böttcher Cooper, barrel maker
Branntweinbrenner Distiller
Brauer or Bierbraer Brewer
Buchdrucker Printer
Chirurg Surgeon
Destillateur Distiller
Dienstknecht Servant, male
Dienstmagd Servant, female
Drechsler, Dreher Turner, lathe operator
Färber Fabric dyer 
Fassbinder Cooper, barrel maker
Fisher Fischer
Fleischer Butcher, see also Metzger
Fliesenbrenner Tilemaker
Gerber Hide tanner, leather worker
Geschirrmacher Saddlemaker
Glasbläser Glassblower
Glaser Glazier
Graveur Etcher
Grötzhhändler Corn dealer
Hutmacher Hatmaker
Jäger Hunter
Kap. Kapitãn, a sea captain
Kaufman Merchant, shopkeeper, or trader
Kaufmann   Merchant
Kerzengiesser Candlemaker
Kesselmacher Coppersmith
Korbmacher or Korbflechter Basketmaker
Kupferschmied Coppersmith
Küster Gravedigger
Landadel Landed gentry
Landwirt Farmer, possible land owner
Laternemacher Lanternmaker
Leimsieder Gluemaker
Lgbr. Landgebraucher, Most likely a renter of tillable acreage  
Landowners were "dikke Burren" (Platt) or rich farmers.
Lichtzieher Candlemaker
Maler Painter/artist
Maurer Bricklayer
Messerschmied Cutler, knife-maker
Metzger Butcher
Militär Soldier
Müller Miller
Musikant Musician
Nadelmacher Needlemaker
Ölmüller Oil miller or oilseed crusher
Papiermacher Papermaker
Pastetenbäcker Pastry cook
Perückenmacher Wigmaker
Plattenbrenner Tilemaker
Ppr Pauper / Arm
Prinz Prince or monarch
Pumpenmacher Pumpmaker
Radierer Etcher
Sattler Saddlemaker
Schiff Ship
Schiffbauer Ship carpenter
Schiffer Sailor, boatman
Schiffseigner Ship owner
Schiffszimmermann Ship carpenter
Schlittschuhmacher Skatemaker
Schmeid, Smd, or Smidt Blacksmith
Schneider Tailor
Schreiner Cabinetmaker
Schuhmacher Shoemaker
Schulmeister Schoolmaster
Schwertfeger Swordmaker
Segelmacher Sailmaker
Seiler Ropemaker
Soldat Soldier
Spiegelmacher Mirrormaker
Spielmann Musician
Steinhauer Stonemason
Steinsäger Stonecutter
Stellmacher Wagonmaker
Stuhlmacher Chairmaker
Tagelöhner Day laborer
Teppichweber, Teppichwirker Carpet weaver
Tischler Cabinetmaker
Töpfer Potter
Torfgräber Peat digger
Totengräber Gravedigger
Uhrmacher Clockmaker
Wagenmacher Wagonmaker
Warfsmann/Warfsleute Social status term; poor member of society with small dwelling with no voting status in the village.
Weber Weaver
Weidmann Hunter
Wollbereiter Wooldresser
Zimmermann Carpenter
Zinngiesser Tinsmith
Zwirner Threadtwister, ropemaker