The Initials after your ancestor's names may not be titles or degrees but they may provide useful information you had not expected. The following are but a few of the puzzling letters one may come across when reading old wills or other documents.

a.a.s. - Died in the year of (his/her) age, ie: a.a.s. 64 (annoaetatis suae)

d.s.p. - Died without issue (decessit sine prole legitima)

d.s.p.l. - Died without surviving male issue (decessit sine prole mascula superstia)

d.unm - 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 or time (instans)

liber - Book or volume

nepos - Grandson

nune - Nuncupative will, an oral will written by a witness

ob - He or she died (obit)

relect - Widower or widow (relicta or relictus)

sic - So or thus, exact copy as written

testes - Witnesses

ult - Lat (ultimo) ie: John Smith ult /the last. (most recent) John Smith'

ux or vs - Wife

viz - Namely (videlicet)