Alphabetizing Hyphenated Last Names Survey
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SIG Alphabetizing Hyphenated Last Names Survey |
The original question (posted by Tom Merrill of the LSU AgCenter):
I haven’t seen this one addressed in anything like the AP Stylebook (which is what I use most as a news editor), but I’m sure the collective wisdom of ACE colleagues will lend the answer:
When alphabetizing a list involving someone with a hyphenated last name, do you gear it toward the first name in the hyphenated series or the second one? (For example, in the case of Pinell-Allison, should it be placed with the Ps or the As?)
In other circumstances, the answer would be easy, since we treat hyphenated words by the same rules as a single word (meaning alphabetizing gauged on the first letter of the first word). Perhaps we’re just thinking too much on this one. Should names be treated by a different standard or not? We’d love to hear your opinions… and, as always, I will compile the answers and share them with the group.
The Response:
The ACE experts responded almost without exception that hyphenated names should be alphabetized based on the first name in the hyphenated series.
More Details / Individual Responses:
Intuitively, I would alphabetize by the first word, and I can't think of a reason to do otherwise.
–Judy Winn, Texas A&M University
Attached is the advice of the Chicago Manual of Style, which says, "Alphabetize compound surnames, with or without hyphens, according to preferences of individuals or established usage" (which isn't a lot of help!), and it follows with some examples. In all the hyphenated examples given, the name is alphabetized according to the first name in the hyphenated compound.
In today's world, many of the people who hyphenate their last names are professional women who don't want to lose their established identity (name recognition) when they marry – scientists or scholars or businesswomen, for example. In such cases, it would make sense to alphabetize them by the first name of the compound so that they will pop up in lists under their maiden name.
Interesting question!
–Tom Knecht, Mississippi State University
My wife and I have an old friend, who was once Linda Moore, from a cotton farm near Roby, Texas. Linda married Lee Lanning, from Trent. Linda used “Linda Lanning” for years, but now uses “Linda Moore-Lanning.”
I agree, and I would definitely alphabet her under “M”…
–Tom Hargrove, ACE lifelong member
I've always alphabetized hyphenated names with the first name in the series.
–Gloria J. Mosby, Prairie View A&M University
Thinking too much on an editing question? Never!
Our style guide for publications, "The Chicago Manual of Style, 15th Edition," addresses this question in section 18.70 (Indexes, Alphabetizing, Personal Names, Compound Names): Compound family names, with or without hyphens, are usually alphabetized according to the first element.
Lloyd George, David
Mies van der Rohe, Ludwig
Sackville-West, Victoria
Teilhard de Chardin, Pierre
Hope this helps.
–Glenda Freeman, Auburn University
Another wrinkle in "two last names" category is the Spanish practice of naming a child with both the father's and mother's surnames – Eduardo Rivera Diaz. Often, there is an assumption by an Anglo editor that these names should be hyphenated, when that is not the normal practice. Normally, the first surname is the primary surname. So you would refer to the above person on second reference in a news story as Rivera. You may want to solicit some input on Spanish names from a more reputable source than me, though.
–Terry Canup, New Mexico State University
You go by the first letter of the first last name.
For example, I'm still under "M":
-Rebecca McGovney-Ingram, University of Texas Medical Branch
I have no idea what anyone else is doing or prefers, but I just got remarried last summer after MANY years of working/raising kids and for me...I would prefer that an alphabetized list be geared to the first name. That first name is how I've been known in the working world for many years and that's one of the reasons I kept it (and added the second).
It will be interesting to see what other sort of responses you get.
–Mary Lou Peter-Blecha, Kansas State
Your question is dear to my heart since I am one of those "hyphenated" individuals: Myriam Grajales-Hall. Whenever I have to give my name, I make sure to indicate I have a hyphenated last name to avoid the mistake of having the person enter my last name as "Hall", and assume the "Grajales" is an appendage that can be thrown away! I have talked about this issue with others who also have hyphenated last names, and we cannot understand why is it so difficult to respect the fact that our last name is made up of two parts, and that if it has to be alphabetized, the first part of the hyphenated last name is the one to use.
Here are a couple of references that might be helpful...
Harvard Graduate School of Education addresses this issue, http://www.gse.harvard.edu/resources/styleguide.html#alphabetizing
Princeton University Libraries, http://imagecat1.princeton.edu/ECC/cardhelp.html
As a side bar...Whenever I do trainings on working with Latinos, I remind the participants that in many Spanish-speaking countries it is common to have more than one first name and at least 2 last names. EX: Luz Maria Zuluaga de León. Quite often, those who key the information, enter the first word (Luz) as the first name, and the second part of the first name (Maria) as the middle name. Wrong! The first name is Luz Maria...and the second name is Zuluaga de León. Sorry to go on a tangent, but I am very passionate about understanding and respecting cultural differences.
Best regards,
–Myriam Grajales-Hall, University of California
According to The Chicago Manual of Style, 15th ed., section 18.70:
"Compound family names, with or without hyphens, are usually alphabetized according to the first element" (as in Sackville-West, Victoria).
Therefore, I would list Pinell-Allison with the Ps.
–Ann Shurgin, Texas A&M University System
As a person with a hyphenated last name, I prefer to be alphabetized by the first name in my hyphenated name. That’s not to say I always get my wish. I was once told by my town’s voter registration representative that they prefer to “keep husbands and wives together,” so I was listed under “T” and not “E.” Part of the price I pay for living in the boonies. Anyway, I consider my hyphenated name one word, which means it starts with “E.”
–Cindy Eves-Thomas, University of Maine Cooperative Extension
I’d alphabetize by the “P” as that’s the first part of her name. If it weren’t hyphenated, I’d go by Allison. For example, I write under “Kathy Keatley Garvey” (not hyphenated). If I hyphenated it, that would be alphabetized as “Keatley-Garvey” and not Garvey, Kathy Keatley. I think the key word is “hyphenated.”
I go by “Hey, you!” a lot, too.
–Kathy Keatley Garvey, University of California Statewide Mosquito Research Program
Sort by first letter of the first name in the hyphenated name, just as you’d write or say “Hello, Mr./Ms. Pinell-Allison.” The hyphen makes it a single name which, in this case, begins with “P”.
–Andrea G. Dailey, Oregon State University
The first, if it’s hyphenated. The last, if it’s not hyphenated.
–Linda Benedict, LSU AgCenter
First name in the series. I’m Brown-Lewis, so go by the Brown. Another example would be for voter registration…they will completely take out the hyphen and make “Brownlewis” one word when you sign to vote.
–Charliese Brown-Lewis, Kentucky State University
Standard usage has always been to alphabetize according to the name before the hyphen – treat it as one long word when alphabetizing. Do it as the dictionary does with hyphenated words.
–Nancy Templeman, Virginia Tech University
I always use the first name in the hyphenated series – this is what people look for when they are searching for a surname. The Chicago Manual of Style has a good section on alphabetizing compound names, and uses the same rule for names such as "Teilhard de Chardin, Pierre", which would be found under the Ts, just as Weltzien-Rattunde, Eva would be found under the Ws.
Lydia (Flynn), Editor-in-Chief, ICRISAT
Yeah I think you might be over-thinking; I can’t think of an instance where you would not go by the first letter of the first name in a hyphenated last name. Are there people who alternate the order of a hyphenated last name depending on which of the couple you are referring to?
–Dennis Hinkamp, Utah State University
My phone book lists a Kerby-Fauger.......under Kerby.
–Terry Day, retired, Washington State University
Look at it this way: you wouldn't alphabetize "knight-errant" under the E's.
Others may chime in with chapters and verses, but to my brand of common sense, if you've got a Johnny Apple-Zinger, you list him with the A's not the Z's. He and Mr./Ms. Pinell-Allison have chosen their last name to be hyphenated so you go with the first letter in the first word in the hyphenation. So really you're making the decision based on "Applezinger" and "Pinellallison."
–Brian Meyer, Iowa State University
A hyphenated name is really just one name. I expect Kan-Rice to be alphabetized under the Ks and Zeta-Jones to be under the Zs.
–Pam Kan-Rice, University of California
PS - I just responded to have my name mentioned in the same sentence as Catherine Zeta-Jones.
Other than the fact that I think hyphenated names should be outlawed.... I'd go with the first letter of the last name.
We have a couple of hyphens on our staff and I can never find them because the computer alphabetizes on the fist letter of the fist of the hyphenated names not the last and, well, see how the whole silly practice throws things out of whack? If you don't want to drop you maiden name... do like I did... DON'T!
My two cents worth.... but, I'm just warming up for a fight at the zoning commission tonight!
–Faith one-mean-read-haired-chick-Peppers (Faith Peppers, University of Georgia)
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