Initials after ancestors' names may provide useful information. The following list includes initials you may come across when reading old wills or other documents.

a.a.s.  died in the year of his/her age

(anno aetitis suae) (86 y/o died in year 86)

d.s.p. died without issue

(decessit sine prole legitima)

d.s.p.l.  died without legitimate issue

(decessit sine prole mascula supersita)

d.s.p.m.s.  died without surviving male issue

(decessit sine prole mascula supersita)

d.s.p.s  died without surviving issue

(decessit sine prole supersita)

d.u.n.m.  died unmarried

d.v.p.  died in the lifetime of his father

(decessit vita patris)

d.v.m.  died in the lifetime of his mother

(decessit vita matris)

Et al  and others

(et alia)

Inst  present month

(instans)

Liber  book or volume

Nepos  grandson

Nunc  Nuncapative will, an oral will, written by a witness

Ob  he/she died

(obit)

Rel/ Relict widow or widower

(relicta/relictus)

Res/Residue widow or widower

Sic/so/thus exact copy as written

Testes  witnesses

Ult  late

(ultimo)

Ux or vs  wife

(uxor)Viz  namely

(videlicet)