Daily AncestorCross
A cross on a gravestone shows Christian faith; a cross standing on three steps (a Calvary cross) stands for faith, hope and charity.
The cross is the main symbol of Christianity and appears in many styles. The plain Latin cross is the most usual form, and a cross on three steps, the Calvary cross, adds faith, hope and charity. Large crosses often mark a whole family plot.
Different cross styles can point to a church or homeland. After World War I a Latin cross was one of the first religious emblems allowed on government veterans' headstones.
As seen in a recordCatholic or town cemetery, 1850 to 1930
Marble cross on three steps: Catherine, wife of Michael Doheny, 1838 to 1899. Requiescat in pace
Sources
How to cite this page
Daily Ancestor. "Cross." Dictionary of Old Record Words. https://dailyancestor.com/dictionary/gravestone-symbols/cross. Last checked 2026-10-15.