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National Archives and Census Administration
Revised 2003
Census Soundex
Beginning with the 1880 census and ending with 1930, the censuses are indexed by the Soundex system. This brochure explains the Soundex system and gives examples of index cards for 1880 and 1900 to 1930.
To locate information about a person, you must know their name, the name of the head of the household, and the state or territory in which they lived at the time of the census.
1880 The 1880 census is indexed only for those families with children aged 10 years or younger.
1890 A Department of Commerce fire in 1921 destroyed most of the 1890 census. 1890 Although there is no Soundex, there is an alphabetical index for the small percentage of population schedules that survived.
1900 There is a Soundex index for all states.
1910 There is a Soundex index for only the following states:
1920 There is a Soundex index for all states.
1930 There is a Soundex index for only the following states:
*These Kentucky counties are indexed: Bell , Floyd, Harlan, Kenton, Muhlenberg, Perry, and Pike.
**These West Virginia counties are indexed: Fayette, Harrison, Kanawha, Logan, McDowell, Mercer, and Raleigh.
1940 AND LATER These censuses are not yet available to the public because of legislation requiring a 72-year delay in their release. There are no Soundex indexes after 1930.
The Soundex System
The Soundex is a coded surname (last name) index based on the way a surname sounds rather than by the way it is spelled. Surnames that sound the same, but are spelled differently, like BROWN and BROWNE, are filed under the same code. The Soundex coding system was developed so that you can find a surname even though it may have been recorded under various spellings.
To search for a particular surname, you must first work out its code. Every Soundex code
consists of a letter and three numbers. The letter is always the first letter of the surname.
The numbers are assigned to the remaining letters of the surname according to the Soundex guide.
Using the boxes in the middle panel, follow these steps:
STEP 1 On line 1, write the surname you are coding, placing one letter in each box.
STEP 2 On line 2, write the first letter of the surname in the first box.
STEP 3 On line 1, disregarding the first letter, slash through the letters A, E, I, 0, U, W, Y, and H.
STEP 4 On line 2, write the numbers found on the Soundex Coding Guide for the first three remaining unslashed letters. Add zeros to any empty boxes. Disregard any additional letters.
NAMES WITH DOUBLE LETTERS
If the surname has any double letters, they should be treated as one letter. For example, the two “t”s in Ritter are coded with one "3" (R360).
NAMES WITH LETTERS SIDE-BY-SIDE THAT HAVE THE SAME NUMBER
A surname may have different letters side-by-side that have the same code number. For example, PF in Pfister (1 is the number for both P and F); CKS in Jackson (2 is the number for C, K, and S.) These letters should be treated as one letter.
NAMES WITH PREFIXES
Mc and Mac are not considered prefixes.
If a surname has a prefix, such as Van, Con, De, Di, La, or Le, code both with and without the prefix because it might be listed under either code. /
“H” AND “W” AS CONSONANT SEPARATORS
“H” or “W” are completely disregarded except as initial letters. In any other part of the surname, the letters “H” and “W” are treated as if they are not there. If “H” or “W' separate two consonants that have the same Soundex code, the consonant to the right of the “H” or “W” should not be coded. For example: Ashcraft is coded A-261 (A, 2 for S, C ignored, 6 for the R, 1 for the F). Burroughs is coded B-620 (B, 6 is for R, 2 for G, S is ignored, 0 because there are no more letters to code).
It is very important to remember that not all Bureau of the Census employees Soundexed a name strictly according to the rules. For example, Ashcraft may sometimes be found under A226.
List of what number represents which letter
Disregard the letters A, E, I, 0, U, H, W, and Y.
[Image of Line 1 and Line 2. These lines are used to code family names.
With your ancestor's name correctly coded, you are ready to use the microfilmed Soundex card index, which is organized by state, there under by Soundex code number, and there under alphabetically by first name or initial.
[Image of a Soundex family card from 1880. Includes information for head of the family and other members of the family]
[Image of a Soundex family card from 1900. Includes same information as 1880 card.]
For 1880 and 1900 copy Head of Family, County, Vol., E.D., Sheet, and Line from the appropriate card.
[Image of a Soundex family card and individual card from 1910. The family card includes head of the family information and other family members and individual cards includes detailed information of family members]
For 1910 copy Head of Family, County, Vol., E.D., and Sheet from the appropriate card.
[Image is an example of Soundex code]
For 1910 copy County Name, Vol., E.D., and Family Number from the top left of the card and the 11-digit number from the top right of the card.
[Image of a family card and individual Soundex card from 1920. The family card includes head of the family information and other family members and individual cards includes detailed information of family members]
For 1920 copy the information from Head of the Family, County, Vol., E.D., Sheet, and Line from the appropriate card.
[Image of Soundex card from 1930. The family card includes head of the family information and other family members and individual cards includes detailed information of family members]
For 1930 copy the information from Head of the Family, County, Vol., E.D., Sheet, and Line from the appropriate card.
[Image of example Soundex code]
For 1930 copy County Name, Vol., E.D., and Family Number from the top left of the card and the 11-digit number from the top right of the card.
With this information, you should be able to locate the census schedule
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