Genealogical numbering systems

Several genealogical numbering systems have been widely adopted for presenting family trees and pedigree charts in text format.

It differs from the Henry System in that periods are used to separate the generations and no changes in numbering are needed for families with more than nine children.

[5] For example: The Meurgey de Tupigny System is a simple numbering method used for single surname studies and hereditary nobility line studies developed by Jacques Meurgey de Tupigny [Wikidata] of the National Archives of France, published in 1953.

Example: The de Villiers/Pama System gives letters to generations, and then numbers children in birth order.

It was developed in the 19th century by Christoffel Coetzee de Villiers and used in his three volume Geslachtregister der Oude Kaapsche Familien (Genealogies of Old Cape Families).

The system was refined by Dr. Cornelis (Cor) Pama, one of the founding members of the Genealogical Society of South Africa.

[9] Bibby (2012) [10] proposed a literal system to trace relationships between members of the same family.

This used the following: f = father m = mother so = son d = daughter b = brother si = sister h = husband w = wife c = cousin.

We interpret “brother” and “sister” to mean “same father, same mother” i.e: b = fso and mso si = fd and md.

Some cases need careful parsing, e.g. fs means “father’s son”.

Similarly, c (cousin) might mean fbso or fbd or fsiso or fsid, or indeed mbso or mbd or msiso or msid, or several other combinations especially if grandfather married several times.

In Bibby's usage , the “home” person is Karl Pearson, and all relationships are relative to him.