Skip to main content

Tags

A tag is a property type identifyer.

The Gedcom standard defines a number of tags on three or four capital letters, taken from the English name of the property type.

For example, knowing that the SURN label means surname, the SURN Martin property line can be translated as: the surname is "Martin".

Ancestris assigns an icon to each property, just like with entities. For example, Ancestris adds TAG_Name.png to the NAME tag.

You will find in this page the list of most common tags.

The Gedcom editor is the Ancestris window that shows best all the properties in your genealogy.


Icons

The icon next to a tag helps you know whether the tag complies to the Gedcom standard or not.

  • TAG_Male.png , TAG_Name.png , TAG_Birth.png , TAG_Death.png , TAG_Event.png, etc. : regular pre-defined tags. Therefore they are compliant with the Gedcom standard.
  • TAG_Question.png : unknown tag, or at the wrong place.
  • TAG_Attribute.png : user-defined tag : tags starting with the underscore "_" are user-defined tags. These tags can be added underneath any other tag in the Gedcom file. They are allowed.
    • However, before creating a new tag, please check if the type of information is not already defined by the Gedcom standard. This will allow you to better exchange genealogical data. You can check predefined tag using the Gedcom editor.
    • You may tell Ancestris, in the Preferences, when you use the Gedcom validation tool, whether to consider user-defined tags as erroneous or allowed.
    • On rare occasions, Ancestris had to defined user-defined tags when the Gedcom standard did not plan for it (e.g. _SOSA for the SOSA numbering)
  • TAG_Error.png : indicates a correct tag with an invalid value.
  • TAG_Repository_link.png, TAG_Source_link.png, TAG_Note_link.png: navigation tags: the "TAG_Association.png " symbol on the icon is specific to Ancestris and indicates a pointer to another entity. You can navigate to the entity indicated in this tag by jut clicking on it.

    Main predefined tags

    All the Gedcom standards tags are managed by Ancestris: all the pre-defined Gedcom tags, all the user-defined tags(TAG_Attribute.png) that Ancestris has defined (e.g._SOSA), and all the user-defined tags you may have defined.

    This first table is a description of the main tags.


    		 Tag name
    		 Tag 5.5. 5.5.1. Description and usage
    TAG_Note.png Abbreviation ABBR X X A short name of a title, description, or name.
    TAG_Adoption.png Adoption ADOP X X Pertaining to creation of a legally approved child-parent relationship that does not exist biologically.
    TAG_Addr.png Address ADDR X X The contemporary place, usually required for postal purposes, of an individual, a submitter of information, a repository, a business, a school, or a company.
    TAG_Time.png Age AGE X X The age of the individual at the time an event occurred, or the age listed in the document.
    TAG_Phone.png Agency AGNC X X The institution or individual having authority and/or responsibility to manage or govern.
    TAG_Indi.png Alias ALIA X X An indicator to link different record descriptions of a person who may be the same person.
    TAG_Annulment.png Annulment ANUL X X Declaring a marriage void from the beginning (never existed).
    TAG_Association.png Associates ASSO X X An indicator to link friends, neighbours, relatives, or associates of an individual.
    TAG_Note.png Attribute FACT
    		X Attribute assigned to an individual
    TAG_Note.png Author AUTH X X The name of the individual who created or compiled information.
    TAG_MarriageBann.png Marriage Bann MARB X X An event of an official public notice given that two people intend to marry.
    TAG_Baptism.png Christening CHR X X The religious event (not LDS) of baptising and/or naming a child.
    TAG_Baptism.png Baptism BAPM X X The event of baptism (not LDS), performed in infancy or later.
    TAG_Bar.png Bar Mitzvah BARM X X The ceremonial event held when a Jewish boy reaches age 13.
    TAG_Bas.png Bas Mitzvah BASM X X The ceremonial event held when a Jewish girl reaches age 13, also known as "Bat Mitzvah."
    TAG_Blessing.png Blessing BLES X X A religious event of bestowing divine care or intercession. Sometimes given in connection with a naming ceremony.
    TAG_Attribute.png Map _MAP X
    		Anticipation of the 5.5.1 dstandard. Pertains to a representation of measurements usually presented in a graphical form.
    TAG_Place.png Map MAP
    		X Pertains to a representation of measurements usually presented in a graphical form.
    TAG_MarriageLicence.png Marriage license MARL X X An event of obtaining a legal license to marry.
    TAG_Time.png Change CHAN X X Indicates a change, correction, or modification. Typically used in connection with a DATE to specify when a change in information occurred (it is automatically handled by Ancestris)
    TAG_Code.png Postal code POST X X A code used by a postal service to identify an area to facilitate mail handling.
    TAG_Type.png Status STAT X X An assessment of the state or condition of something.
    TAG_Birth.png Confirmation CONF X X The religious event (not LDS) of conferring the gift of the Holy Ghost and, among protestants, full church membership.
    TAG_MarriageContract.png Marriage contract MARC X X An event of recording a formal agreement of marriage, including the prenuptial agreement in which marriage partners reach agreement about the property rights of one or both, securing property to their
    children.
    TAG_MarriageSettlement.png Marriage settlement MARS X X An event of creating an agreement between two people contemplating marriage, at which time they agree to release or modify property rights that would otherwise arise from the marriage.
    TAG_Cremation.png Cremation CREM X X Disposal of the remains of a person's body by fire.
    TAG_Attribute.png Daboville _DABOVILLE X X Special. It is not defined in the Gedcom format. It is used in Ancestris to generate the Daboville numbering for a descending genealogy.
    TAG_Date.png Date DATE X X The time of an event in a calendar format.
    hwFTAG_Death.png Death DEAT X X The event when mortal life terminates.
    TAG_Graduation.png Graduation GRAD X X An event of awarding educational diplomas or degrees to individuals.
    TAG_Divorce.png Divorce DIV X X An event of dissolving a marriage through civil action.
    TAG_Attribute.png Data DATA X X Pertaining to stored automated information.
    TAG_Attribute.png E-mail _EMAI X
    		Anticipation of the 5.5.1 standard. An electronic mail address.
    TAG_Web.png E-mail EMAI
    		X Gedcom 5.5.1 only. An electronic mail address.
    gGzTAG_Phone.png Fax FAX
    		X Electronic facsimile transmission
    TAG_Child.png Child CHIL X X The natural, adopted, or sealed (LDS) child of a father and a mother.
    TAG_Media.png Multimedia element OBJE X X Pertaining to a grouping of attributes used in describing something. Usually referring to the data required to represent a multimedia object, such an audio recording, a photograph of a person, or an image of a document.
    TAG_Emmigration.png Emigration EMIG X X An event of leaving one's homeland with the intent of residing elsewhere.
    TAG_IndiFemale.png Wife WIFE X X An individual in the role as a mother and/or married woman.
    TAG_Place.png State STAE X X A geographical division of a larger jurisdictional area, such as a State within the United States of
    America.

    TAG_Event.png

    TAG_Blob.png

    		 Event EVEN X X Pertaining to a noteworthy happening related to an individual, a group, or an organization. An EVENt structure is usually qualified or classified by a subordinate use of the TYPE tag.
    TAG_Fam.png  Family FAM X X Identifies a legal, common law, or other customary relationship of man and woman and their children, if any, or a family created by virtue of the birth of a child to its biological father and mother.
    TAG_Fam_link.png Family where person is a child FAMC X X Identifies the family in which an individual appears as a child.
    TAG_Fam_link.png Family where person is a spouse FAMS X X Identifies the family in which an individual appears as a spouse.
    TAG_Engagement.png Engagement ENGA X X An event of recording or announcing an agreement between two people to become married.
    TAG_Disk.png File FILE X X An information storage place that is ordered and arranged for preservation and reference.
    TAG_Format.png Format FORM X X An assigned name given to a consistent format in which information can be conveyed.
    TAG_Submitter.png Submitter SUBM X X An individual or organization who contributes genealogical data to a file or transfers it to someone else.
    TAG_Indi.png  Individual INDI X X A person.
    TAG_Immigration.png Immigration IMMI X X An event of entering into a new locality with the intent of residing there.
    TAG_Burial.png Burial BURI X X The event of the proper disposing of the mortal remains of a deceased person.
    TAG_Submitter.png Ancestor interest ANCI X X Indicates an interest in additional research for ancestors of this individual.
    TAG_Submitter.png Descendants interest DESI X X Indicates an interest in research to identify additional descendants of this individual.
    TAG_Place.png Language LANG X X The name of the language used in a communication or transmission of information.
    TAG_Attribute.png Latitude _LATI X

    Anticipation of the 5.5.1 standard. A value indicating a coordinate position on a line, plane, or space.
    TAG_Place.png Latitude LATI
    		X A value indicating a coordinate position on a line, plane, or space.
    TAG_Place.png Place PLAC X X A jurisdictional name to identify the place or location of an event.
    TAG_Repository.png Repository REPO X X An institution or person that has the specified item as part of their collection(s).
    TAG_Attribute.png Longitude _LONG X
    		Anticipation of the 5.5.1 standard. A value indicating a coordinate position on a line, plane, or space.
    TAG_Place.png Longitude LONG
    		X A value indicating a coordinate position on a line, plane, or space.
    TAG_IndiMale.png Husband HUSB X X An individual in the family role of a married man or father.
    TAG_Marriage.png Marriage MARR X X A legal, common-law, or customary event of creating a family unit of a man and a woman as husband and wife.
    TAG_Birth.png Birth BIRT X X The event of entering into life.
    TAG_Nationality.png Nationality NATI X X The national heritage of an individual.
    TAG_Naturalisation.png Naturalisation NATU X X The event of obtaining citizenship.
    TAG_Education.png Education EDUC X X Indicator of a level of education attained.
    TAG_Name.png Name NAME X X A word or combination of words used to help identify an individual, title, or other item. More than one NAME line should be used for people who were known by multiple names.
    TAG_Name.png Surname SURN X X A family name passed on or used by members of a family.
    TAG_NumChildren.png Number of children NCHI X X The number of children that this person is known to be the parent of (all marriages) when subordinate to an individual, or that belong to this family when subordinate to a FAM_RECORD.
    TAG_Marriage.png Number of marriages NMR X X The number of times this person has participated in a family as a spouse or parent.
    TAG_Note.png Note NOTE X X Additional information provided by the submitter for understanding the enclosing data.
    TAG_IDNumber.png Identification number IDNO X X A number assigned to identify a person within some significant external system.
    TAG_SSN.png Social security number SSN X X A number assigned by the United States Social Security Administration. Used for tax identification purposes.
    TAG_Blob.png Binary object BLOB X
    		Set of data entered into a multimedia system that processes binary data to represent images, sound, video.
    TAG_Ordination.png Ordination ORDN X X A religious event of receiving authority to act in religious matters.
    TAG_Attribute.png Page PAGE X X A number or description to identify where information can be found in a referenced work.
    TAG_Place.png Country CTRY X X The name or code of the country.
    TAG_Format.png Pedigree PEDI X X Information pertaining to an individual to parent lineage chart.
    TAG_Name.png Name prefix NPFX X X Text which appears on a name line before the given and surname parts of a name. i.e. (Lt. Cmndr.) Joseph /Allen/ jr.
    In this example Lt. Cmndr. is considered as the name prefix portion.
    TAG_Name.png Surname prefix SPFX X X A name piece used as a non-indexing pre-part of a surname.
    TAG_Name.png Given name GIVN X X A given or earned name used for official identification of a person.
    TAG_FirstCommunion.png First communion FCOM X X A religious rite, the first act of sharing in the Lord's supper as part of church worship..
    TAG_Attribute.png Private _PRIV X X Special. It is not defined in the Gedcom format. It is used in Ancestris to mark individuals or events defined as private (private data in preferences tools).
    TAG_Occupation.png Occupation OCCU X X The type of work or profession of an individual.
    TAG_Note.png Publication PUBL X X Refers to when and/or where a work was published or created.
    TAG_Blob.png Quality QUAY X X An assessment of the certainty of the evidence to support the conclusion drawn from evidence.
    TAG_Cause.png Cause CAUS X X A description of the cause of the associated event or fact, such as the cause of death.
    TAG_Census.png Census CENS X X The event of the periodic count of the population for a designated locality, such as a national or state Census.
    TAG_Religion.png Religion RELI X X A religious denomination to which a person is affiliated or for which a record applies.
    TAG_DivorceFiled.png Divorced filed DIVF X X An event of filing for a divorce by a spouse.
    TAG_Retirement.png Retirement RETI X X An event of exiting an occupational relationship with an employer after a qualifying time period.
    TAG_Code.png Reference REFN X X A description or number used to identify an item for filing, storage, or other reference purposes.
    TAG_Type.png Relation RELA X X A relationship value between the indicated contexts.
    TAG_Residency.png Residence RESI X X An address or place of residence that a family or individual resided.
    TAG_Blob.png Role ROLE X X A name given to a role played by an individual in connection with an event.
    TAG_Sex.png Sex SEX X X Indicates the sex of an individual--male or female or unknown.
    TAG_Attribute.png Sosa _SOSA
    _SOSADABOVILLE
    		 X X Special. It is not defined in the Gedcom format. It is used in Ancestris to generate the Sosa or Sosa d'Aboville numbering for a person's ancestors and descendants.
    TAG_Source.png Source SOUR X X The initial or original material from which information was obtained.
    TAG_Name.png Name suffix NSFX X X Text which appears on a name line after or behind the given and surname parts of a name. i.e. Lt. Cmndr. Joseph /Allen/ (jr.)
    In this example jr. is considered as the name suffix portion.
    TAG_Name.png Nickname NICK X X A descriptive or familiar that is used instead of, or in addition to, one's proper name.
    gGzTAG_Phone.png Phone PHON X X A unique number assigned to access a specific telephone.
    TAG_Baptism.png Temple TEMP X X The name or code that represents the name of an LDS Church Temple.
    TAG_Will.png Will WILL X X A legal document treated as an event, by which a person disposes of his or her estate, to take effect after death. The event date is the date the will was signed while the person was alive.
    TAG_Note.png Text TEXT X X The exact wording found in an original source document.
    TAG_Attribute.png Title TITL X X A description of a specific writing or other work, such as the title of a book when used in a source context, or a formal designation used by an individual in connection with positions of royalty or other social status, such as Grand Duke.
    TAG_Type.png Type TYPE X X A further qualification to the meaning of the associated superior tag. The value does not have any computer processing reliability. It is more in the form of a short one or two word note that should be displayed any time the associated data is displayed.
    TAG_Probate.png Probation PROB X X An event of judicial determination of the validity of a will. May indicate several related court activities over several dates.
    TAG_Place.png City CITY X X A lower level jurisdictional unit. Normally an incorporated municipal unit.
    TAG_Attribute.png Internet web site _WWW X
    		Anticipation of the 5.5.1 standard. World Wide Web home page.
    TAG_Web.png Internet web site WWW
    		X World Wide Web home page.
    TAG_Blob.png Local file _LOCAL
    		 X X Calculated field indicating whether the media file is a file stored on disk (value 1) or an internet link (value 0). This field is not stored in Gedcom file and is read only.
    TAG_Type.png Found file _FOUND
    		 X X Calculated field indicating whether the media file exists (value 1) or not (value 0). This field is not stored in Gedcom file and is read only.

    Other predefined tags

    Many other tags can also be managed with Ancestris by adding them via the Gedcom Editor.


    		 Tag name
    		 Tag 5.5. 5.5.1. Description and Usage
    TAG_Addr.png Address1 ADR1 X X The first line of an address.
    TAG_Addr.png Address2 ADR2 X X The second line of an address.
    TAG_Addr.png Address3 ADR3
    		X The third line of an address.
    TAG_Code.png Ancestral File Number AFN X X A unique permanent record file number of an individual record stored in Ancestral File.
    TAG_Baptism.png Baptême LSD BAPL X X The event of baptism performed at age eight or later by priesthood authority of the LDS Church.
    TAG_Attribute.png Call number CALN X X The number used by a repository to identify the specific items in its collections.
    TAG_Confirmation.png Confirmation LDS CONL X X The religious event by which a person receives membership in the LDS Church.
    TAG_Caste.png Caste CAST X X The name of an individual's rank or status in society which is sometimes based on racial or religious differences, or differences in wealth, inherited rank, profession, occupation, etc.
    TAG_Baptism.png Adult christining CHRA X X The religious event (not LDS) of baptising and/or naming an adult person.
    TAG_Description.png Physical description DSCR X X The physical characteristics of a person, place, or thing.
    TAG_Baptism.png Endowment LDS ENDL X X A religious event where an endowment ordinance for an individual was performed by priesthood authority in an LDS temple.
    TAG_Attribute.png Media MEDI X X Identifies information about the media or having to do with the medium in which information is stored.
    TAG_Name.png Phonetic name FONE
    		X Phonetic variation of the name
    TAG_Name.png Romanized name ROMN
    		X Romanized variation of the name
    TAG_Property.png Property PROP X X Pertaining to possessions such as real estate or other property of interest.
    TAG_Description.png Restriction RESN X X A processing indicator signifying access to information has been denied or otherwise restricted.
    TAG_Code.png Record File Number RFN X X A permanent number assigned to a record that uniquely identifies it within a known file.
    TAG_Blob.png Record Identification Number RIN X X A number assigned to a record by an originating automated system that can be used by a receiving system to report results pertaining to that record.
    TAG_Baptism.png Sealing Child SLGC X X A religious event pertaining to the sealing of a child to his or her parents in an LDS temple ceremony.
    TAG_Marriage.png Sealing Spouse SLGS X X A religious event pertaining to the sealing of a husband and wife in an LDS temple ceremony.

    Accepted Tags

    Gedcom tags not offered by the Gedcom editor but accepted by Ancestris are internal tags in the Gedcom file.

    They are in the header of the file, except for HEAD and TRLR. They can be visible when opening your Gedcom file in a simple text editor.


    		 Tag name
    		 Tag 5.5. 5.5.1. Description and Usage
    TAG_Question.png Ancestors ANCE X X Pertaining to forbearers of an individual.
    TAG_Question.png Character CHAR X X An indicator of the character set used in writing this automated information.
    TAG_Question.png Concatenation CONC X X An indicator that additional data belongs to the superior value. The information from the CONC value is to be connected to the value of the superior preceding line without a space and without a carriage return and/or new line character. Values that are split for a CONC tag must always be split at a non-space. If the value is split on a space the space will be lost when concatenation takes place. This is because of the treatment that spaces get as a GEDCOM delimiter, many GEDCOM values are trimmed 85 of trailing spaces and some systems look for the first non-space starting after the tag to determine the beginning of the value (it is handle automatically by Ancestris)
    TAG_Question.png Continuation CONT X X An indicator that additional data belongs to the superior value. The information from the CONT value is to be connected to the value of the superior preceding line with a carriage return and/or new line character. Leading spaces could be important to the formatting of the resultant text. When importing values from CONT lines the reader should assume only one delimiter character following the CONT tag. Assume that the rest of the leading spaces are to be a part of the value (it is handle automatically by Ancestris)
    TAG_Question.png Copyright COPR X X A statement that accompanies data to protect it from unlawful duplication and distribution.
    TAG_Question.png Corporate CORP X X A name of an institution, agency, corporation, or company.
    TAG_Question.png Descent DESC X X Pertaining to offspring of an individual.
    TAG_Question.png Destination DEST X X A system receiving data.
    TAG_Question.png Family File FAMF X X Pertaining to, or the name of, a family file. Names stored in a file that are assigned to a family for doing temple ordinance work.
    TAG_Question.png Information GEDC X X Information about the use of GEDCOM in a transmission.
    TAG_Question.png Identification HEAD X X Identifies information pertaining to an entire GEDCOM transmission.
    TAG_Question.png Legatee LEGA X
    		Person receiving a legacy or beneficiary of a testamentary clause.
    TAG_Question.png Ordinance ORDI X X Pertaining to a religious ordinance in general.
    TAG_Question.png Submission SUBN X X Pertains to a collection of data issued for processing.
    TAG_Question.png Time TIME X X A time value in a 24-hour clock format, including hours, minutes, and optional seconds, separated by a colon (:). Fractions of seconds are shown in decimal notation.
    TAG_Question.png Trailer TRLR X X At level 0, specifies the end of a GEDCOM transmission.
    TAG_Question.png Version VERS X X Indicates which version of a product, item, or publication is being used or referenced.

    Ancestris Tags

    Theses tags are special tags defined for the use in Ancestris.

    They are already defined in the previous tables but added here for convenience reading.


    		 Tag name
    		 Tag 5.5 5.5.1 Description and Usage
    TAG_Attribute.png Daboville _DABOVILLE X X Special. It is not defined in the Gedcom format. It is used in Ancestris to generate the Daboville numbering for a descending genealogy.
    TAG_Attribute.png E-mail _EMAI X
    		Anticipation of the 5.5.1 standard. An electronic mail address.
    TAG_Attribute.png Latitude _LATI X

    Anticipation of the 5.5.1 standard. A value indicating a coordinate position on a line, plane, or space.
    TAG_Attribute.png Longitude _LONG X
    		Anticipation of the 5.5.1 standard. A value indicating a coordinate position on a line, plane, or space.
    TAG_Attribute.png Map _MAP X
    		Anticipation of the 5.5.1 dstandard. Pertains to a representation of measurements usually presented in a graphical form.
    TAG_Attribute.png Private _PRIV X X Special. It is not defined in the Gedcom format. It is used in Ancestris to mark individuals or events defined as private (private data in preferences tools).
    TAG_Attribute.png Sosa _SOSA
    		 X X Special. It is not defined in the Gedcom format. It is used in Ancestris to generate the Sosa numbering for a person's ancestors and descendants.
    TAG_Attribute.png Sosa _SOSADABOVILLE
    		 X X Special. It is not defined in the Gedcom format. It is used in Ancestris to generate the Sosa d'Aboville numbering for a person's ancestors and descendants.
    TAG_Attribute.png Time
    		 _TIME
    		 X
    		 X
    		 Special. It is not defined in the Gedcom format. It is used in Ancestris to store the time of a date where the Gedcom formet doesn't allow it.
    TAG_Attribute.png Internet web site _WWW X
    		Anticipation of the 5.5.1 standard. World Wide Web home page.


    Back to top