Genealogy Tip: What Does ‘Æt’ Mean?

Genealogists often see the abbreviation “Æt” on tombstones, and it also commonly appeared in American newspapers. Here is an example, published in a Maine newspaper 200 years ago, in 1819.

An obituary for Samuel Payson, Hallowell Gazette newspaper article 21 July 1819
Hallowell Gazette (Hallowell, Maine), 21 July 1819, page 4

According to Merriam-Webster, Æt is the abbreviation for the Latin adjective “aetatis” and means: “at the age of.”

In this example we see that Capt. Samuel Payson was aged 85 when he died.

And now you know.

Read the old newspapers with confidence.

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