Daily AncestorTwelvemonth
A twelvemonth is a year, as in a twelvemonth and a day, a phrase common in old wills and leases.
Twelvemonth is an older word for a year. Wills, leases and court records use it in phrases like within a twelvemonth after my decease.
It means a span of a year, not a calendar year from January 1. When a will says a legacy is due a twelvemonth after death, count a year from the date of death.
As seen in a recordClause in a will
to be paid within a twelvemonth after my decease
How to cite this page
Daily Ancestor. "Twelvemonth." Dictionary of Old Record Words. https://dailyancestor.com/dictionary/dates-calendar/twelvemonth. Last checked 2026-10-01.