How to Use Soundex Codes

Soundex is a phonetic coding system used to group together surnames that sound alike (SMITH/SMYTH). This helps you to find a surname in census documents and surname databases, even though it may have been recorded under various spellings .

Difficulty Level: Easy      Time Required: 5 minutes

Here's How:

1. Every Soundex code consists of a letter (always the first letter of the surname) and three numbers.
2. Write out your surname and keep the first letter, but cross out any remaining vowels (A, E, I, O, U, Y), and the letters H and W.
3. If there are any double letters, then cross out the second of the two letters.
4. Cross out any letters remaining after the first four letters.
5. Assign the following codes to the remaining letters, remembering to leave the first letter as it is.
6. Replace these letters in your code with the number 1:  B, P, F, V
7. Replace these letters in your code with the number 2:  C, S, K, G, J, Q, X, Z
8. Replace these letters in your code with the number 3:  D, T
9. Replace these letters in your code with the number 4:  L
10. Replace these letters in your code with the number 5:  M, N
11. Replace these letters in your code with the number 6:  R
12. If the surname has less than three letters left, assign zeros to those places.
13. Your final code should be the first letter of the surname followed by three numbers   i.e. S530 (SMITH)
14. If this Soundex stuff sounds like Greek to you, don't worry. There are online Soundex converters that will convert your surname for you. See links below.

Tips:

1. Names are sometimes spelled in different ways or misread when being indexed.  You may have better results if you search under several possible Soundex codes. 
2. If the surname has a prefix, such as D', De,  du, le, Van, or Von, code it both with and without the prefix because it might be listed under either code. Mc and Mac are not considered prefixes in the Soundex.
3. Two or more letters with the same code number that appear in sequence in a surname are assigned one number. Thus the CK in Jackson would be coded as 2, not 22.
   

Related Features:

• Exceptions to Soundex Coding Rules
• RootsWeb's Surname to Soundex Code
• The National Archives Soundex Machine
• Surname Resources on the Internet
• Census Resources on the Internet