Genealogy & Family

Soundex converter

Phonetic code of a surname for archive searches.

  • Instant
  • Free
  • Private (processed locally)
  • No sign-up

ℹ️ Soundex encodes a name by how it sounds (1 letter + 3 digits): handy to find spelling variants in censuses and archives. Tuned for English. 100% local.

Encode a surname

Enter a surname: the tool computes its Soundex code (1 letter + 3 digits).

Examples

NameSoundex
WashingtonW252
RobertR163
Smith / SmythS530
JacksonJ250

American Soundex, 100% local calculation.

Frequently asked questions

What is Soundex for?

To group names that sound alike but are spelled differently (Smith/Smyth).

How is the code built?

The first letter is kept, then consonants become digits based on their sound.

Does it work for all languages?

It is tuned for English; other systems exist for other languages.