Title Examination Standards
Chapter 1, App.
Chapter 5. Name Variances
§5.1. Abbreviations and Idem Sonans.

1. A. Where there are used common abbreviations, derivatives or nicknames for Christian names, such as "Geo." for George, "Jno." for John, "Chas." for Charles, "Alex." for Alexander, "Bob" for Robert, "Eliza" or "Liza" for Elizabeth, "Jos." for Joseph, "Thos." for Thomas, "Wm." for William, "Susan" for Suzanna, "Ellen" for Eleanor, "Rich." for Richard, "Mc" for Mac (as prefix to a name);
2. B. Names within the rule of the generally accepted doctrine of idem sonans; and

3. C. In all instruments or court proceedings where in one instance a Christian name or names of a person is or are used, and in another instance the initial letter or letters only of any such Christian name or names is or are used but the surnames are the same or idem sonans, and in one instance a Christian name or initial letter is used, and in another instance is omitted, but in both instances the other Christian names or initial letters correspond and the surnames are the same or idem sonans.

   A greater degree of liberality should be indulged with the greater lapse of time and in the absence of circumstances appearing in the abstract to raise reasonable doubt as to the identity of the parties.

   Authority: 16 O.S. § 53; Patton & Palomar on Land Titles §§ 73-78 (3d ed. 2002); King v. Slepka, 194 Okla. 11, 146 P.2d 1002 (1944); Collingsworth v. Hutchinson, 185 Okla. 101, 90 P.2d 416 (1939); Maine v. Edmonds, 58 Okla. 645, 160 P. 483 (1916); Annot., 57 A.L.R. 1478 (1928). West Digest System, Century Digest, Names, Key Number 4; Decennials, 4 and 5, Deeds, Key Number 31.

Identity of parties should be accepted as sufficiently established in the following cases:

History: Adopted as 14, November 16, 1946, 17 O.B.A.J. 1729 (1946), printed, id . at 1752; became 3 on renumbering, 19 O.B.A J. 223 (1948), at which time paragraph A was expanded by adding all examples following "Elizabeth" and the citations from the West Digest system were added; amended December, 1959, by adding paragraph C and Comment, 30 O.B.A.J. 2091 (1959).

Revision recommended by 1997 Report of the Title Examination Standards Committee to reflect the adoption of 16 O.S. § 53 relating to rebuttable presumptions arising from recorded instruments. 68 O.B.J. 3297 (10/18/97). Real Property Law Section approved the proposal, November 6, 1997: the House of Delegates adopted the amended standard, November 7, 1997. 68 O.B.J. 3707 (11/15/97).