Thank you for such a well written and easy to understand explanation of Soundex system. It is very helpful. Patti W-I NColeman wrote: > > Dear Marilyn: > The Soundex system was designed to help find names that > "sound" similar and might be spelled incorrectly or > phonetically. Here's a simplified, basic run-down: > > Surname example: THOMPSON > 1) You take the first letter of the surname - in this case > "T." > 2) You ignore all vowels and the letters H, W, and Y. > Scratch them out - you have MPSN remaining. > 3) Each remaining letter has a corresponding number code > associated with it. They are: > 1 - B,F,P,V > 2 - C,G,J,K,Q,S,X,Z > 3 - D,T > 4 - L > 5 - M,N > 6 - R > 4) You take the "T" and add to it the next three > remaining/corresponding numbers - in this case T512. This > is the Soundex code for "Thompson." > > So, you always should end up with one alpha and three > numeric characters for the Soundex code. You ignore any > remaining letters after that. > > CAUTION: Even this system has it's pitfalls. For instance, > what if someone misspelled the name, ie. Thomson? Your > Soundex code would then be T525 not T512. So, sometimes you > have to misspell the name yourself in order to make sure > you've captured each Soundex code that may apply. > SECOND variable: If you have a name like VanBrunt or > DiAngelo, make sure you calculate the name both with and > without the prefix. > THIRD variable: If you have two letters side-by-side that > have the same numeric code, treat them as one. For example: > Williams = W452, not W445. Jackson = J250, not J222. If > you have two letters of the same code, separated by a vowel, > you treat them as separate numbers: Coleman = C455. > FOURTH variable: If the double "sound" appears right at the > beginning of the name, it is follows the same rule as #3 > above. For example: Schmidt = S530. But, there are > instances where you may want to check under S253 (or > whatever the double is for the name) just in case it was > miscoded. I haven't run into too many examples of this but > it does happen once in awhile. > > Tip #1: Once you've found your Soundex code in the > particular index reel you are working on, the next form of > alphabetizing that happens is with the given name. So, in > the case of Thompson, you find the beginning of the T512 > names on the reel. You will then notice that, no matter > what the surname is, all the Annas, Abrahams, etc. are > together. If you are looking for a John Thompson, you speed > ahead to the "Js" and look for where the Johns begin. Then, > and only then, you go back to looking for the actual > surname. > Tip #2: Many times there is a further subdivision which > helps you get (within your Soundex code) to the correct > section where your person may be found. This division can > take two forms. Within a particular state it can be a > division by county. A second division may be by place of > birth. In both instances, within your Soundex code you > spool ahead to the particular county your person may have > been enumerated in or where your person may have been born. > THEN you look for your John or Anna, then you look for the > surname. Not every index using the Soundex system has these > further subdivisions. And, I've usually only seen them used > consistently when you have a tremendously common name like > Smith, Murphy, Brown, etc. An unusual name with an uncommon > Soundex code combination will usually NOT have these, even > if the rest of the reel does. > > Hope this helps. Best regards. Nancy. > > NColeman > NYC/Long Island Family History Research Services > http://www.genealogyPro.com/ncoleman.html > http://www.familytreemaker.com/users/c/o/l/Nancy--Coleman/ > ncroots@worldnet.att.net > NYGenExchange: www.genexchange.com/NY/index.cfm > > -----Original Message----- > From: Marilyn Reynolds <reynolds@3-cities.com> > To: GEN-NYS-L@rootsweb.com <GEN-NYS-L@rootsweb.com> > Date: Wednesday, July 21, 1999 8:46 AM > Subject: NY 1900 census > > >Hello, I wrote to a historical soc that has all censuses > for all states. I > >was told that most 1870 censuses in NY are not indexed. I > also requested > >indexes from the 1900 NY census and was told that this > census is indexed > >only by the Soundex system, on microfilm, that there isn't > a published index > >for most states for 1900. Does anyone know anywhere, if > any, I can access > >the index for 1900 and how indexing by soundex works. > Thank you very much. > >Marilyn reynolds@3-cities.com > > > > > > > >==== GEN-NYS Mailing List ==== > >Have you forgotten how to UNSUBSCRIBE? > >Visit the GEN-NYS-L Frequently Asked Questions (And > Answers!) web page: > > > http://www.rootsweb.com/~nozell/GEN-NYS-L/FAQ/GEN-NYS-L.txt > > > > > > ==== GEN-NYS Mailing List ==== > Have you considered joining the Rootsweb Genealogical Data > Cooperative? > http://www.rootsweb.com/