by Jonathan J. Kalmakoff and the Stockmen’s Memorial Foundation
Brands have been used to identify livestock ownership in Alberta for more than 125 years and are an essential part of its ranching heritage. The following database contains over 125 cancelled cattle and horse brands registered by Doukhobor stockmen in Alberta between 1904 and 2009. Compiled from the files of the Stockmen’s Memorial Foundation, each entry includes the stockman’s name and town, brand registration date, brand description and reference information. Learn about the brands used by Alberta Doukhobor stockmen along with their history and significance. Last updated April 10, 2009.
Introduction
For almost a century, Doukhobors have played a significant role in the livestock industry of southern Alberta. As early as 1911, the Doukhobor Community supplied 100 oxen and 30 drivers to break land owned by the Canadian Wheatlands Company at Bowell and Carlstadt. From 1911 to 1920, Doukhobor work crews of 100 men and twice as many horse and oxen were hired by the Canadian Land and Irrigation Company to construct the McGregor Lake dam near Milo for the Bow River Irrigation Project. From 1915 to 1937, the Doukhobor “Christian Community of Universal Brotherhood” operated a vast communal farming and ranching enterprise in the Cowley and Lundbreck districts. Another smaller Doukhobor colony was established in the Arrowwood and Shouldice districts from 1926 to 1945. Following the demise of these communal ventures, many Doukhobors remained in the areas as individual farmers and stock growers. At the same time, throughout the Teens and Twenties, hundreds of Doukhobors settled independently on ranches and farms in the Pincher Creek, Mossleigh, Nanton, Crowfoot, Queenstown, Vulcan, Vauxhall, Skiff, Lethbridge, Rosebud and other districts. Many of their descendants continue to live and ranch in these districts today.
Doukhobor breaking prairie sod on Canadian Wheatlands project near Bowell, Alberta, c. 1912. Glenbow Archives NA-587-1.
Like other stockmen in Alberta, Doukhobor ranchers and farmers branded their livestock. The brand was a unique, highly visible, permanent mark applied to an animal for identification purposes. It was vital in determining ownership, returning strays or stolen livestock to their rightful owners, and serving as a deterrent to theft. It was a road map of an animal’s history and told a story of its owner. Sometimes, the brand became better known than the individual who used it. Under Alberta law, a brand had to be registered before it could be used, and a rigid set of specifications was followed when issuing a new brand. Only one brand of a particular design, configuration and location could be registered, to avoid potential conflicts in similar brands. The brand registration had to be kept in good standing and renewed on a regular basis. It was an offence to use an unregistered brand or to alter a registered brand.
Doukhobor Brands
The following database has been compiled from the cancelled brand files and Brand Books held by the Stockmen’s Memorial Foundation Library and Archives. Arranged alphabetically by surname, each entry includes an image of the brand, the stockman’s name and town, brand registration, brand description and reference information.
Androsoff, William
| Dates: Jun 20, 1936 – cancelled Dec 6, 1957 |
| Brand Description: W A running bar – C. l. r |
| Town: Queenstown, Arrowwood |
| Box Number: 46 |
| File Number: 70447 |
Androsoff, William S. & John
| Dates: Apr 27, 1944 – cancelled Jan 22, 1981 |
| Brand Description: B A over bar – C. r. h |
| Town: Mossleigh |
| Box Number: 139 |
| File Number: 77541 |
Bartsoff, John
| Dates: Nov 14, 1958 – last renewal date Nov 7, 1962 |
| Brand Description: P B over quarter circle – C. r.r |
| Town: Raymond |
| Box Number: 80 |
| File Number: 62669 |
Bartsoff, Peter Jr.
| Dates: Nov 30, 1960 – cancelled Sep 3, 1968 (horse); June 4, 1956 – cancelled Aug 30, 1968 (cattle) |
| Brand Description: bar over B 7 – H. r. th – C. r. h |
| Town: Raymond, Legend |
| Box Number: 92 |
| File Number: 72617 |
Bartsoff, Peter Sr.
| Dates: Mar 13, 1962 – cancelled Dec 31, 1970 |
| Brand Description: B P over half diamond – C. l. r |
| Town: Vauxhall, Raymond |
| Box Number: 102 |
| File Number: 37939 |
Cabatoff, Peter W.
| Dates: May 3, 1965 – expired Dec 31, 1969 |
| Brand Description: P anchor over 1/4 circle – C. l. h |
| Town: Medicine Hat |
| Box Number: 100 |
| File Number: 89387 |
Chernenkoff, Fred
| Dates: June 29, 1950 – last renewal date Dec 28, 1954 (both) |
| Brand Description: (reversed) F C over bar – C. r. h – H. t. th |
| Town: Beaver Mines |
| Box Number: 53 |
| File Number: 85929 |
Chernoff, Bill
| Dates: Mar 19, 1941 – ? (both) |
| Brand Description: 1/4 circle over B C – C. r. sh – H. r.th |
| Town: Lundbreck |
| Box Number: 17 |
| File Number: 72933 |
Davidoff, John (1)
| Dates: Jan 29, 1953 – transferred Dec 14, 1956 |
| Brand Description: 5 D (reversed) over bar – C. r. h |
| Town: Pincher Creek, Lundbreck |
| Box Number: 58 |
| File Number: 74584 |
Davidoff, John (2)
| Dates: ? – expired Dec 31, 1938 |
| Brand Description: half diamond over M D – H. l. th |
| Town: Pincher Creek, Lundbreck |
| Box Number: 58 |
| File Number: 74584 |
Davidoff, John (3)
| Dates: Nov 24, 1952 – cancelled Oct 5, 1964 |
| Brand Description: H 5 over half diamond – C. l. h |
| Town: Pincher Creek, Lundbreck |
| Box Number: 58 |
| File Number: 74584 |
Davidoff, Mackifa
| Dates: Jan 29, 1944 – cancelled Nov 13, 1948 (horse); Jan 28, 1944 – cancelled Oct 21, 1948 (cattle) |
| Brand Description: bar over D 1 – H. l. th – C. l. h |
| Town: Pincher Creek |
| Box Number: 21 |
| File Number: 76878 |
Davidoff, Matvey N.
| Dates: Jul 8, 1918 – expired Dec 31, 1933 (horse); Jul 8, 1918 – transferred Jan 29, 1953 (cattle) |
| Brand Description: 5 D (reversed) over bar – H. r. sh – C. r. h |
| Town: Cowley, Pincher Creek, Pincher Station |
| Box Number: 71 |
| File Number: 66342 |
Davidoff, Nicholas N. (1)
| Dates: Jul 30, 1951 – cancelled Dec 31, 1955 |
| Brand Description: quarter circle over D F – C. r. h |
| Town: Pincher Creek, Pincher Station, Thrums |
| Box Number: 42 |
| File Number: 87483 |
Davidoff, Nicholas N. (2)
| Dates: Jan 3, 1929 – cancelled Sep 22, 1969 (cattle) Jan 3, 1929 – last renewal date Dec 31, 1953 (horse) |
| Brand Description: N 3 over half diamond – C. r. h – H. r. th |
| Town: Pincher Creek, Pincher Station, Thrums |
| Box Number: 42 |
| File Number: 87483 |
Davidoff, Nick N.
| Dates: Feb 19, 1920 – last renewal date Dec 7, 1944 (horse); Feb 19, 1920 – last renewal date Dec 31, 1948 (cattle) |
| Brand Description: bar over D lazy F – H. r. th – C. r. h |
| Town: Pincher Station |
| Box Number: 33 |
| File Number: 56346 |
Davidoff, Vasilie Nikoleavitch & Bernice Dianna
| Dates: Feb 1, 1968 – exp Dec 31, 1976 |
| Brand Description: half diamond over V 7 – C. r. sh |
| Town: Pincher Creek |
| Box Number: 135 |
| File Number: 72351 |
Deakoff, Mike
| Dates: Mar 11, 1943 – Expired Dec 31, 1967 (cattle); Mar 11, 1943 – cancelled Sep 6, 1963 (horse) |
| Brand Description: M running bar D – C. l. r – H. l. th |
| Town: Lundbreck |
| Box Number: 87 |
| File Number: 75760 |
Derhousoff (Hoover), Joe J.
| Dates: Feb 23, 1956 – ? |
| Brand Description: J D over half diamond – C. l. h |
| Town: Throne, Coronation |
| Box Number: 57 |
| File Number: 70804 |
Derhousoff (Hoover), Lawrence J.
| Dates: Apr 6, 1956 – transferred 1956 |
| Brand Description: half diamond over L D – C. l. h |
| Town: Throne |
| Box Number: 58 |
| File Number: 70963 |
Doukhobor Fraternal Co. (c/o Peter Verigin)
| Brand Book Dates: 1904-1910, 1915-1938 |
| Brand Description: Stylized Cyrillic “D” symbol – C. r. r. – H. r. th. |
| Town: Yorkton, SK, Cowley |
Ewashen, Alex J. Jr.
| Dates: Mar 17, 1954 – cancelled Aug 19, 1974 |
| Brand Description: A over E – C. l. sh |
| Town: Lundbreck, Creston, BC |
| Box Number: 126 |
| File Number: 91108 |
Ewashen, Jacob
| Dates: June 6, 1930 – transferred Nov 9, 1954 (cattle); Feb 28, 1934 – cancelled Dec 31, 1946 (horse) |
| Brand Description: bar over V S – C. r. h – H. r. sh |
| Town: Nanton, Cayley |
| Box Number: 65 |
| File Number: 66530 |
Ewashen, Mike
| Dates: Apr 9, 1943 – cancelled Nov 24, 1955 |
| Brand Description: bar over M E – C. l. r |
| Town: Nanton |
| Box Number: 38 |
| File Number: 75458 |
Ewashen, Nick J.
| Dates: Feb 6, 1942 – cancelled Feb 8, 1967 |
| Brand Description: bar over N E monogram – C. r. sh |
| Town: Nanton |
| Box Number: 81 |
| File Number: 73783 |
Ewashen, Peter J.
| Dates: Jun 1, 1945 – expired Dec 31, 1969 |
| Brand Description: F running bar P – C. r.r |
| Town: Lundbreck |
| Box Number: 99 |
| File Number: 79570 |
Ewashen, Walter James
| Dates: Nov 22, 1954 – last renewal date Oct 6, 1958 |
| Brand Description: bar over V S – C. r. h |
| Town: Nanton |
| Box Number: 65 |
| File Number: 66530 |
Ewashin, George & John
| Dates: May 27, 1944 – last renewal date Oct 27, 1952 (horse); May 27, 1944 – ? (cattle) |
| Brand Description: quarter circle over (reversed) G 3 – H. r. sh – C. r. sh |
| Town: Cowley |
| Box Number: 52 |
| File Number: 77855 |
Faminoff, Joe
| Dates: Nov 13, 1945 – ? (horse); Nov 27, 1945 – cancelled Oct 12, 1965 (cattle) |
| Brand Description: half diamond over (reversed) F 2 – H. r. th – C. r. h |
| Town: Cowley |
| Box Number: 77 |
| File Number: 80172 |
Faminow, Bros & Sons (Sam, Mike, Steve)
| Dates: Apr 29, 1938 – transferred Feb 10, 1943 (both) |
| Brand Description: F B over half diamond – C. l. h – H. l. th |
| Town: Lundbreck |
| Box Number: 65 |
| File Number: 71379 |
Faminow, Fred P.
| Dates: Nov 21, 1941 – cancelled Dec 31, 1949 (cattle); Nov 21, 1941 – cancelled Nov 13, 1943 (horse) |
| Brand Description: cross F – C. r. h – H. r. th |
| Town: Lundbreck |
| Box Number: 17 |
| File Number: 73666 |
Faminow, Sam & Sons
| Dates: Dec 31, 1942 – expired Dec 31, 1962 (horse); Dec 31, 1942 – transferred Aug 6, 1959 (cattle) |
| Brand Description: F B over half diamond – H. l. th – C. l. h |
| Town: Lundbreck |
| Box Number: 65 |
| File Number: 71379 |
Fofonoff, John
| Dates: (a) Apr 23, 1945 – cancelled Dec 31, 1949; (b) Apr 23, 1945 – expired Dec 31, 1957; (c) May 5, 1934 – expired Dec 31, 1938 |
| Brand Description: half diamond over J F monogram; (a) H. l. th; (b) C. l.; (c) C. l. neck |
| Town: Queenstown, Vauxhall |
| Box Number: 61 |
| File Number: 68895 |
Fofonoff, Paul
| Dates: Apr 10, 1942 – cancelled Dec 31, 1946 (both) |
| Brand Description: J B over bar – H. r. sh – C. l. r |
| Town: Queenstown |
| Box Number: 37 |
| File Number: 74176 |
Hlookoff, Mike
| Dates: Apr 28, 1942 – last renewal date Dec 31, 1946 |
| Brand Description: M H over bar – C. r. sh |
| Town: Blackie |
| Box Number: 37 |
| File Number: 74202 |
Hlookoff, Nick
| Brand Book Dates: 1954-1974 |
| Brand Description: bar over N H – C. r. sh |
| Town: Mossleigh |
Hlookoff, Walter & Mary
| Brand Book Dates: 1978-1990 |
| Brand Description: bar over N H – C. r. sh |
| Town: Mossleigh |
Hlookoff, Walter
| Brand Book Dates: 1998-2009 |
| Brand Description: bar over N H – C. r. sh |
| Town: Mossleigh |
Holoboff, Darbra L.
| Brand Book Dates: 1984-2009 |
| Brand Description: D running bar lazy H – C. l. r |
| Town: Arrowwood |
Holoboff, Elli
| Brand Book Dates: 1937-1974 |
| Brand Description: N L inverted – C. l. sh – H. l. th |
| Town: Shouldice |
Holoboff, Fred
| Dates: May 19, 1942 – ? |
| Brand Description: F H over quarter circle – C. l. sh |
| Town: Mossleigh |
| Box Number: 15 |
| File Number: 74474 |
Holoboff, George
| Dates: Mar 4, 1959 – ? |
| Brand Description: F H over bar – C. l. h |
| Town: Mossleigh |
| Box Number: 68 |
| File Number: 55024 |
Holoboff, Jody
| Brand Book Dates: 1998-2009 |
| Brand Description: T running bar K – C. l. r |
| Town: Barnwell |
Holoboff, Joseph E.
| Brand Book Dates: 1978-2009 |
| Brand Description: N L inverted – C. l. sh |
| Town: Shouldice, Arrowwood |
Holoboff, Joseph J.
| Brand Book Dates: 1984-2009 |
| Brand Description: J J H – C. l. r |
| Town: Arrowwood |
Holoboff, Mike
| Dates: May 3, 1945 – cancelled Dec 31, 1973 |
| Brand Description: M H running bar – C. l. r |
| Town: Nanton |
| Box Number: 119 |
| File Number: 79356 |
Holoboff, Pete
| Dates: May 16, 1929 – cancelled Feb 1, 1970 (cattle); May 16, 1929 – cancelled Dec 31, 1949 (horse) |
| Brand Description: P H over bar – C. r. h – H. r. sh |
| Town: Nanton, Cayley |
| Box Number: 98 |
| File Number: 65919 |
Holoboff, Peter
| Brand Book Dates: 1968-1982 |
| Brand Description: quarter circle over O lazy S – C. r. h |
| Town: Vauxhall |
Holoboff, Tom J.
| Brand Book Dates: 1984-1994 |
| Brand Description: T running bar K – C. l. r |
| Town: Calgary, Blackie |
Holoboff, William
| Brand Book Dates: 1966-1986 |
| Brand Description: reversed B H over bar – C. r. h |
| Town: Herronton, Blackie, Innisfail |
Holoboff, William W.
| Dates: Apr 7, 1936 – ? |
| Brand Description: bar over B L – H. r. sh |
| Town: Vulcan |
| Box Number: 26 |
| File Number: 70241 |
Hoobenoff, John
| Dates: Nov 25, 1954 – ? |
| Brand Description: H P over bar – C. r. h |
| Town: Lundbreck |
| Box Number: 51 |
| File Number: 64582 |
Hoobenoff, N. S.
| Dates: Jul 8, 1942 – ? (both) |
| Brand Description: W H monogram over bar – H. r. sh – C. r. r |
| Town: Lundbreck |
| Box Number: 16 |
| File Number: 74718 |
Kabatoff, Bill (1)
| Dates: Jun 6, 1939 – last renewal date Dec 31, 1963 (cattle) |
| Brand Description: bar over B K – C. r. r |
| Town: Lundbreck, Cowley, Castlegar, BC |
| Box Number: 87 |
| File Number: 71933 |
Kabatoff, Bill (2)
| Dates: Dec 31, 1939 – ? (horse) |
| Brand Description: half diamond over B K – H. r. th |
| Town: Lundbreck, Cowley, Castlegar, BC |
| Box Number: 87 |
| File Number: 71933 |
Kabatoff, Fred S.
| Dates: Aug 20, 1943 – cancelled Nov 5, 1947 (both) |
| Brand Description: half diamond over F K – H. r. th – C. r. h |
| Town: Lundbreck |
| Box Number: 38 |
| File Number: 76440 |
Kabatoff, Mike
| Dates: Jul 12, 1934 – last renewal date Dec 31, 1942 |
| Brand Description: quarter circle over M K – C. r. h |
| Town: Glenwood, Lundbreck |
| Box Number: 24 |
| File Number: 69250 |
Kabatoff, Peter
| Dates: May 13, 1943 – expired Dec 31, 1963 |
| Brand Description: half diamond over P K – C. l. h |
| Town: Pincher Creek, Pincher Station, Lundbreck |
| Box Number: 69 |
| File Number: 75832 |
Kalmakoff, Alex J. (1)
| Dates: Apr 10, 1943 – cancelled Oct 16, 1946 |
| Brand Description: A K monogram over quarter circle – C. r. h |
| Town: Gleichen, Kamloops, BC |
| Box Number: 38 |
| File Number: 75589 |
Kalmakoff, Alex J. (2)
| Dates: Oct 18, 1946 – last renewal date Dec 31, 1950 |
| Brand Description: bar over A K monogram – C. r. r |
| Town: Gleichen, Kamloops, BC |
| Box Number: 38 |
| File Number: 75589 |
Kalmakoff, Sam
| Dates: Apr 29, 1942 – ? (both) |
| Brand Description: (reversed) K S over half diamond – H. r. th – C. r. h |
| Town: Cowley |
| Box Number: 7 |
| File Number: 74207 |
Konkin, Alex
| Dates: Jul 3, 1939 – ? |
| Brand Description: bar over A K – C. r. h |
| Town: Cowley |
| Box Number: 19 |
| File Number: 71975 |
Konkin, Andrew
| Dates: Nov 1, 1979 – cancelled Dec 31, 1983 |
| Brand Description: lazy A over K – H. l. th |
| Town: Gibbons, Ardrossan |
| Box Number: 146 |
| File Number: 11641 |
Konkin, Mabel
| Dates: May 21, 1944 – ? |
| Brand Description: M K over half diamond – C. l. h |
| Town: Carseland |
| Box Number: 40 |
| File Number: 82432 |
Konkin, William
| Dates: May 28, 1943 – cancelled Feb 2, 1968 |
| Brand Description: W K over half diamond – C. r. r |
| Town: Vauxhall |
| Box Number: 87 |
| File Number: 76001 |
Kooznetsoff, Sam
| Dates: Jul 20, 1950 – cancelled Feb 20, 1959 |
| Brand Description: bar over S 2 – C. l. r |
| Town: Cowley |
| Box Number: 53 |
| File Number: 85976 |
Kuftinoff, Nick
| Dates: Mar 17, 1930 – last renewal date Dec 31, 1934 (both) |
| Brand Description: N K over half diamond – C. l. h – H. l. th |
| Town: Skiff |
| Box Number: 9a |
| File Number: 66315 |
Kuznetsoff, P.
| Dates: Jul 26, 1955 – EXP Dec 31, 1959 |
| Brand Description: running bar X S – C. l. r |
| Town: Bluffton |
| Box Number: 55 |
| File Number: 69823 |
Maloff, Fred
| Dates: Jan 14, 1952 – cancelled Oct 20, 1980 |
| Brand Description: F V over half diamond – C. r.h |
| Town: Bearberry, Sundre |
| Box Number: 139 |
| File Number: 87856 |
Maloff, George
| Dates: Apr 12, 1943 – transferred Mar 14, 1945 |
| Brand Description: (reversed) F M monogram over half diamond – C. l. h |
| Town: Crowfoot |
| Box Number: 15 |
| File Number: 75478 |
Maloff, George & Son
| Dates: Mar 18, 1940 – last renewal date Nov 2, 1944 (horse); Mar 18, 1940 – cancelled Dec 31, 1976 (cattle) |
| Brand Description: J M monogram over quarter circle – H. r. th – C. r. neck |
| Town: Cowley |
| Box Number: 134 |
| File Number: 72268 |
Mushta, Anthony & Peter M. Saliken
| Dates: Jun 29, 1942 – transferred Apr 12, 1947 |
| Brand Description: N F monogram over bar – H. r. th – C. r. h |
| Town: Lundbreck |
| Box Number: 104 |
| File Number: 74625 |
Oglaff, William
| Dates: Jul 13, 1948 – ? |
| Brand Description: W O half diamond – C. r. r |
| Town: Arrowwood |
| Box Number: 41 |
| File Number: 83824 |
Ozeroff, Paul
| Dates: Dec 16, 1954 – cancelled Mar 28, 1974 |
| Brand Description: bar over P O – C. l. sh |
| Town: Nanton |
| Box Number: 123 |
| File Number: 65016 |
Parakin, John
| Dates: Jul 3, 1964 – cancelled Sep 15, 1972 |
| Brand Description: 7 P running bar – C. l. r |
| Town: Lundbreck |
| Box Number: 115 |
| File Number: 93479 |
Parakin, Pete P.
| Dates: Jun 4, 1943 – last renewal date Dec 16, 1954 (cattle); Jun 4, 1943 – expired Dec 31, 1951 (horse) |
| Brand Description: (reversed) P P over half diamond – C. r. sh – H. r. sh |
| Town: Lundbreck |
| Box Number: 52 |
| File Number: 76048 |
Pereverziff, John
| Dates: Apr 26, 1955 – expired Dec 31, 1959 |
| Brand Description: running bar H P – C. r. r |
| Town: Lethbridge |
| Box Number: 55 |
| File Number: 68418 |
Planidin, Mrs. Fanny
| Brand Book Dates: 1937-1937 |
| Brand Description: quarter circle over F P – H. l. sh. – C. l. r. |
| Town: Queenstown |
Planidin, Paul P.
| Brand Book Dates: 1966-1990 |
| Brand Description: 3 P over half diamond – H. l. th. – C. l. r. |
| Town: Calgary |
Planidin, S.D.
| Brand Book Dates: 1947-1982 |
| Brand Description: quarter circle over F P – H. l. sh. – C. l. r. |
| Town: Queenstown, Calgary |
Podmaroff, Alex
| Dates: May 21, 1945 – last renewal date Nov 5, 1964 |
| Brand Description: A P over half diamond – C. l. r |
| Town: Calgary, Carstairs |
| Box Number: 94 |
| File Number: 79416 |
Podmaroff, David
| Brand Book Dates: 1990-2009 |
| Brand Description: bar over W P – C. r. h. |
| Town: Calgary |
Podmaroff, Marion I. (1)
| Brand Book Dates: 1962-1994 |
| Brand Description: bar over V Y – C. r. h |
| Town: Carseland, Calgary |
Podmaroff, Marion I. (2)
| Brand Book Dates: 1982-1996 |
| Brand Description: bar over W P – C. r. h. |
| Town: Carseland, Calgary |
Podmaroff, William
| Brand Book Dates: 1947-1978 |
| Brand Description: bar over W P – C. r. h. |
| Town: Carseland, Calgary |
Podmoroff, Alec
| Brand Book Dates: 1937-1937 |
| Brand Description: P P over half diamond – C. l. h – H. l. th. |
| Town: Carseland |
Podmoroff, Alec (Estate of)
| Brand Book Dates: 1947-1978 |
| Brand Description: P P over half diamond – C. l. h – H. l. th. |
| Town: High River, Mossleigh |
Podmoroff, Alex
| Brand Book Dates: 1954-1990 |
| Brand Description: 7 A over bar – C. r. h. |
| Town: Hubalta, Calgary |
Podmoroff, Danny
| Brand Book Dates: 1982-1990 |
| Brand Description: P P over half diamond – C. l. h – H. l. th. |
| Town: Olds |
Podmoroff, Mike
| Brand Book Dates: 1994-1994 |
| Brand Description: P P over half diamond – C. l. h – H. l. th. |
| Town: Calgary |
Podmoroff, Paul A.
| Brand Book Dates: 1998-2009 |
| Brand Description: P P over half diamond – C. l. h – H. l. th. |
| Town: Olds |
Podmoroff, Terence
| Brand Book Dates: 2003-2009 |
| Brand Description: P P over half diamond – C. r. h – H. r. th. |
| Town: Exshaw |
Ponomareff, Alexander
| Dates: Apr 22, 1959 – ? |
| Brand Description: A S P – C. l. r |
| Town: Arrowwood |
| Box Number: 69 |
| File Number: 71634 |
Potapoff, William P. (1)
| Dates: May 11, 1933 – expired Dec 31, 1941 |
| Brand Description: W P bar – C. l. r |
| Town: Cowley |
| Box Number: 20 |
| File Number: 68273 |
Potapoff, William P. (2)
| Dates: May 11, 1933 – expired Dec 31, 1941 |
| Brand Description: bar over W P – H. l. sh |
| Town: Cowley |
| Box Number: 20 |
| File Number: 68273 |
Salekin, Alex A.
| Dates: Apr 2, 1942 – cancelled Oct 25, 1966 (cattle); Oct 10, 1944 – expired Dec 31, 1968 (horse) |
| Brand Description: quarter circle over S N – C. r. h – H. r. th |
| Town: Lundbreck |
| Box Number: 93 |
| File Number: 74030 |
Saliken, Mike
| Dates: Dec 31 1946 – last renewal date Oct 18, 1966 (horse); Dec 31, 1946 – transferred Dec 18, 1969 (cattle) |
| Brand Description: N F monogram over bar – H. r. th – C. r. h |
| Town: Lundbreck |
| Box Number: 104 |
| File Number: 74625 |
Saliken, Peter M.
| Dates: Dec 31 1946 – last renewal date Oct 18, 1966 (horse); Dec 31, 1946 – transferred Dec 18, 1969 (cattle) |
| Brand Description: N F monogram over bar – H. r. th – C. r. h |
| Town: Lundbreck |
| Box Number: 104 |
| File Number: 74625 |
Samaroden, Mike
| Brand Book Dates: 1962-1970 |
| Brand Description: S over S – C. l. h |
| Town: Mossleigh |
Samaroden, Peter R.
| Brand Book Dates: 1962-1982 |
| Brand Description: quarter circle over P 5 – C. r. r |
| Town: Mossleigh, Fort McMurray |
Samaroden, Sam J.
| Dates: Apr 15, 1939 – cancelled Nov 28, 1947 (horse); Apr 15, 1939 – transferred Jan 3, 1961 (cattle) |
| Brand Description: S over S – H. l. sh – C. l. h |
| Town: Mossleigh |
| Box Number: 108 |
| File Number: 71809 |
Semenoff, Joe J.
| Dates: Apr 14, 1938 – cancelled Dec 31, 1962 (cattle); Apr 14, 1938 – cancelled Dec 31, 1950 (horse) |
| Brand Description: J O over half diamond – C. r. h – H. l. sh |
| Town: Vulcan, Lundbreck |
| Box Number: 65 |
| File Number: 71320 |
Semenoff, John
| Dates: Jun 22, 1939 – ? (both) |
| Brand Description: half diamond over C inverted 7 – C. r. h – H. r. th |
| Town: Lundbreck |
| Box Number: 19 |
| File Number: 71964 |
Semenoff, Pete
| Dates: Feb 3, 1955 – cancelled Sep 11, 1959 |
| Brand Description: D P over quarter circle – C. r. r |
| Town: Radisson, SK, Lundbreck |
| Box Number: 54 |
| File Number: 65538 |
Sherstabetoff, Nick
| Dates: Nov 26, 1946 – last renewal date Oct 19, 1970 |
| Brand Description: N S over quarter circle – C. l. h |
| Town: Mossleigh |
| Box Number: 124 |
| File Number: 77591 |
Sherstabetoff, Peter (Estate of)
| Brand Book Dates: 1954-2009 |
| Brand Description: half diamond over S H – C. r. r |
| Town: Mossleigh |
Shkooratoff, Mike
| Dates: Mar 14, 1940 – last renewal date Oct 27, 1952 (horse); Mar 14, 1940 – cancelled Dec 31, 1964 (cattle) |
| Brand Description: M S over bar – H. r. sh – C. r. sh |
| Town: Cowley |
| Box Number: 71 |
| File Number: 72236 |
Shkooratoff, Paul
| Dates: Oct 4, 1940 – expired Dec 31, 1952 (horse); Feb 24, 1947 – expired Dec 31, 1952 (cattle) |
| Brand Description: P S over quarter circle – H. l. th – C. l. h |
| Town: Fort Macleod |
| Box Number: 37 |
| File Number: 72670 |
Shkuratoff, W.
| Dates: Dec 20, 1948 – last renewal date Dec 31, 1952 |
| Brand Description: S over W – C. r. h |
| Town: Milo |
| Box Number: 47 |
| File Number: 84083 |
Shkurotoff, Nick
| Dates: May 5, 1945 – ? |
| Brand Description: bar over H lazy E – C. l.r |
| Town: Lundbreck |
| Box Number: 22 |
| File Number: 79486 |
Stoocknoff, Tom
| Dates: May 27, 1935 – last renewal date Dec 30, 1939 |
| Brand Description: T over lazy S – C. r.r |
| Town: Hesketh |
| Box Number: 26 |
| File Number: 69800 |
Stoopnekoff, John
| Dates: May 9, 1942 – last renewal date Dec 31, 1946 |
| Brand Description: J S – C. r. neck |
| Town: Cowley |
| Box Number: 15 |
| File Number: 74252 |
Sukeroff, Bill
| Dates: Mar 24, 1950 – cancelled Sep 6, 1974 |
| Brand Description: bar over (reversed) B S – C. l. r |
| Town: Vauxhall |
| Box Number: 126 |
| File Number: 85383 |
Sukeroff, L.A.
| Dates: May 8, 1952 – last renewal date Oct 17, 1956 |
| Brand Description: half diamond over A L monogram – C. l. r |
| Town: Vauxhall |
| Box Number: 59 |
| File Number: 88503 |
Sukovieff, Mike
| Dates: Jun 15, 1959 – expired Dec 31, 1965 |
| Brand Description: N B monogram over bar – H. l. th |
| Town: Conrich, Calgary |
| Box Number: 76 |
| File Number: 78268 |
Tarasoff, Nick
| Dates: Feb 27, 1945 – ? |
| Brand Description: N T over half diamond – C. l. sh |
| Town: Herronton |
| Box Number: 23 |
| File Number: 78802 |
Tarasoff, Pete
| Dates: Aug 4, 1953 – last renewal date Feb 1, 1963 |
| Brand Description: bar over 7 X – C. l. h |
| Town: Herronton |
| Box Number: 89 |
| File Number: 90570 |
Veregin, George J.
| Dates: Jan 15, 1945 – transferred Jan 29, 1962 |
| Brand Description: (reversed) G V over bar – C. l. r |
| Town: Nanton |
| Box Number: 76 |
| File Number: 78602 |
Veregin, Peter
| Dates: Jan 31, 1962 – cancelled Oct 7, 1965 |
| Brand Description: (reversed) G V over bar – C. l. r |
| Town: Nanton |
| Box Number: 76 |
| File Number: 78602 |
Veregin, William
| Dates: Oct 19, 1939 – expired Dec 31, 1963 (both) |
| Brand Description: W V over bar – C. r. r – H. r. th |
| Town: Lundbreck |
| Box Number: 67 |
| File Number: 46413 |
Vereschagin Bros.
| Dates: Apr 24, 1945 – last renewal date Dec 31, 1953 |
| Brand Description: half diamond over V B – C. l. h |
| Town: Michichi |
| Box Number: 49 |
| File Number: 79246 |
Vishloff, John
| Dates: Mar 26, 1942 – ? |
| Brand Description: J V over quarter circle – C. r. sh |
| Town: Burmis |
| Box Number: 15 |
| File Number: 74017 |
Voykin, Bill
| Dates: Sep 24, 1934 – expired Dec 31, 1950 |
| Brand Description: half diamond over B V – C. r. h |
| Town: Cowley, Lundbreck |
| Box Number: 36 |
| File Number: 69308 |
Voykin, Fred
| Dates: May 23, 1947 – expired Dec 31, 1955 |
| Brand Description: half diamond over F V – C. r. h |
| Town: Lundbreck, Macleod |
| Box Number: 44 |
| File Number: 82436 |
Zaytsoff, Bill
| Dates: Jan 28, 1928 – last renewal date Nov 2, 1944 (horse); Jan 28, 1928 – expired Dec 31, 1932 (cattle) |
| Brand Description: B Z over bar – H. r. th – C. r. h |
| Town: Queenstown |
| Box Number: 12 |
| File Number: 55135 |
Understanding Livestock Brands
Traditionally, branding involved capturing and securing an animal by roping it, laying it over on the ground, tying its legs together, and searing the animal’s flesh with a hot iron to produce a scar – the brand. Modern ranch practice has moved toward use of chutes where animals can be run into a confined area and safely secured while the brand is applied. Today branding is more often done with chemicals, tattooing, paint or tagging.
In Alberta, registered cattle brands could be used in one of six positions on an animal: the shoulder (sh), rib (r), or hip (h) on either the left or right side. Registered horse brands could be used in one of six positions on the animal: the jaw (j), shoulder (sh) or thigh (th) on either the left or right side.
Doukhobors using oxen to break land for Canadian Wheatlands near Bowell, Alberta, ca. 1911-1914. Glenbow Archives NA-587-2.
A brand may consist of a character (letter or numeral), symbol (such as a slash, circle, half circle, cross or bar) or any combination thereof. Characters may appear upright, reversed (called ‘crazy’) or turned 90 degrees (called ‘lazy’). Each character or symbol may be distinct from another or else connected (touching), combined (partially overlaid), or hanging (touching, but arranged top to bottom). The possible combinations are endless. Usually a brand signified something unique to its owner – for instance his or her initials.
Note a brand is usually read from left to right, from top to bottom, and finally, from outside to inside where it has a character that encloses another. For instance, the livestock brand “F-P” would be read and defined as “F running bar P”.
For More Information
For more information about Doukhobor stockmen in Alberta and their brands, visit the Stockmen’s Memorial Foundation Library and Archives website. Established by the Stockmen’s Memorial Foundation in 1980, the Library and Archives is located in Cochrane, Alberta and houses a vast collection of historical and business information relating to the livestock industry, cowboys and western culture.
The cancelled brand files held at the Stockmen’s Memorial Foundation Library and Archives are the original files of brand requests from ranchers, farmers and businesses for a brand for horses, cattle, foxes, sheep and poultry from 1888 to 1980. This information is especially of interest to those tracing family history. Each file contains at least one sheet with information regarding the location of the owner’s grazing lands and the possible choices of brands. Many files will have lengthy correspondence relating to the brands.
The Stockmen’s Memorial Foundation Library and Archives also has the largest collection of Alberta Brand Books. Brand Books recorded all horse and cattle brands registered in the province for a specified period of years. A typical Brand Book will usually have an image of the brand, the location of the brand on the animal, and the type of animal that was branded, as well as the owner of the brand. The Brand Books contain both cancelled and currently active brands.
