What Is Soundex?

Soundex is an online tool that takes a surname that you input from your family tree (I usually use it if I am having trouble find a particular branch of the family). It then takes that name and gives you a list of possible names from which it could be derived. Especially popular names that got changed were last names that begin with an H. Either the H was dropped on the census and Illier became Hillier or the opposite and the H was added. It's like the game played in elementary schools when one child whispers a word or phrase to the child next to them. You might start out with, "white lights are really bright" and end up with "hot pots hold tots." You never really know what your family's surname might have begun as.