Daily AncestorClasped hands
Clasped hands on a gravestone mean farewell or a lasting bond; a man's cuff and a woman's frilled cuff together mark a married couple.
Two right hands shaking can mean farewell to earthly life, God's welcome into heaven, or a bond that death does not break. Look at the sleeves: one plain or buttoned cuff and one frilled or lacy cuff usually show a husband and wife; two neutral sleeves suggest a goodbye or a heavenly welcome.
Clasped hands can also show friendship, the fellowship of a lodge such as the Masons, or that the person was a good neighbor. Sometimes one hand seems to lead the other, or the clasp is a goodbye until the two meet again in heaven.
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Daily Ancestor. "Clasped hands." Dictionary of Old Record Words. https://dailyancestor.com/dictionary/gravestone-symbols/clasped-hands. Last checked 2026-10-15.