Daily AncestorHon.
Hon. is short for Honorable, a courtesy title placed before the name of a judge, legislator or other official.
Hon. stands for Honorable, a title of courtesy given to judges, members of Congress and state legislatures, and other office holders. You see it in court records, newspapers and on gravestones.
It describes an office, not wealth or birth. Look for the office itself in court minutes, legislative journals or county histories to learn when he served.
As seen in a recordOpening line of a county court order
Before the Hon. Saml. Ross, Judge of said Court
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Daily Ancestor. "Hon.." Dictionary of Old Record Words. https://dailyancestor.com/dictionary/abbreviations/hon. Last checked 2026-10-01.