Newsgroups: soc.roots
Date:         Thu, 5 Nov 1992 17:17:27 EST
Reply-To:     Dick and Jill Miller <dmiller@IM.LCS.MIT.EDU>
From:         Dick and Jill Miller <dmiller@IM.LCS.MIT.EDU>
Subject:      Soundex encoding
Comments: To: hadenfeldt@chemie.uni-hamburg.dbp.de, roots-l@vm1.nodak.edu

On Thu, 29 Oct 1992, Sven Hadenfeldt <hadenfeldt@CHEMIE.UNI-HAMBURG.DBP.DE>
says:
> can anyone supply details of soundex coding ?
> Or at least tell me where to get them.

The following is from LISTSERV@vm1.nodak.edu (File: "GENEALOG SOUNDEX1").
Some of my own information should be there too, including the history of
Soundex, some Soundex spin-offs, etc.  Hope this helps.

--Dick Miller

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          SOUNDEX CODES

The soundex is a four character code based on the way a name sounds rather
than the way it is spelled.  Surnames that sound the same but are spelled
differently, like SMITH and SMYTH, have the same code and are indexed
together.  The Soundex Coding system was developed so that you can find a
surname no matter how it was spelled.

Every Soundex code consists of a letters and three numbers, like B560.  The
letter is always the first letter of the surname,  The numbers are assigned
this way:
          1  =  b,p,f,v      2  =  c,s,k,g,j,q,x,z
          3  =  d,t          4  =  l
          5  =  m,n          6  =  r
          disregard  -  a,e,i,o,u,w,y,h

To figure out your surname's code, do this:        (JOHNSON)
   - Eliminate any a,e,i,o,u,w,y,h                 (JNSN)
   - Write the first letter, as is, followed by the
     codes found in the table above                (JNSN = J525)

No matter how long or short the surname is, the soundex code is always the
first letter of the name followed by three numbers.  If you have coded the
first letter and three numbers but still have more letters in the name,
ignore them.  If you have run out of letters in the name before you have
three numbers, then add zeroes to the code.
            WASHINGTON = WSNGTN = W252 (ignore the ending TN)
            KUHNE = KN = K500 (add zeroes to the end)

Prefixes --- You have a surname with a prefix like Van, Von, De, Di, or Le.
Code it with and without the prefix because it may be listed under either
code.  Van Hoesen should be coded as VanHoesen and also as Hoesen.  Mac and
Mc are -not- considered prefixes.

Double letters -- Any double letters side by side should be treated as one
letter.  For example Lloyd is coded as if it was spelled Loyd.  Gutierrez
is coded as if it was Gutierez.

Side by side letters with the same value -- You may have different letters
side by side that have the same code value.  For example PFISTER (P & F are
both 1), JACKSON (CKS are all 2). These letters should be treated as one
letter.  PFISTER is coded as PSTR and JACKSON is coded as JCN.

from "Beginnning Your Genealogical Research in the National
Archives"
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

A. Richard & Jill A. Miller            | Miller Microcomputer Services |
InterNet: dmiller@im.lcs.mit.edu       | 61 Lake Shore Road            |
Voice: 508/653-6136, 9am-9pm EasternTZ | Natick, MA 01760-2099, USA    |
                 MMSFORTH: The cure for the common code.