Abbreviations and Short Forms in Notarial Records

These examples are drawn mainly from notarial record of the 16th and 17th Centuries, as this is the period where you are most likely to encounter forms that have no modern counterpart.

Pro-, Pre-, and Per- symbol

Some notaries observe the distinction between the two forms shown here, the first for the syllable "per" or "par", the second for the syllable "pro". However, others seem to use one or the other form in both contexts.

permettre (to permit - when used alone, the first symbol means "par" [by])

prochain (next, as in "the next St. Martin's Day")

perpetuellement (perpetually, as in "to sell perpetually" [i.e., for all time])

Con- and Com- symbol

This symbol dates back to Roman times, and may appear at the beginning of a word, in the middle of a word, or even in a surname such as "Convers". Many times it looks very much like a "9".

comme (as or like)

[reading middle line] soyt constitué personellement (personally appeared)

Shortened word endings

Notaire soubsigné (the undersigned notary)

François

Common abbreviations

de sesdits freres (of his (or her) said brothers)

honnorable (honorable, an honorific that applies to almost everyone)

Roman numerals and dates

xxxv, page number 35

Titles and occupations

Discret Pierre Mayor ("discreet", an honorific meaning something like "knowledgeable" or "accomplished")

operateur ("operator", or surgeon)

Interesting Doodles

What is it? Perhaps an allegory of the last judgement? I have no idea, but it appears in a register of Aymé Chuard, notary at Payerne, dating from about 1544. The notations are in Latin, highly abbreviated, and microfilmed too small to read.

"Sensuyt le premier Registre de moy Aymé Chuard" (There follows the first Register of me, Aymé Chuard", which he began in February of 1536 at Payerne - the page number at the top says xvii)

Testament de Guillaumaz Vuffrey, Au Nom de Dieu Amen, Sachent tous presents et advenirs par la teneur des presentes Comme Ainsi soit que en ce monde ny ayt chose plus certaine que la mort et plus Incertain que l'heure d'icelle... (Testament of Guillaumaz Vuffrey, In the Name of God Amen, Know all present and future by the terms of these presents, As thus it is that in this world there is nothing more certain than death, and nothing more uncertain than the hour of it...)