viz.
Viz. (videlicet) means "namely" or "that is to say" and introduces a list or explanation, as in "my three sons, viz. Jno., Wm. and Jas."
Viz. is short for the Latin videlicet. It introduces the details of something just mentioned. Wills use it to name the heirs in a group, and deeds use it to describe a boundary or list several tracts.
In wills it is especially useful: "to my children, viz." is often followed by every child the testator wanted to mention, sometimes in birth order.
As seen in a recordBequest in a colonial will
I give to my daughters, viz. Eliz., Margt. and Ann, ten pounds each
Sources
How to cite this page
Daily Ancestor. "viz.." Dictionary of Old Record Words. https://dailyancestor.com/dictionary/abbreviations/viz. Last checked 2026-10-01.