Animals

Birds - eternal life, resurrection
Butterfly - short life
Deer- Hart (stag) - represented either faithfulness, thirsting for God
Dog - good master worthy of love
Dolphin - portrays resurrection
Dove - innocence, peace
Dragon - being defeated by St. George depicts triumph over sin
Eagle - courage and possibly a military career
Fish - indicates faith, Christianity
Horse - Death. White horses represent good, while black horses represent evil.
Hummingbird - Often found on infants' gravestones. Usually just decorative.
Lamb - innocence, usually a child’s grave
Lion - courage, eternal guarding
Owl - suggests wisdom
Ox - Patience, strength.
Peacock - symbolized the incorruptibility of flesh, resurrection, beauty of soul, immortality
Phoenix - symbolized the incorruptibility of flesh, resurrection, beauty of soul, immortality
Rabbit - Humility, gentleness, self-sacrifice.
Rooster - awakening, resurrection
Serpent- shown swallowing its own tail it represents Eternity.
Squirrel with a nut - religious meditation or spiritual striving.
Winged Lion - Represents Saint Mark, one of the four evangelists.
Winged Ox - Represents Saint Luke, one of the four evangelists.

Hands and Body

Arms outstretched - the plea for mercy
Eye of God/All-Seeing Eye - symbolizes the all-knowing and ever-present God. The eye within the triangle, surrounded by a circle and radiating rays of light is used to symbolize the holiness of the true God.
Eye - Usually found in a triangle or within a sunburst. This is a masonic symbol.
Hands, blessing blessing for those left behind
Hands, clasped - farewells or the bond of marriage
Hand, pointing upward - pathway to heaven
Hands, praying - asking God for eternal life
Handshake - symbol on a tombstone usually signifies a welcome into the heavenly world - symbol of matrimony on the grave marker of a married couple.
Hand writing - Writing names in the book of life. Can also be found on writers' graves.
Heart - love
Heart Pierced by Sword - Virgin Mary, Christ, repentance
Heart Wrapped in Thorns - Promise of heavenly assistance
Heart, Flaming - Religious fervor
Joined hearts - marriage
Skeleton - Life's brevity
Skull, skeleton - Mortality, death
Skull, crossed bones - death
Winged face - Effigy of the soul of the deceased
Winged skull - Flight of the soul from mortal man

Occupation

Anchor, sextant, or cross staff - Mariner---Christians as a symbol of hope and steadfastness.
Axe, steel knife, or cleaver -
Butcher Bible - Minister
Bowl and razor - Barber
Compasses - Shipwright Coulter (hoe), flail, Swingletree (rod for beating flax), Stalk of corn - Farmer
Crossed swords - Military, high rank
Crown, hammer, anvil - Blacksmith
Leather cutters knife, nippers, or awl - Shoemaker
Loom, shuttle, or stretchers - Weaver
Mortar and Pestle - Usually found on the gravestones of pharmacists, and sometimes doctors
Music - Usually found on the graves of musicians. The music can be from a song the musician wrote, or it could be the deceased person's favorite hymn.
Open book - teacher - (Can represent many different things, including the book of life, often represented as the Bible.)
Palette and Brushes - Usually found on artist's gravestones.
Rake and spade - Gardener
Ship - Seafarer
Scales - Merchant
Wedge and level - Mason
Wheel - Wheelwright

Plants/Flowers

Acacia - immortality of soul
Acanthus - heavenly garden
Bamboo - the emblem of Buddha, symbolic of devotion and truthfulness.
Broken flower - a life terminated, mortality.
Buttercup - cheerfulness.
Calla lily - symbolizes marriage or resurrection.
Century Plant - Represents immortality; everlasting life.
Cinquefoil - maternal affection, beloved daughter
Corn - Rebirth, fertility.
Crocus - youthful gladness
Daffodil - death of youth, desire, art, grace, beauty, deep regard.
Daisy - innocence of child
Fern - sincerity, sorrow
Figs, Pineapples - Prosperity, eternal life
Fleur-de-lis - flame, passion, ardor, mother
Flower - Frailty of life.
Forget-me-not - remembrance
Ivy - memory, immortality, friendship, fidelity, faithfulness, undying affection, eternal life.
Grapes - represent Christ
Grapes and Leaves - Christian faith.
Hawthorn - hope, merriness, springtime
Holly - foresight
Honeysuckle - bonds of love, generosity and devoted affection
Lalla - beauty, marriage
Laurel Leaves - Special achievement, distinction, success, triumph
Lily - majesty, innocence, purity, and resurrection. Often associated with the Virgin Mary and resurrection. Often used on woman's graves. The use of lilies at funerals symbolizes the restored innocence of the soul at death.
Lotus Symbolizes creation and rebirth. Often seen on gravestones and mausoleums with an Egyptian architecture style.
Morning glory - resurrection, mourning, youth, farewell, brevity of life, departure, mortality
Mystic rose - Mother
Moss - merit
Mulberry - I will not survive you
Passion flower - the elements of the passion of Christ: the lacy crown-the crown of thorns; the five stamens the five wounds; the 10 petals the 10 faithful Apostles
Pineapple - hospitality, good host
Pansy - symbolizes remembrance and humility.
Poppy - peace, rest, sleep, eternal sleep, consolation

Rose - love, beauty, hope, unfailing love, associated with the Virgin Mary, the "rose without thorns. Red rose symbolizes martyrdom while a white rose symbolizes purity and virginity.
A bud symbolizes - normally a child 12 or under

Partial bloom - normally a teenager

Full bloom - normally in early/mid twenties. The deceased died in the prime of life

Rosebud, broken - life cut short

Rosebuds, joining - strong bond between two people, a husband and wife who died at the same time, parent and child.

Rosebuds, several on same branch - secrecy

Rosette - the Lord, messianic hope, promise, love.

Wreath of Rose - Beauty and virtue rewarded

Shamrock - Ireland as country of origin
Thistle - earthly sorrow, Christ's crown of thorns, Scotland as country of origin.
Vine - The sacraments, God's blood, God
Wheat - resurrection, bread and wine (Christian), fertility
Bushel - body of Christ
sheaves - The divine harvest, Often represents the aged.
Wreath or Garland - (Laurel) victory of the redemption, saintliness, glory, victory in death

Religious

Angels - spirituality and tomb guarding
Angel, flying or trumpeting - rebirth, resurrection
Chalice - sacraments
Cherub - angelic innocence
Crescent - Islam
Crown - glory of life after death
Cross - faith (There are many different types of crosses, and each may mean something different.)
Heart (sacred) - suffering of Christ
Menorah - Judaism
Star of David - Judaism
Harp, lyre - Praise to the God
Holy books - Christianity
Rod or Staff - Comfort for the bereaved

Trees

Tree stands for life.
Tree Sprouting stands for life everlasting.
Tree Trunk stands for the brevity of life.
Stones shaped liked Tree Stumps usually signify that the deceased was a member of The Woodmen of the World
Cypress tree - designates hope
Dead leaves - sadness, melancholy
Dogwood - Christianity, divine sacrifice, triumph of eternal life, resurrection.
Fallen Tree - Mortality, Death.
Oak tree - hospitality, stability, strength, honor, eternity, endurance, liberty. Often seen on military tombs.
Olive branch - Mostly depicted in the mouth of a dove, symbolizes peace - that the soul has departed in the peace of God.
Palm - spiritual victory, success, eternal peace
Pine - fertility, regeneration, fidelity Weeping Willow Tree - Perpetual Mourning; Grief
Willows - Earthly Sorrow
Yew tree - sadness, eternal life

Miscellaneous:

3 Books - Bible, Book of Mormon, Doctrine & Covenants
3 Rings - the Odd fellows, friendship, love and truth
Apple - Apples represent salvation, sometimes sin
Arch - Victory of life; or victory in death
Arrow - Denotes mortality
Artillery - Artillery, such as cannons, on a gravestone usually represents military service
Beehive - Often used by the Freemasons. It symbolizes faith, education, and domestic virtues
Bell - Often symbolizes a church bell, and therefore religion
Blowing a trumpets - Representing the day of judgment, and call to the Resurrection
Books stacked - Educated- scholarly
Broken column - Loss of family head or someone who died young or in the prime of life, before reaching old age
Broken Chain Link - Symbolizes a loss in the family
Broken Wheel - Symbolizes the end of life; a break in the circle or wheel of life
Broken ring - Severed family circle
Candle being snuffed - Loss of life
Cannon - Military service
Coffin - Mortality
Clock Mortality, death; the passage of time
Closed book- Completed life
Clouds - Awakening to resurrection
Columns, with archway - Heavenly entrance
Cross and Anchor - Christian symbol referring to Christ as "hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sincere and steadfast" (Hebrews 6:19)
Crown and Cross - Symbolizes both victory and Christianity. Also, this symbol sometimes denotes a member of the York Rite Masons
Doors and gates - Passage into the afterlife. Heavenly entrance
Drapery over anything - Sorrow, mourning
Eagle, Double-headed A Masonic symbol, symbolizing a 32nd degree Mason
Figure with dart - Mortality
Flame, light, lamp, torch, candle - Immortality of the spirit, resurrection
Grapes - Blood of Christ
Grim reaper - Death personified
Hammer - A hammer symbolizes the power of creation. It can also represent the person's profession
Harp - A harp symbolizes praise to God. They are often carved with a broken string, representing a break in mortal life
Horns - Resurrection
Horseshoe - Protection against evil
Hourglass - Time has run out
Hourglass, Flying - Time flies Inverted torch - Extinction of life, death
Keys - Cemetery keys stand for spiritual knowledge or, if held in the hands of an angel or saint, the means to enter heaven
Knot - A tied knot symbolizes marriage and unity
Menorah - A menorah, which is a candelabra with seven branches, is a Jewish symbol. It usually marks the grave of a righteous woman
Moon - Rebirth. A crescent moon and star symbol like the one pictured here is also a symbol of Islam
Obelisk - is a tall, narrow, four-sided, tapering monument which ends in a pyramid-like shape at the top. Symbol for the Egyptian god, Re, who held the power to recreate, hence, God, lord over all, creator
Open book- Book of life
Plow - A plow symbolizes the harvest; the reaping of life
Rifle - Usually found on the graves of military members and hunter
Rosary - Almost always found on Catholic gravestones. Symbolizes devotion to Mary and constant prayer for the deceased person
Scallop - A symbol of birth and resurrection, a traditional symbol of the Puritans
Scarab - An Egyptian symbol of spontaneous creation. Also symbolizes the renewal of life
Shell - Baptism or rebirth
Shoes - Empty shoes symbolize the loss of a child.
Usually one shoe is overturned.
Scroll - Symbol of life and time.
Scythe - Death cuts us down
Sickle - death as the "last harvest"
Sleeping Child - A sleeping child is a Victorian symbol for death.
Spade, crossed spade and shovel - Death
Star - Stars stand for the spirit, in their triumph against the odds of oblivion. Five pointed stars represent the spirit rising to heaven.
Stars and Stripes Around Eagle -
Eternal vigilance and liberty. Often seen on military markers. Sphere- Soul waiting for resurrection
Sun - A sun symbolizes the soul rising to heaven.
Sword - Swords represent martyrdom. Crossed swords are often seen on the gravestones of veterans, especially officers.
Trumpeters - Harbingers of the resurrection
Urn with Flame - Undying remembrance

Soldier on Horse - A figure is seen on top a horse in memorial, there are the three meanings:

1. Two or more feet raised - death in battle.
2. One leg raised fully off the ground - death from wounds suffered in battle.
3. Standing square or at rest - death of natural causes.

Initials of Fraternal Organizations:

AOH- Ancient Order of Hibernian
BPOE- Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks
CAR- Children of the American Revolution
DAR- Daughters of the American Revolution
FOE- Fraternal Order of Eagles
FOP- Fraternal Order of Police
F&AM- Free and Accepted Masons
GAR- Grand Army of the Republic
I.O.R.M.- Improved Order of Red Men
IOF- Independent Order of Foresters
IOOF- Independent Order of Odd Fellows
IOJD- International Order of Job's Daughters
J.O.A.M.- Junior Order of American Mechanics
J.O.U.A.M.- Junior Order of United American Mechanics
K.of C.- Knights of Columbus
K.of P.- Knights of Pythias
KT- Knights Templar
LOM- Loyal Order of Moose
M.W.A. - Modern Woodmen of America
N.O.W. - Neighbors of Woodcraft
RA- Royal Academy
RA- Royal Arcanum
R.A.M.- Royal Arch Masons
*R.N.A. - Royal Neighbors of America
SAR- Sons of the American Revolution
S.F.W.C. - Supreme Forest Woodmen Circle
U.S.A.- United States Army
U.S.A.F.- United States Air Force
U.S.M.C.- United States Marine Corp
U.S.N.- United States Navy
YMCA- Young Men's Christian Association
YWCA- Young Woman's Christian Association
W.C. - Woodmen Circle
W.O.W. - Woodmen of the World
W.O.W. - Women of Woodcraft

FRATERNAL ACRONYMS:

AAONMS - Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (Masonic) ("The Shriners")
AASR - Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite (Masonic)
ABA - American Benefit Association
AF&AM - Ancient Free and Accepted Masons
AMD - Allied Masonic Degree
AMORC - Ancient and Mystical Order Rosae Crucis(Rosicrucians)
AMOS - Ancient Mystic Order of Samaritans (see IOOF)
AOF - Ancient Order Of Foresters
AOH - Ancient Order Of Hibernians
AOKMC - Ancient Order Of Knights of Mystic Chain
AOUW - Ancient Order Of United Workmen
ALOH - American Legion of Honor
APA - American Protective Association
AUM - Ancient Order of Mysteries (MASONS)
AUSA - Association of the United States Army
AUV - Association of Union Veterans
BARE -Benefit Association Of Railway Employees
BAY - Brotherhood of American Yeomen
BKA - Benevolent Knights Association
BKofM - Black Knights of Molders
BPOE - Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks
BPOEW - Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the World
BofRTM - Brotherhood of Rail Road Track Men
BLE - Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers BLF&E - Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen&Engineers
BRT - Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen
CBL - Catholic Benevolent Legion
CD - of A Catholic Daughters of America
CKofA - Catholic Knights of America
CMBA - Catholic Mutual Benefit Association
COOF - Catholic Order of Foresters
CTAS - Catholic Total Abstinence Society
CBKA - Commandery Benevolent Knights Association
CCTAS - Crusaders-Catholic Total Abstinence Society
DAC - Daughters of the American Colonists
DAR (NSDAR) - National Society Daughters of the American Revolution
DAV - Disabled American Veterans
DofA - Daughters of America
DoL - Daughters of Liberty
DAN - Daughters of the Nile (Masonic)
DOKK - Dramatic Order Knights of Khorassan (Knights of Pythias)
DOLLUS - Dames of the Loyal Legion of the United States
DUV - Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War
ECV E - Clampus Vitus
EAU - Equitable Aid Union
EBA - Emerald Beneficial Association
FAM - Free and Accepted Masons
F&AM - Free and Accepted Masons
FCB - Knights of Pythias
FLT - Independent Order of Odd Fellows
FOE - Fraternal Order of Eagles
FOAST - Fraternal Order of Alaska State Troopers
FOF - Fraternal Order of Firefighters
FOP - Fraternal Order of Police
GALSTPTR - German American Legion of St. Peter
GAR - Grand Army of the Republic
GLAUM - Grand Lodge Ancient Order of Mysteries- Masonic Order
GLDS - Grand Lodge Daughters of Scotia
GUOOF - Grand United Order of Odd Fellows
HZ - Haro Zaro
IBBH - International Brotherhood of Blacksmiths and Helpers
ICBU - Irish Catholic Benevolent Union
IHSV - Red Cross of Constantine
IOA - International Order of Alhambra
IODE - Independent Order, Daughters of the Empire
IOGT - International Order of Good Templars
IOH - Improved Order of Heptasophs
IOHH - International Order of Hoo-Hoo
IOI - Independent Order of Immaculates
IOKP - Independent Order of Knights of Pythias
IOOF - Independent Order of Odd Fellows
IOOF-PM Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Past Master
ISH - Independent Sons of Honor
IOStL - Independent Order of St. Luke
IOF - Independent Order of Foresters
IORM - Improved Order of Redmen (Sons of Liberty)
IOR - Independent Order of Rechabites
IOV - International Order of Vikings
IUOM - Independent United Order of Mechanics
IWW - Industrial Workers of the World
IOF - Independent Order of Foresters
IOOF - Independent Order of Odd Fellows
IOJD - Independent Order of Job's Daughters
IORG - International Order of Rainbow Girls (Masonic)
ISDA - Italian Sons and Daughters of America
JOAM - Junior Order of American Mechanics
JOUAM - Junior Order of United American Mechanics
JAOUW - Junior Order-Ancient Order of United Workmen
JOUAM - Junior Order-Order of United American Mechanics
KC - Knights of Columbus
KGC - Knights of the Golden Chain
KGC - Knights of the Golden Circle
KGE - Knights of the Golden Eagle
KGL - Knight Grand Legion
KLH - Knights and Ladies of Honor
KM - Knights Militant (See KKK)
KofC - Knights of Columbus
KofFM - Knights of Father Matthew
KFM - Knights of Father Matthew
KofH - Knights of Honor
KOL - Knights of Labor
KofL - Knights of Loyola
KM - Knights of Malta (Masonic)
KMC - Knights of the Mystic Chain
KOTM - Knights of the Macabees
KPC - Knights of Peter Claver
KofTM - Knights of the Macabees
KP - Knights of Pythias
KofP - Knights of Pythias
KSC - Knights of St. Columbkille
KG - Knights of St. George
KSTG - Knights of St. George
KSTI - Knights of St. Ignatius
KofSJ - Knights of St. John
KSTJ - Knights of St. Joseph
KSL - Knights of St. Lawrence
KSTM - Knights of St. Martin
KofSTP - Knights of St. Patrick
KSTP - Knights of St. Paul
KSTP - Knights of St. Peter
KSTT - Knights of St. Thomas
KofSTW - Knights of St. Wenceslas
KT - Knights of Tabor
KofT - Knights of Tabor
KT - Knights Templar (Masonic)
KWM - Knights of Wise Men
KGE - Knights of Golden Eagle
KHC - Knights of Holy Cross
KKK - Knights of Klu-Klux Klan
KOTM - Knights of Macabees
KSF - Knights of Sherwood Forest
LAOH - Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians
LDG - Independent Order of Foresters
LGAR - Ladies of the Grand Army of the Republic
LKofA - Loyal Knights of America
LOL - Loyal Order Orange Lodge (The Orange Order){Orange Men}
LOM - Legion of the MOOSE
LOOM - Loyal Order of the MOOSE
LOVUS - Legion of Valor of the United States
MBS - Mutual Benefit Society
MOLLUS - Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States
MOOSE - Loyal Order of the Moose
MOPH - Military Order of the Purple Heart
MOVPER - Mystic Order of Veiled Prophets of the Mystic Realm (Grotto) (Masonic)
MRA - Royal Arcanum
MCL - Marine Corps League
MWA - Modern Woodmen of America
NCOA - Non-Commissioned Officers Association (Military Society)
NEOP - New England Order of Protection
NOK - New Order Knights (see KKK)
NL - Navy League
NSDAR - National Society Daughters of American Revolution
NSSUP - National Society Sons of Utah Pioneers
NU - National Union
OofA - Order of Amaranth (Masonic)
OCF - Order of Chosen Friends
OofUF - Order of United Friends
OGC - Order of the Golden Cross
ODHS - Des Schwestern Verbandes (Sisters of the Federation
OES - Order of the Eastern Star
OSC - Order of Scottish Clans (St. Andrew's Societies)
OUAM - Order of United American Mechanics
PFofA - Patriotic Friends of America
PH - The Order of Patrons of Husbandry (The Grange)
PM - Patriarchs Militant (Independent Order of Odd Fellows)
POSA - Patriotic Order of the Sons of America
RA - Royal Academy
RA - Royal Arcanum
RAM - Royal Arch Masons
RC - Republican Club
RMOKHSJ - The Religious and Military Order of Knights of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem
RSGF - Royal Society of Good Fellows
RSM - Royal and Select Masons
ROJ - Royal Order of Jesters (Masonic)
RSTV - Rite of St. Vaclara
RSTV - Rite of St. Vita
RK - Roman Knights
RTT - Royal Templars of Temperance
SAR - Sisters of the American Revolution
SAR - Sons of the American Revolution
SBCL - Saint Bonifazius Catholic Union
SBL - Society B. Lafayette
SCV - Sons of the Confederate Veterans
SofE - Sons of England
SMAA - Scandinavian Mutual Aid Association
SNA-AUM - Shrine of North America
SR - Scottish Rite (Masonic Order)
SofSt.G - Sons of St. George
ST - Sons of Temperance
ST.G SoNY - St. George's Society of New York
SUVCW - Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War
SV - Sons of Veterans of the United States of America
TCL - Tall Ceders of Lebanon (Masonic)
TH - Temple of Honor and Temperance-Independent Order of Odd Fellows
TPLF - Temple of Honor and Temperance, IOOF
TROA - The Retired Officer's Association
UAOD - United Ancient Order of Druids
UCV - United Confederate Veterans
UDC - United Daughters of the Confederacy
UFL - Union Fraternal League
UFM - United Friends of Michigan
UOPF - United Order of Pilgrim Fathers
VFW - Veterans of Foreign Wars
WKSC - White Knights of the Southern Cross (See KKK)
WOW - Woodmen of the World
YMCA - Young Men's Christian Association
YWCA - Young Women's Christian Association

When doing research 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)
AE - An abbreviation for Aetatis, or years of life
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.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)
D.Y. - Died young
Et a - l and others (et alia)
H.S. (Latin) - Here is buried
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)
Obit Sine Prole - Died without children
Rel. or Relict - widow or widower (relicta/relictus)
Res. or Residue - widow or widower
Sic - so or thus, exact copy as written
Testes - witnesses
Ult - late (ultimo)
Ux or vs wife (uxor)
Viz - namely (videlicet)

This information was found by researching the Internet and placed here for educational purposes. Thank you Tracy for your input.