The following links lead to SOUNDEX records which I transcribed from the National Archives microfilm records. The 1880, 1900, 1910 and 1920 Census records are indexed using SOUNDEX. SOUNDEX is a method of grouping similar sounding names into a common index. This grouping is represented by the first letter(consonant or vowel) of the surname and a three digit number derived from the remaining consonants only. Except for the first letter, disregard A, E, I, O, U, W, Y and H. Also, double consonants, like gg in Duggan, are converted into a single number from the table. The remaining consonants are coded as follows:
| SOUNDEX Coding Guide | |
|---|---|
| NUMBER | LETTER |
| B,P,F,V | |
| C,S,K,G,J,Q,X,Z | |
| D,T | |
| L | |
| M,N | |
| R | |
| Examples of SOUNDEX coding | ||
|---|---|---|
| NAME | LETTERS CODED | CODE |
| Clancy | l,n,c | C-452 |
| Dougan | g,n | D-250 |
| Duggan | g,n | D-250 |
| Harte | r,t | H-630 |
| Lindeman | n,d,m | L-535 |
| Linderman | n,d,r | L-536 |
| Lintaman | n,t,m | L-535 |
| Nicholson | c,l,s | N-242 |
| Nickelson | c,l,s | N-242 |
| Nicolsen | c,l,s | N-242 |
Thus, all the Dougan, Duggan, Dugan surnames are on the same microfilm reel. All the Nicholson variants are on the same reel, etc. As most of us have discovered, spelling is often in the ear and pen of the record keeper!
I have completed the 1880, 1900 and 1920(NEW!!) D250 SOUNDEX for all DOUGAN/ DUGAN/ DUGGANs in New York. I have omitted the year and state entries in the individual records, listing it once at the top of the page instead. I have, likewise, omitted the house number column since, in most cases it's blank (and they don't live there now, anyway!) If you HAVE TO know, e-mail me and I'll look it up for you. I didn't edit any data. If I couldn't read it I placed "?" and/or made a best guess. If I could read it but it didn't make any sense, I placed "!" As I complete more, I'll post them, too, and activate the link below. So, check back!