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[[Image:Soundex1910.jpg|thumb|right]][[Image:Miracode.jpg|thumb|right]]Soundex is a phonetic index that groups together names that sound alike but are spelled differently, ''for example'', '''''Stewart''''' and '''''Stuart'''''. This helps searchers find names that are spelled differently than originally expected, a relatively common genealogical research problem. | [[Image:Soundex1910.jpg|thumb|right]][[Image:Miracode.jpg|thumb|right]]Soundex is a phonetic index that groups together names that sound alike but are spelled differently, ''for example'', '''''Stewart''''' and '''''Stuart'''''. This helps searchers find names that are spelled differently than originally expected, a relatively common genealogical research problem. | ||
The indexing system was developed by Robert C. Russell and Margaret K. Odell. It was patented in 1918<ref>Robert C. Russell, a method of phonetic indexing, patent no. 1,261,167 (1918), archive unknown; digital images, ''Google Patents'' (http://www.google.com/patents/about?id=EbdgAAAAEBAJ | The indexing system was developed by Robert C. Russell and Margaret K. Odell. It was patented in 1918<ref>Robert C. Russell, a method of phonetic indexing, patent no. 1,261,167 (1918), archive unknown; digital images, ''Google Patents'' (http://www.google.com/patents/about?id=EbdgAAAAEBAJ : accessed 6 May 2010).</ref> (reissued 1923<ref>Robert C. Russell, a method of phonetic indexing, patent no. 1,261,167 (1918), reissue no. RE15,582 (1923), archive unknown; digital images, ''Google Patents'' (http://www.google.com/patents/about?id=ProkAAAAEBAJ : accessed 6 May 2010).</ref>) and 1922.<ref>Robert C. Russell, a method of phonetic indexing, patent no. 1,435,663 (1922), archive unknown; digital images, ''Google Patents'' (http://www.google.com/patents/about?id=t6FkAAAAEBAJ : accessed 6 May 2010).</ref> It is formally called the Russell Soundex, and a variation used on the censuses is called the American Soundex.<ref>Rick Parsons, ''[http://west-penwith.org.uk/misc/soundex.htm Soundex - the True Story],'' (http://west-penwith.org.uk/misc/soundex.htm amp;nbsp;: accessed 30 July 2008).</ref> When a computer was used to generate a Soundex index card for a census it was called a Miracode, and the information listed was slightly different from handwritten Soundex cards for the same census. | ||
The most well-known genealogical use of Soundex is on parts of the 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920, and 1930 United States federal censuses. It is also used by the federal government for selected ship passenger arrival lists, certain Canadian border crossings, and some naturalization records. A few county governments have also used a version of Soundex for courthouse kinds of records. More recently, Ancestry.com and other Internet companies have featured a Soundex search for their huge online genealogical databases. | The most well-known genealogical use of Soundex is on parts of the 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920, and 1930 United States federal censuses. It is also used by the federal government for selected ship passenger arrival lists, certain Canadian border crossings, and some naturalization records. A few county governments have also used a version of Soundex for courthouse kinds of records. More recently, Ancestry.com and other Internet companies have featured a Soundex search for their huge online genealogical databases. | ||
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Use these rules to manually create a Soundex code for an ancestor’s name. | Use these rules to manually create a Soundex code for an ancestor’s name. | ||
=== '''Basic Rules'''<ref>Based on rules in ''[http://www.archives.gov/genealogy/census/soundex.html The Soundex Indexing System],'' ''The National Archives'' (http://www.archives.gov/genealogy/census/soundex.html | === '''Basic Rules'''<ref>Based on rules in ''[http://www.archives.gov/genealogy/census/soundex.html The Soundex Indexing System],'' ''The National Archives'' (http://www.archives.gov/genealogy/census/soundex.html : accessed 30 July 2008).</ref> === | ||
*Every soundex code consists of a letter and three numbers, such as D432. | *Every soundex code consists of a letter and three numbers, such as D432. | ||
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=== ''' | === '''Additional Rules''' === | ||
*'''Double key letters''' should be treated as one letter. For example, '''Gutierrez''' = G362. | *'''Double key letters''' should be treated as one letter. For example, '''Gutierrez''' = G362. | ||
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*'''Names with prefixes''', such as Van, Con, De, Di, La, or Le, are coded both with and without the prefix because the name might be listed under either code. Note, however, that Mc and Mac are not considered prefixes. For example, '''Van Deusen''' = V532 or D250. | *'''Names with prefixes''', such as Van, Con, De, Di, La, or Le, are coded both with and without the prefix because the name might be listed under either code. Note, however, that Mc and Mac are not considered prefixes. For example, '''Van Deusen''' = V532 or D250. | ||
== '''More Soundex Examples'''<ref>Anne Bruner Eales, and Robert M. Kvasnicka, ''[http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/44420788& | == '''More Soundex Examples'''<ref>Anne Bruner Eales, and Robert M. Kvasnicka, ''[http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/44420788&amp;referer=brief_results Guide to Genealogical Research in the National Archives, 3rd ed.]'' (Washington, D.C.: NARA, 2000), 22.</ref> == | ||
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