US Census Abbreviations

Ever wonder about the meaning of some of the abbreviations found in the US
census? Here's a list of relationship, citizenship, race, and military abbreviations,
along with the original instructions given to the census enumerators.

Miscellaneous
do.   ditto which means "same as line above"

1900, 1910, 1920 Citizenship Status

AL Alien (not naturalized and had not filed first papers)
PA First papers filed (declaration of intent)
NA Naturalized
NR Not recorded

1910 Color and Race

W White
B Black
Mu Mulatto
Ch Chinese
Jp Japanese
In Indian.
Ot All others
1910 Census Relationship and Occupation Abbreviations
Ad. Adopted
Ad.Cl Adopted Child
Ad.D Adopted Daughter
Ad.Gcl Adopted Grandchild
Ad.M Adopted Mother
Ad.S Adopted Son
Ap Apprentice
At Attendant
Asst Assistant
A Aunt
Al Aunt-In-Law
Bar Bartender
Bo Boarder
B.Girl Bound Girl
B.Boy Bound Boy
Boy Boy
B Brother
Bl Brother-In-Law
Bu Butler
Cap Captain
Cha Chamber Maid
Cl Child
Coa Coachman
Com Companion
Cook Cook
C Cousin
Cil Cousin-In-Law
D Daughter
Dl Daughter-In-Law
Dla Day Laborer
Dw Dish Washer
Dom Domestic
Emp Employee
En Engineer
Fa.H Farm Hand
Fa.L Farm Laborer
Fa.W Farm Worker
F Father
Fl Father-In-Law
Fi Fireman
First C First Cousin
Fo.B Foster Brother
Fo.Si Foster Sister
Fo.S Foster Son
God Cl God Child
Go Governess
Gcl Grand Child
Gd Grand Daughter
Gf Grand Father
GM Grand Mother
Gml Grand Mother-In-Law
Gs Grand Son
Gsl Grand Son-In-Law
Ggf Great Grandfather
Gni Grand Niece (or Great Niece)
Gn Grand Nephew (or Great Nephew)
Ggm Great Grandmother
Gggf Great-Great-Grandfather
Gggm Great-Great-Grandmother
Gua Guardian
Guest Guest
H.Si Half Sister
H.Sil Half Sister-In-Law
Hb Half Brother
Hbl Half Brother-In-Law
Help Help
He Herder
H.Gi Hired Girl
H.H Hired Hand
Hlg Hireling
Hk Housekeeper
H.Maid Housemaid
Hw House Worker
Husband Husband
Inmate Inmate
La Laborer
Lau Laundry
L Lodger
Maid Maid
Man Manager
Mat Matron
M Mother
Ml Mother-In-Law
N Nephew
Nl Nephew-In-Law
Ni Niece
Nil Niece-In-Law
Nu Nurse
O Officer
Pa Partner
P Patient
Ph Physician
Por Porter
Pri Principal
Pr Prisoner
Prv Private
Pu Pupil
R Roomer
Sa Sailor
Sal Saleslady
Se Servant
Se.Cl Servant's Child
Si Sister
S Son
Sl Son-In-Law
Sb Step Brother
Sbl Step Brother-In-Law
Scl Step Child
Sd Step Daughter
Sdl Step Daughter-In-Law
Sf Step Father
Sfl Step Father-In-Law
Sgd Step Granddaughter
Sgs Step Grandson
Sm Step Mother
Sml Step Mother-In-Law
Ssi Step Sister
Ssil Step Sister-In-Law
Ss Step Son
Ssl Step Son-In-Law
Su Superintendent
Ten Tenant
U Uncle
Ul Uncle-In-Law
Vi Visitor
Wt Waiter
Wai Waitress
Ward Ward
Wa Warden
W Wife
Wkm Workman

Military Status

The abbreviations in column 30 of the 1910 census are:

UA Survivor of the Union Army

UN Survivor of the Union Navy
CA Survivor of the Confederate Army
CN Survivor of the Confederate Navy