Useful Terminology beginning with the letter M

Maiden Name – A woman’s last name or surname before she marries.
Manse – Residense of a cleric.
Manuscript – A composition written with the hand as an ancient book or an un-published modern book or music.
Marriage Bond – A financial guarantee that no legal impediment to the marriage existed, furnished by representatives for the intended bridegroom and intended bride.
Maternal – Related through one’s mother; on one mother’s side of the family.
Messuage – A dwelling house.
Metes & Bounds – Property described by natural boundaries, such as 3 whites oaks and a locust tree etc.
Microfiche – Sheet of microfilm with greatly reduced images of pages of documents.
Microfilm – Reproduction of documents on film at reduced size.
Microform – Reproduction of images, reduced in size, as either: microcard, microfiche or microfilm.
Migrant – Person who moves from place to place, usually in search of work.
Migrate – To move from one country or state or region to another.
Migration – The move from one area to another.
Militia – Citizens of a state who are not part of the national military forces but who can be called into military service in an emergency; a citizen army, apart from the regular military forces.
Minor – One who is under legal age; not yet a adult; an infant.
Minner – Person who surrenders land to another in exchange for release from contractual obligations.
Mister – In early times, a title of respect given only to those who held important civil officer or who were of gentle blood.
Moiety – A half; an indefinite portion.
Mortality – Death; death rate.
Mortality Schedules – Enumeration of persons who died during the year prior to June 1 of 1850, 1860, 1870, and 1880 in each state of the United States, conducted by the bureau of census.
Mortgage – A conditional transfer of title to real property as security for payment of a debt.
Mortscloth – Shroud to cover a coffin.
Mother-in-Law – Mother of one’s spouse.
Mulatto – Strictly a person of one caucasian and one negro parent, but commonly used for any person of mixed heritage.

Leave a Reply