Soundex searches usually do not find spelling variants that begin with a different letter than the name for which you are searching. A soundex search for Cain will normally bring up Cane, Caine, Cone, etc. but will not locate Kain, Kane, Kaine, etc.
When working on a new name list all the variants of that name and remember that Soundex searches only bring up results with the same initial letter of the name entered.
A Soundex search for Night won’t usually locate Knight either.
5 Responses
[…] Initial Differences in Soundex by Michael John Neill at Genealogy Tip of the Day […]
Hi Michael,
I just tried my first Soundex search. It’s true. I just never saw the need what with phonetic and wildcard options available.
But anyway, I tried it and then read your post “Initial Differences in Soundex” and how it usually doesn’t find variants that begin with a different letter than the name you’re searching for.
But if that’s the case, then how come I get the following results with a Soundex search on Ancestry’s New York Passenger Lists 1820-1957?
S660 (Schwoerer)- brings up
Alaba Sk Abba
Bannick Sk Abdel
Sk Abdoole Sk Albe
Jose B Alvarez S
Maria Amodeo S
Giovanni S Anna
Mrs. L J Am??S
Alburah Sk Barson
S423 (Schlechtweg) brings up
Alaba Sk Abba
Bannick Sk Abdel
Sk Abdul Hamid
Giovanni S Anna
Pedro S Anton
If I add the year of arrival, the results are much more as you described – mostly all last names starting with the letter “S”.
The results on Ancestry’s Atlantic Ports, Gulf Coasts, and Great Lakes Passenger Lists, Roll 1, 1820-1871 was even worse – names like Mary S. Trayton, Cabria S. Cattin, H. S. Newcomb, etc.
What gives? Am I doing something wrong? Perhaps I just don’t understand Soundex and how to use it effectively. :o)
Do you have “exact” checked?
Yes. Checking the Soundex box automatically checks the Exact box, as well.
Can you do a screen shot of your search screen?