When diving into records from the 1600s, researchers often encounter an unexpected hurdle: handwriting. The 17th century was a transitional era in writing styles, when older medieval scripts gave way to more modern forms. To modern eyes, these records can look like an undecipherable web of loops, and flourishes..
Yet, with practice and patience, genealogists can learn to navigate 17th-century handwriting and unlock the stories it preserves.
The Dominant Script: Secretary Hand
In the early to mid-17th century, the Secretary hand was the most common style for English records. Used in legal, church, and administrative documents, it is characterized by:
- Angular shapes rather than smooth curves.
- Tall, narrow letters with exaggerated descenders (the tails of “p,” “f,” or “y”).
- Distinct letterforms that differ significantly from modern handwriting.
Some particularly tricky letters include:
- “r” – Often resembles a “v.”
- “h” – May look like “li” or “k” in some hands.
- “c” and “t” – Easy to confuse when the crossbar is faint.
- “s” – The long s (ſ) appears frequently, resembling an “f.”
The Rising Popularity of Italic Hand
By the late 1600s, the Italic hand gained popularity, especially in personal correspondence and less formal records. This script is more rounded and familiar to modern readers, with:
- Smoother curves, fewer angular shapes.
- Clearer distinctions between letters.
- More consistent spacing between words.
Italic hand often appeared alongside secretary hand during this century, meaning genealogists may need to switch between deciphering both styles within the same document.
Common Abbreviations and Symbols
Seventeenth-century scribes frequently used abbreviations to save space and time. Genealogists should be prepared to encounter:
- “ye” = “the” – The “y” represents the Old English thorn (þ).
- “yt” = “that” – Common in legal and church records.
- “wch” = “which” and “wth” = “with.”
- Superscript squiggles or lines to indicate omitted letters.
These abbreviations can make early documents look intimidating, but once recognized, they become second nature.
Tips for Genealogists
- Study alphabet charts of secretary and italic hands to familiarize yourself with letterforms.
- Look for names you already know—recognizing “John,” “Elizabeth,” or “Thomas” will help train your eye.
- Transcribe a few lines at a time, resisting the urge to decode everything at once.
- Compare letters in the same hand—a “p” in one word should match a “p” elsewhere.
- Remember spelling flexibility—“Mary,” “Marie,” and “Marey” may all refer to the same person.
- Practice with wills, parish registers, and court documents, which survive in abundance from this period.
Why It Matters
The 17th century was a formative era in English-speaking genealogical records. Parish registers were firmly established, colonial settlements in America were generating new records, and legal systems were creating detailed documents about land, property, and inheritance.
For family historians, mastering 17th-century handwriting opens the door to a treasure trove of genealogical data—connecting generations at a time when written records were finally becoming widespread.
Deciphering 17th-century handwriting may seem daunting, but each mastered letter and abbreviation is a step closer to hearing your ancestors’ voices across the centuries. What begins as a puzzle becomes a skill—and a powerful one for anyone committed to uncovering their family’s past.
Heather Wolfe, Reading Early Modern Handwriting, Folger Shakespeare Library, accessed September 14, 2025, https://folgerpedia.folger.edu/Reading_early_modern_handwriting
David Grummitt, Palaeography and Early Modern Manuscripts, The National Archives (UK), accessed September 14, 2025, https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/palaeography
Cambridge University Library, “Latin Abbreviations in Early Modern Manuscripts,” accessed September 14, 2025, https://www.cambridge.org/core/resources/palaeography
Steven Carter, “Deciphering Secretary Hand for Family History Research,” FamilySearch Blog, November 12, 2021, https://www.familysearch.org/en/blog/secretary-hand-genealogy
South Central Chapter, Association of Professional Genealogists 