Postnominal Initials used in Society Publications

Sharp-eyed readers will note that many of the names listed on this web site and printed in our publications are followed by a group of letters. These are called “postnominal initials” or just “postnominals”. You've likely seen them used by professionals and academics, for example, MD or PhD are common, but they are far from the only examples. Postnominals are also used to show honors, membership in orders of chivalry, even military service. And of course for some honors granted by The Augustan Society.

Listed below are the postnominals which have appeared in our publications and web sites. Note please that inclusion on this list dos not mean that The Augustan Society presently recognizes these organizations—indeed, some we have publicly disavowed! For a list of honors presently recognized by the Society, click here.

You will find some common or expected postnominals are missing, likely because we have not yet seen them used in our publications or web sites. You will also find some rare postnominals that perhaps only one of our members is entitled to. Finally, the list also includes postnominals granted by The Augustan Society which are not widely recognized elsewhere, including some no longer used by the Society.

As this is a working and unofficial list, some definitions may be incorrect, and some listings may be inappropriate, incorrect, or obsolete, and it is far from complete. We encourage those with more accurate information to help us by submitting corrections and additions to the Webmaster.

The list is organized into groups in the sequence the postnominals are normally listed, with a few noted exceptions:

• Membership in Orders of Chivalry, Dynastic and State Orders, and Organizations of a Chivalric Character
• University Degrees
• Religious Orders
• Professional Designations
• Membership and Fellowship in Learned Societies
• Augustan Society Honors
• Membership in the Armed Forces

* These postnominals are not presently recognized by the Society.