Today’s post is initials of Fraternal organizations often found on tombstones or headstones.  The letter may be seen with or without initials.  For example: ABA might also appear A.B.A.  If you know of any additional acronyms for Fraternal organizations please add your comments below.

Ellen-

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
ALOH American Legion of Honor
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
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
BLE Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers
BLF&E Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen & Engineers
BofRTM Brotherhood of Rail Road Track Men
BPOE Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks
BPOEW Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the World
BRT Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen
CAR Children of the American Revolution
CBKA Commandery Benevolent Knights Association
CBL Catholic Benevolent Legion
CCTAS Crusaders-Catholic Total Abstinence Society
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
D of A Daughters of America
DAC Daughters of the American Colonists
DAN Daughters of the Nile (Masonic)
DAR (NSDAR) National Society Daughters of the American Revolution
DAV Disabled American Veterans
DOKK Dramatic Order Knights of Khorassan (Knights of Pythias)
DoL Daughters of Liberty
DOLLUS Dames of the Loyal Legion of the United States
DUV Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War
EAU Equitable Aid Union
EBA Emerald Beneficial Association
ECV E Clampus Vitus
F&AM Free and Accepted Masons
FAA Free and Accepted Americans
FAM Free and Accepted Masons
FCB Knights of Pythias
FLT Independent Order of Odd Fellows
FOAST Fraternal Order of Alaska State Troopers
FOE Fraternal Order of Eagles
FOF Fraternal Order of Firefighters
FOP Fraternal Order of Police
GALSTPTR German American Legion of St. Peter
GAR Grand Army of the Republic (Civil War)
GLAUM Grand Lodge Ancient Order of Mysteries- Masonic Order
GLDS Grand Lodge Daughters of Scotia
GUO of OF Grand United Order of Odd Fellows
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
IHSV Red Cross of Constantine (Masonic)
IOA International Order of Alhambra
IODE Independent Order, Daughters of the Empire
IOF Independent Order of Foresters
IOGT International Order of Good Templars
IOH Improved Order of Heptasophs
IOHH International Order of Hoo-Hoo
IOI Independent Order of Immaculates
IOJD International Order of Job’s Daughters (see JDI)
IOKP Independent Order of Knights of Pythias
IOOF-PM Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Past Master
IOOF Independent Order of Odd Fellows
IOR Independent Order of Rechabites
IORG International Order of Rainbow Girls (Masonic)
IORM Improved Order of Redmen (Sons of Liberty)
IOStL Independent Order of St. Luke
IOV International Order of Vikings
ISDA Italian Sons and Daughters of America
ISH Independent Sons of Honor
IUOM Independent United Order of Mechanics
IWW Industrial Workers of the World
JAOUW Junior Order-Ancient Order of United Workmen
JDI Job’s Daughters International
JOAM Junior Order of American Mechanics
JOUAM Junior Order-Order of United American Mechanics
JOUAM Junior Order of United American Mechanics
K of C knights of Columbus
K of FM Knights of Father Matthew
K of H Knights of Honor
K of L Knights of Loyola
K of P Knights of Pythias
K of SJ Knights of St. John
K of STP Knights of St. Patrick
K of STW Knights of St. Wenceslas
K of T Knights of Tabor
KC Knights of Columbus
KFM Knights of Father Matthew
KG Knights of St. George
KGC Knights of the Golden Chain
KGC Knights of the Golden Circle
KGE Knights of Golden Eagle
KGE Knights of the Golden Eagle
KGL Knight Grand Legion
KHC Knights of Holy Cross
KKK Knights of Klu-Klus Klan
KKK Knights of Klu-Klux Klan
KLH Knights and Ladies of Honor
KM Knights Militant
KM Knights Militant (See KKK)
Km Knights of Malta (Masonic)
KMC Knights of Mystic Chain
KMC Knights of the Mystic Chain
KofC Knights of Columbus
KofFM Knights of Father Matthew
KofH Knights of Honor
KofL Knights of Loyola
KofP Knights of Pythias
KofSJ Knights of St. John
KofSTP Knights of St. Patrick
KofSTW Knights of St. Wenceslas
KofT Knights of Tabor
KofTM Knights of the Macabees
KOL Knights of Labor
KOTM Knights of Macabees
KOTM Knights of the Macabees
KP Knights of Pythias
KPC Knights of Peter Claver
KSC Knights of St. Columbkille
KSF Knights of Sherwood Forest
KSL Knights of St. Lawrence
KSTG Knights of St. George
KSTI Knights of St. Ignatius
KSTJ Knights of St. Joseph
KSTM Knights of St. Martin
KSTP Knights of St. Paul
KSTP Knights of St. Peter
KSTT Knights of St. Thomas
KT Knights of Tabor
KT Knights Tempar (Masonic)
KT Knights Templars (Masonic)
KWM Knights of Wise Men
LAOH Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians
LDG Independent Order of Foresters
LGAR Ladies of the Grand Army of the Republic
LK of A Loyal Knights of America
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
MCL Marine Corps League
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
MWA Modern Woodmen of America
MWA Modern Woodsmen of America
NCOA Non-Commissioned Officers Association (Military Society)
NEOP New England Order of Protection
NL Navy League
NOK New Order Knights (see KKK)
NOW Neighbors of Woodcraft
NSDAR National Society Daughters of American Revolution
NSSUP National Society Sons of Utah Pioneers
NU National Union
OCF Order of Chosen Friends
ODHS Des Schwestern Verbandes (Sisters of the Federation
OES Order of the Eastern Star
OGC Order of the Golden Cross
OofA Order of Amaranth (Masonic)
OofUF Order of United Friends
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
RK Roman Knights
RMOKHSJ The Religious and Military Order of Knights of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem
RNA Royal Neighbors of America
ROJ Royal Order of Jesters (Masonic)
RSGF Royal Society of Good Fellows
RSM Royal and Select Masons
RSTV  Rite of St. Vaclara
RSTV Rite of St. Vaclara
RSTV Rite of St. Vita
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
SFWC Supreme Forest Woodmen Circle
SMAA Scandinavian Mutual Aid Association
SNA-AUM Shrine of North America
SofE Sons of England
SofSt.G Sons of St. George
SR Scottish Rite (Masonic Order)
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
SV Sons of Veterans of the United States of America
TCL Tall Ceders of Lebanon (Masonic)
TH Temple of Honor-Independent Order of Odd Fellows
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
UR The Uniform Ranks designation found on many
USA United States Army
USAF United States Air Force
USMC United States Marine Corp
USN United States Navy
VFW Veterans of Foreign Wars
WC Woodmen Circle
WKSC White Knights of the Southern Cross (See KKK)
WOW Women of Woodcraft
WOW Woodmen of the World
YMCA Young Men’s Christian Association
YWCA Young Women’s Christian Association