Wiki143:Categorization/Sorting names - Revision history

imported>LightNightLights: /* Sort by surname */disambiguate with WP/MOS:SURNAME

2025-08-31T11:07:36Z

Sort by surname: disambiguate with WP/MOS:SURNAME

← Previous revision		Revision as of 11:07, 31 August 2025
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	===Sort by surname===		===Sort by surname===
			{{Redirect\|WP:SUR\|the Manual of Style guideline\|MOS:SURNAME}}
	{{Shortcut\|WP:SUR}}		{{Shortcut\|WP:SUR}}
	If the article is titled "Forename Surname", the category should be added to the article as <code><nowiki>[[Category:Type X people\|Surname, Forename]]</nowiki></code> (or: <code><nowiki>{{DEFAULTSORT:Surname, Forename}}</nowiki></code>) so that it will be sorted by [[surname]] (surname and [[family name]] are used interchangeably in this article). However, there are exceptions depending on customs, where a person lives and when they lived. If the country is not listed, try consulting with ''Names of persons : national usages for entry in catalogue'' in [[#Bibliography\|the bibliography section]]. It is a resource for how librarians and institutions inside their respective country sort names. However, the sort value may be inappropriate outside their country.<ref>{{Harvnb\|IFLA\|1996\|pp=IX–XI}}</ref>		If the article is titled "Forename Surname", the category should be added to the article as <code><nowiki>[[Category:Type X people\|Surname, Forename]]</nowiki></code> (or: <code><nowiki>{{DEFAULTSORT:Surname, Forename}}</nowiki></code>) so that it will be sorted by [[surname]] (surname and [[family name]] are used interchangeably in this article). However, there are exceptions depending on customs, where a person lives and when they lived. If the country is not listed, try consulting with ''Names of persons : national usages for entry in catalogue'' in [[#Bibliography\|the bibliography section]]. It is a resource for how librarians and institutions inside their respective country sort names. However, the sort value may be inappropriate outside their country.<ref>{{Harvnb\|IFLA\|1996\|pp=IX–XI}}</ref>
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	* Eliminate [[epithets]]: e.g. "Saint" in [[Saint Alban]]: <code><nowiki>[[Category:Saints\|Alban]]</nowiki></code>.		* Eliminate [[epithets]]: e.g. "Saint" in [[Saint Alban]]: <code><nowiki>[[Category:Saints\|Alban]]</nowiki></code>.
	* [[Suffix (name)#Generational titles\|Generational suffixes]] (e.g., "Jr." or "III"), should be placed at the end of the sort key, rather than with the surname: [[Robert J. Smith II]] sorts as <code><nowiki>[[Category:New Jersey politicians\|Smith, Robert J. II]]</nowiki></code>, not {{!mxt\|<nowiki>[[Category:New Jersey politicians\|Smith II, Robert J.]]</nowiki>}}.<ref>{{Harvnb\|Chicago Manual of Style\|2003\|p=18.41}}</ref>		* [[Suffix (name)#Generational titles\|Generational suffixes]] (e.g., "Jr." or "III"), should be placed at the end of the sort key, rather than with the surname: [[Robert J. Smith II]] sorts as <code><nowiki>[[Category:New Jersey politicians\|Smith, Robert J. II]]</nowiki></code>, not {{!mxt\|<nowiki>[[Category:New Jersey politicians\|Smith II, Robert J.]]</nowiki>}}.<ref>{{Harvnb\|Chicago Manual of Style\|2003\|p=18.41}}</ref>
	* Only hyphens, apostrophes ~~and~~ periods/full stops ~~punctuation marks~~ should be kept in sort values. All other punctuation marks should be removed. The only exception is the apostrophe should be removed for names beginning with O'. For example, [[Eugene O'Neill]] is sorted <code><nowiki>{{DEFAULTSORT:ONeill, Eugene}}</nowiki></code>.<ref>{{Harvnb\|Chicago Manual of Style\|2003\|p=18.72}}</ref>		* Only hyphens, apostrophes, periods/full stops, and letters should be kept in sort values. All other punctuation marks should be removed. The only exception is the apostrophe should be removed for names beginning with O'. For example, [[Eugene O'Neill]] is sorted <code><nowiki>{{DEFAULTSORT:ONeill, Eugene}}</nowiki></code>.<ref>{{Harvnb\|Chicago Manual of Style\|2003\|p=18.72}}</ref>
	* Clerical titles, academic titles, military titles and [[honorifics]] should not be used in sorting. For example, [[Martin Luther King Jr.]] is sorted <code><nowiki>{{DEFAULTSORT:King, Martin Luther Jr.}}</nowiki></code> and without the titles "Doctor" or "Reverend", for his academic and clerical achievements.<ref>{{Harvnb\|Chicago Manual of Style\|2003\|p=18.39}}</ref>		* Clerical titles, academic titles, military titles and [[honorifics]] should not be used in sorting. For example, [[Martin Luther King Jr.]] is sorted <code><nowiki>{{DEFAULTSORT:King, Martin Luther Jr.}}</nowiki></code> and without the titles "Doctor" or "Reverend", for his academic and clerical achievements.<ref>{{Harvnb\|Chicago Manual of Style\|2003\|p=18.39}}</ref>
	* Surnames beginning with ''Mac'' or ''Mc'' are sorted as they are spelled. [[Douglas MacArthur]] is sorted <code><nowiki>{{DEFAULTSORT:MacArthur, Douglas}}</nowiki></code> and [[Malcolm McDowell]] is sorted <code><nowiki>{{DEFAULTSORT:McDowell, Malcolm}}</nowiki></code>.<ref>{{Harvnb\|Chicago Manual of Style\|2003\|p=18.71}}</ref> This is also British standard (BS 3700:1988)<ref>{{Harvnb\|Butcher's copy-editing\|2006\|p=195}}</ref> and [[ISO 999]]:1996 standard for preparing indexes.		* Surnames beginning with ''Mac'' or ''Mc'' are sorted as they are spelled. [[Douglas MacArthur]] is sorted <code><nowiki>{{DEFAULTSORT:MacArthur, Douglas}}</nowiki></code> and [[Malcolm McDowell]] is sorted <code><nowiki>{{DEFAULTSORT:McDowell, Malcolm}}</nowiki></code>.<ref>{{Harvnb\|Chicago Manual of Style\|2003\|p=18.71}}</ref> This is also British standard (BS 3700:1988)<ref>{{Harvnb\|Butcher's copy-editing\|2006\|p=195}}</ref> and [[ISO 999]]:1996 standard for preparing indexes.

imported>Graham87: /* Historical patronymic names */ copyedit

2025-06-25T15:04:35Z

Historical patronymic names: copyedit

← Previous revision		Revision as of 15:04, 25 June 2025
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	* [[Irish names]] were formed by using ''Mac'' for "son of", ''Ó'' or ''Ua'' for "grandson of", ''Ní'' for "daughter of the grandson of", ''Nic'' for "daughter of the son of" and finally, ''Uí'' for "wife of the grandson of". The transition to fixed surnames began around 1000 and was completed after 1200. An example would be [[Ailill mac Dúnlainge]], son of [[Dúnlaing mac Muiredaig]].		* [[Irish names]] were formed by using ''Mac'' for "son of", ''Ó'' or ''Ua'' for "grandson of", ''Ní'' for "daughter of the grandson of", ''Nic'' for "daughter of the son of" and finally, ''Uí'' for "wife of the grandson of". The transition to fixed surnames began around 1000 and was completed after 1200. An example would be [[Ailill mac Dúnlainge]], son of [[Dúnlaing mac Muiredaig]].
	* [[Patronymic#Jewish usage\|Jewish names]] were formed by using ''ben'' or ''bar'' for "son of" and ''bat'' for "daughter of". Permanent surnames started in the [[Iberian Peninsula]] around 1000 and spread eastward over the next 700 years.<ref>{{Harvnb\|IFLA\|1996\|pp=108–110}}</ref>		* [[Patronymic#Jewish usage\|Jewish names]] were formed by using ''ben'' or ''bar'' for "son of" and ''bat'' for "daughter of". Permanent surnames started in the [[Iberian Peninsula]] around 1000 and spread eastward over the next 700 years.<ref>{{Harvnb\|IFLA\|1996\|pp=108–110}}</ref>
	* [[Scandinavian family name etymology\|Scandinavian names]] ([[Danish language\|Danish]], [[Swedish language\|Swedish]] and [[Norwegian language\|Norwegian]]) were formed by using the ending ''son'', ''søn'', ''sen'' to indicate "son of", and ''dóttir'', ''-dotter'', ''datter'' for "daughter of". Denmark outlawed the patronymic system in 1828, Sweden in 1901 and Norway in 1923. However, ~~the~~ countries started to abandon the patronymic system much earlier. The nobility and academics started using surnames in the mid 1500s, the middle class around 1700, with most people having surnames in the 1800s. An example of a patronymic name would be [[Sverker Karlsson]], the son of [[Karl Sverkersson]]. See also the section about Icelandic names above.		* [[Scandinavian family name etymology\|Scandinavian names]] ([[Danish language\|Danish]], [[Swedish language\|Swedish]] and [[Norwegian language\|Norwegian]]) were formed by using the ending ''son'', ''søn'', ''sen'' to indicate "son of", and ''dóttir'', ''-dotter'', ''datter'' for "daughter of". Denmark outlawed the patronymic system in 1828, Sweden in 1901 and Norway in 1923. However, these countries started to abandon the patronymic system much earlier. The nobility and academics started using surnames in the mid 1500s, the middle class around 1700, with most people having surnames in the 1800s. An example of a patronymic name would be [[Sverker Karlsson]], the son of [[Karl Sverkersson]]. See also the section about Icelandic names above.
	* [[Scottish Names\|Scottish names]] began using fixed surnames around the 12th century, though the practice continued in some areas until the 1700s. In the Gaelic language, the word meaning son is ''mac''. The word meaning daughter is ''nic''. [[Máel Coluim mac Donnchada]] was the son of [[Donnchad mac Crínáin]] and is sorted <code><nowiki>{{DEFAULTSORT:Mael Coluim Mac Donnchada}}</nowiki></code>.<ref>{{cite web \| url=http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/content/help/index.aspx?560 \| title=Scottish Surnames and Variants \| publisher=Scotland \| work=Scotland's people \| accessdate=January 10, 2012}}</ref>		* [[Scottish Names\|Scottish names]] began using fixed surnames around the 12th century, though the practice continued in some areas until the 1700s. In the Gaelic language, the word meaning son is ''mac''. The word meaning daughter is ''nic''. [[Máel Coluim mac Donnchada]] was the son of [[Donnchad mac Crínáin]] and is sorted <code><nowiki>{{DEFAULTSORT:Mael Coluim Mac Donnchada}}</nowiki></code>.<ref>{{cite web \| url=http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/content/help/index.aspx?560 \| title=Scottish Surnames and Variants \| publisher=Scotland \| work=Scotland's people \| accessdate=January 10, 2012}}</ref>
	* [[Welsh name]]s before the 1536 [[Laws in Wales Acts 1535–1542\|Act of Union]] were mostly patronymic, but people had begun to use fixed surnames for over 100 years. The patronymic practice continued after 1536 and is still used today. In the Welsh language, the word meaning son is ''ap'' or ''ab''. The word meaning daughter is ''merch'' or ''verch'' (modern spelling ''ferch''). [[Rhiryd ap Bleddyn]] was the son of [[Bleddyn ap Cynfyn]] and is sorted <code><nowiki>{{DEFAULTSORT:Rhiryd Ap Bleddyn}}</nowiki></code>.<ref>{{cite journal \| url=http://www.theindexer.org/files/17-1/17-1_012.pdf \| title=The Indexing of Welsh personal names \| last=Moore \| first=Donald \| date=April 1990 \| journal=The Indexer \| volume=17 \| accessdate=January 10, 2012 \| issue=1 }}</ref>		* [[Welsh name]]s before the 1536 [[Laws in Wales Acts 1535–1542\|Act of Union]] were mostly patronymic, but people had begun to use fixed surnames for over 100 years. The patronymic practice continued after 1536 and is still used today. In the Welsh language, the word meaning son is ''ap'' or ''ab''. The word meaning daughter is ''merch'' or ''verch'' (modern spelling ''ferch''). [[Rhiryd ap Bleddyn]] was the son of [[Bleddyn ap Cynfyn]] and is sorted <code><nowiki>{{DEFAULTSORT:Rhiryd Ap Bleddyn}}</nowiki></code>.<ref>{{cite journal \| url=http://www.theindexer.org/files/17-1/17-1_012.pdf \| title=The Indexing of Welsh personal names \| last=Moore \| first=Donald \| date=April 1990 \| journal=The Indexer \| volume=17 \| accessdate=January 10, 2012 \| issue=1 }}</ref>

imported>Had0j: /* Ordering names in a category */ use plural after "some"

2025-06-14T07:21:21Z

Ordering names in a category: use plural after "some"

← Previous revision		Revision as of 07:21, 14 June 2025
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	The sort key should mirror the article's title as closely as possible, while omitting disambiguating terms. Some exceptions are made, however, to force correct collation.		The sort key should mirror the article's title as closely as possible, while omitting disambiguating terms. Some exceptions are made, however, to force correct collation.

	Please note that some named individual ~~animal~~ have titles included in the article name (for example, [[Sergeant Stubby]], a dog with a formal military rank) and are therefore subject to this guideline.		Please note that some named individual animals have titles included in the article name (for example, [[Sergeant Stubby]], a dog with a formal military rank) and are therefore subject to this guideline.

	===Sort by surname===		===Sort by surname===

imported>Bsoyka: /* Other exceptions */ add WP:SORTJR shortcut

2024-08-17T02:52:41Z

Other exceptions: add WP:SORTJR shortcut

New page

{{subcat guideline|editing guideline|Categorization|WP:NAMESORT|WP:LISTAS}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2012}}

{{main|Wikipedia:Categorization|Wikipedia:Biographies of living persons|Wikipedia:Naming conventions (people)}}
{{see also|Wikipedia:Category names#Categorization of people|Category:People}}

== Ordering names in a category ==
It is possible to change the default order in which the articles in a Category are displayed on the Category: page. For general instructions and conventions about this, see {{section link|Wikipedia:Categorization#Sort keys}}. Note that there are two techniques for defining a sort order different from the sort order that would result from the page name:
# Adding <code><nowiki>{{</nowiki>[[Help:Category#Default sort key|DEFAULTSORT]]:{{var|category sort key here}}<nowiki>}}</nowiki></code> in the article sets the category sort key for all categories without sort keys in that article, before or after it.
# Per listed category, overriding the DEFAULTSORT, <code><nowiki>[[</nowiki>Category:{{var|Category name here}}{{!}}{{var|category sort key here}}<nowiki>]]</nowiki></code>

The sort key should mirror the article's title as closely as possible, while omitting disambiguating terms. Some exceptions are made, however, to force correct collation.

Please note that some named individual animal have titles included in the article name (for example, [[Sergeant Stubby]], a dog with a formal military rank) and are therefore subject to this guideline.

===Sort by surname===
{{Shortcut|WP:SUR}}
If the article is titled "Forename Surname", the category should be added to the article as <code><nowiki>[[Category:Type X people|Surname, Forename]]</nowiki></code> (or: <code><nowiki>{{DEFAULTSORT:Surname, Forename}}</nowiki></code>) so that it will be sorted by [[surname]] (surname and [[family name]] are used interchangeably in this article). However, there are exceptions depending on customs, where a person lives and when they lived. If the country is not listed, try consulting with ''Names of persons : national usages for entry in catalogue'' in [[#Bibliography|the bibliography section]]. It is a resource for how librarians and institutions inside their respective country sort names. However, the sort value may be inappropriate outside their country.<ref>{{Harvnb|IFLA|1996|pp=IX–XI}}</ref>
* [[Arabic names]] or [[Islamic names]] historically had no family or given names, but a full chain of names. These names should be sorted as they are written out. However, after 1900, Arabic names became similar in structure to those of Western names, and these should be sorted as if they were Western names. Certain areas form exceptions: for example, in Malaysia, Islamic names follow a patronymic pattern, as do a subset in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh.<ref name="Arabic names">{{cite journal | url=http://www.theindexer.org/files/25-3/25-3-cp2_009.pdf | title=Arabic names | last=Hedden | first=Heather | date=April 2007 | journal=The Indexer | volume=25 | accessdate=January 11, 2012 | issue=3 }}</ref><ref name="18.74">{{Harvnb|Chicago Manual of Style|2003|p=18.74}}</ref>
** Modern names with ''[[Ab (Semitic)|Abu]]'', ''[[Abd (Arabic)|Abd]]'', ''Abdel'', '' [[Abdul]]'', ''[[Patronymic#Arabic|ben]]'', ''bin'' and ''bint'' are considered compound names and particles are integral to the name. [[Osama bin Laden]] is sorted <code><nowiki>{{DEFAULTSORT:Bin Laden, Osama}}</nowiki></code>. [[Mounir Fakhry Abdel Nour]] is sorted <code><nowiki>{{DEFAULTSORT:Abdel Nour, Mounir Fakhry}}</nowiki></code>.<ref name="Arabic names" /><ref name="18.74" />
* [[Burmese names]] have no surnames or patronymic system, therefore they are sorted as they are written. However, if the person's common name includes an [[Burmese name#Honorifics|honorific]], the name should be sorted with the elements succeeding the honorific.<ref>{{Harvnb|Chicago Manual of Style|2003|p=18.75}}</ref><ref>{{Harvnb|IFLA|1996|pp=155–158}}</ref> [[U Thant]] is sorted <code><nowiki>{{DEFAULTSORT:Thant, U}}</nowiki></code>.
* [[Chinese names]], [[Korean names]], [[Vietnamese names]] and [[Cambodian names]] are generally written with the family name first: [[Mao Zedong]] is sorted <code><nowiki>{{DEFAULTSORT:Mao, Zedong}}</nowiki></code>.<ref>{{cite journal | url=http://www.theindexer.org/files/25-4/25-4-cp3_012.pdf | title=Asian names | last=Akhtar | first=Nasreen | date=April 1989 | journal=The Indexer | volume=16 | accessdate=January 10, 2012 | issue=3 }}</ref><ref>{{Harvnb|Chicago Manual of Style|2003|3p=18.76}}</ref>
* [[Habesha names|Eritrean and Ethiopian (Habesha)]] names that use a patronymic system are sorted as they are written.<ref>{{Harvnb|IFLA|1996|pp=64–65}}</ref>
* [[Icelandic names]] are generally [[patronymic]] and occasionally matronymic, with a person's last name derived from their father's or mother's given name. For example, [[Arnaldur Indriðason]] is the son of [[Indriði G. Þorsteinsson]]. Normally a patronymic name is sorted as it is written.<ref name="IFLA 88–90">{{Harvnb|IFLA|1996|pp=88–90}}</ref> However, on English Wikipedia, the DEFAULTSORT value is Western order, overridden for Icelandic categories, where the sort key is as the name is written. [[Arnaldur Indriðason]] is sorted <code><nowiki>{{DEFAULTSORT:Indridason, Arnaldur}}</nowiki></code>, while the Icelandic category of photographers is done, <code><nowiki>[[Category:Icelandic photographers|Arnaldur Indridason]]</nowiki></code>. For the <code>listas=</code> parameter in project templates on article talk pages use the DEFAULTSORT value (since it mainly categorises in non-Icelandic categories), e.g., <code>| listas = Indridason, Arnaldur</code>.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia_talk:WikiProject_Iceland/Archive_3#Sort_keys_for_Icelandic_names | title=Sort keys for Icelandic names | publisher=Wikipedia | work=WikiProject Iceland | date=January 2011 | accessdate=January 17, 2011}}</ref>
* [[Indonesian names]] may be sorted by surname or in the order they are written depending on the [[Ethnic groups in Indonesia|Ethnic background]] of the individual. [[Javanese name]]s (the most populous ethnic group in Indonesia) do not generally have surnames and may be sorted in the order they are written.
* [[Japanese names]] for people born after 1885 follow Western order. For people born before 1885, names followed the same practice as Chinese names.<ref>{{cite journal | url=http://www.theindexer.org/files/26-2/26-2-cp4_002.pdf | title=Japanese names | last=Power | first=John | date=June 2008 | journal=The Indexer | volume=26 | accessdate=January 10, 2012 | issue=2 }}</ref><ref>{{Harvnb|Chicago Manual of Style|2003|p=18.80}}</ref><ref name="IFLA Japan">{{Harvnb|IFLA|1996|pp=118–120}}</ref>
** There are exceptions. [[Sumo]] wrestlers, [[geisha]]s, [[kabuki]] actors, and practitioners of traditional crafts and arts may take professional names. These names follow the same practice as Chinese names. Sumo wrestler [[Toyohibiki Ryūta]]'s sort value is <code><nowiki>{{DEFAULTSORT:Toyohibiki, Ryuta}}</nowiki></code>.<ref name="IFLA Japan" />
* [[Malaysian names|Malaysian]] names usually use a patronymic system and are sorted as they are written. There are exceptions; most notably, Malaysian Chinese names are handled as regular Chinese names.<ref>{{Harvnb|IFLA|1996|pp=145–149}}</ref>
* [[Portuguese names]] (Portugal only) are commonly composed of one or two [[given name]]s, and two [[surname|family names]]. In a compound family name, the first name is the mother's maiden name, with the second name being the father's surname. These names should be sorted on the last element or the father's name. [[Francisco da Costa Gomes]] is sorted <code><nowiki>{{DEFAULTSORT:Gomes, Francisco da Costa}}</nowiki></code>.<ref>{{Harvnb|Chicago Manual of Style|2003|p=18.81}}</ref><ref>{{Harvnb|IFLA|1996|pp=185–186}}</ref>
* [[Spanish names]] are similar to Portuguese names in that they are commonly composed of one or two [[given name]]s, and two [[surname|family names]]. However, in a compound family name, the first name is the father's name, while the second name is the mother's name. The sort value depends on how many names are in the articles title. For [[Gabriel García Márquez]], with two family names and one given name, the sort is <code><nowiki>{{DEFAULTSORT:Garcia Marquez, Gabriel}}</nowiki></code>. For [[José Ignacio García Hamilton]], with two family names and two given names, the sort is <code><nowiki>{{DEFAULTSORT:Garcia Hamilton, Jose Ignacio}}</nowiki></code>. Be careful, as the article's title may include any combination of given names and family names.<ref>{{Harvnb|Chicago Manual of Style|2003|p=18.82}}</ref><ref>{{Harvnb|IFLA|1996|pp=211–213}}</ref>
* [[Thai names]] have only contained a family name since 1915 and the name follows the western pattern of "given name, family name". However, people in Thailand are known and addressed by their given name. In categories mostly containing articles about Thai people, all names should be sorted with the given name first. For example, [[Thaksin Shinawatra]] is sorted <code><nowiki>[[Category:Thai people|Thaksin Shinawatra]]</nowiki></code>.<ref>{{Harvnb|IFLA|1996|pp=232–234}}</ref> That the entries in a category are sorted in this way for this reason should be indicated on the category page, for which the {{tl|Thai people category}} template can be used. Thai names in categories which only contain relatively few such names should, in these categories, be sorted without applying the "sort by given name before family" exception, which only applies to categories which dominantly contain Thai names and which are entirely sorted the Thai way. [[user:cewbot]] is now maintaining sort keys in Thai-people categories.
* Most Muslim [[Turkish name#Surnames|Turkish names]] before 1934 had no surname. After 1934, people adopted surnames.<ref>{{cite journal | url=http://www.theindexer.org/files/25-3/25-3-cp2_005.pdf | title=Turkish names | last=Alakas | first=Meral | date=April 2007 | journal=The Indexer | volume=25 | accessdate=January 11, 2012 | issue=3 }}</ref>

=== Historical patronymic names ===
The patronymic system was once common throughout Europe and in some parts of the world. See [[Patronymic]] for the list of systems used in each country. Patronymic names should be sorted on their first name. The following is to distinguish how to sort the relevant historical people in some of the more common languages:
* [[East Slavic languages]] ([[Russian language|Russian]] and [[Ukrainian language|Ukrainian]]) with the ending ''-ovich'', ''-ovych'', ''-yevich'', ''-yich'' are used to form patronymics for men. For women, the endings are ''-yevna'', ''-yivna'', ''-ovna'', ''ivna'' or ''-ichna''. For example, in Russian, a man named Ivan with a father named Nikolay would be known as Ivan Nikolayevich or 'Ivan, son of Nikolay'.
* [[Irish names]] were formed by using ''Mac'' for "son of", ''Ó'' or ''Ua'' for "grandson of", ''Ní'' for "daughter of the grandson of", ''Nic'' for "daughter of the son of" and finally, ''Uí'' for "wife of the grandson of". The transition to fixed surnames began around 1000 and was completed after 1200. An example would be [[Ailill mac Dúnlainge]], son of [[Dúnlaing mac Muiredaig]].
* [[Patronymic#Jewish usage|Jewish names]] were formed by using ''ben'' or ''bar'' for "son of" and ''bat'' for "daughter of". Permanent surnames started in the [[Iberian Peninsula]] around 1000 and spread eastward over the next 700 years.<ref>{{Harvnb|IFLA|1996|pp=108–110}}</ref>
* [[Scandinavian family name etymology|Scandinavian names]] ([[Danish language|Danish]], [[Swedish language|Swedish]] and [[Norwegian language|Norwegian]]) were formed by using the ending ''son'', ''søn'', ''sen'' to indicate "son of", and ''dóttir'', ''-dotter'', ''datter'' for "daughter of". Denmark outlawed the patronymic system in 1828, Sweden in 1901 and Norway in 1923. However, the countries started to abandon the patronymic system much earlier. The nobility and academics started using surnames in the mid 1500s, the middle class around 1700, with most people having surnames in the 1800s. An example of a patronymic name would be [[Sverker Karlsson]], the son of [[Karl Sverkersson]]. See also the section about Icelandic names above.
* [[Scottish Names|Scottish names]] began using fixed surnames around the 12th century, though the practice continued in some areas until the 1700s. In the Gaelic language, the word meaning son is ''mac''. The word meaning daughter is ''nic''. [[Máel Coluim mac Donnchada]] was the son of [[Donnchad mac Crínáin]] and is sorted <code><nowiki>{{DEFAULTSORT:Mael Coluim Mac Donnchada}}</nowiki></code>.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/content/help/index.aspx?560 | title=Scottish Surnames and Variants | publisher=Scotland | work=Scotland's people | accessdate=January 10, 2012}}</ref>
* [[Welsh name]]s before the 1536 [[Laws in Wales Acts 1535–1542|Act of Union]] were mostly patronymic, but people had begun to use fixed surnames for over 100 years. The patronymic practice continued after 1536 and is still used today. In the Welsh language, the word meaning son is ''ap'' or ''ab''. The word meaning daughter is ''merch'' or ''verch'' (modern spelling ''ferch''). [[Rhiryd ap Bleddyn]] was the son of [[Bleddyn ap Cynfyn]] and is sorted <code><nowiki>{{DEFAULTSORT:Rhiryd Ap Bleddyn}}</nowiki></code>.<ref>{{cite journal | url=http://www.theindexer.org/files/17-1/17-1_012.pdf | title=The Indexing of Welsh personal names | last=Moore | first=Donald | date=April 1990 | journal=The Indexer | volume=17 | accessdate=January 10, 2012 | issue=1 }}</ref>

===Nobility===
{{Shortcut|WP:PEERS}}
* Kings, queens, emperors, emirs, sultans, popes and others known by their official names should be sorted as spelled out. An ordinal number is converted to an Arabic numeral with a leading zero. [[Louis IX of France]]'s sort value is <code><nowiki>{{DEFAULTSORT:Louis 09 of France}}</nowiki></code>. In some cases, you can leave off redundant information in a category, <code><nowiki>[[Category:French monarchs|Louis 09]]</nowiki></code>.<ref>{{Harvnb|Chicago Manual of Style|2003|p=18.37}}</ref>
* European princes and princesses are sorted by their given name. [[Prince William]] is sorted <code><nowiki>{{DEFAULTSORT:William, Prince of Wales}}</nowiki></code>. Because of the prevalence of princes with the same name, Arabic or Muslim princes are sorted by their given name, but a second name (usually their father's given name preceding bin or ibn) is added. Prince [[Talal bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud]], whose father is [[King Abdul-Aziz]], is sorted <code><nowiki>{{DEFAULTSORT:Talal Bin Abdul-Aziz}}</nowiki></code>.<ref name="Arabic names" /><ref name="18.38">{{Harvnb|Chicago Manual of Style|2003|p=18.38}}</ref>
* [[British Peerage|British peers]] are sorted by name of the title rather than surname, e.g. [[Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury]] is alphabetized under "Salisbury", not "Gascoyne-Cecil" or "Cecil": <code><nowiki>{{DEFAULTSORT:Salisbury, Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of}}</nowiki></code>.<ref name="18.38" />
* Some peers are almost invariably known by some name other than their peerage (which will not, in such cases, appear in the article title); for example, [[Frederick North, Lord North]] (who was 2nd Earl of Guilford) or [[Anthony Eden]] (who was 1st Earl of Avon). This should be followed for most categories, sorting them under ''North,...'' and ''Eden,...''; but categories directly relating to the peerage should still sort them under it. <code><nowiki>[[Category:Earls in the Peerage of Great Britain|Guilford]]</nowiki></code> and <code><nowiki>[[Category:Earls in the Peerage of Great Britain|Avon]]</nowiki></code>, respectively.
* Unless necessary for identification, ''Sir'', ''Dame'', ''Lord'' and ''Lady'' should be omitted from the sort value.<ref name="18.38" />

===Other exceptions===
{{Shortcut|WP:SORTJR|WP:MCSTJR}}
* Eliminate [[epithets]]: e.g. "Saint" in [[Saint Alban]]: <code><nowiki>[[Category:Saints|Alban]]</nowiki></code>.
* [[Suffix (name)#Generational titles|Generational suffixes]] (e.g., "Jr." or "III"), should be placed at the end of the sort key, rather than with the surname: [[Robert J. Smith II]] sorts as <code><nowiki>[[Category:New Jersey politicians|Smith, Robert J. II]]</nowiki></code>, not {{!mxt|<nowiki>[[Category:New Jersey politicians|Smith II, Robert J.]]</nowiki>}}.<ref>{{Harvnb|Chicago Manual of Style|2003|p=18.41}}</ref>
* Only hyphens, apostrophes and periods/full stops punctuation marks should be kept in sort values. All other punctuation marks should be removed. The only exception is the apostrophe should be removed for names beginning with O'. For example, [[Eugene O'Neill]] is sorted <code><nowiki>{{DEFAULTSORT:ONeill, Eugene}}</nowiki></code>.<ref>{{Harvnb|Chicago Manual of Style|2003|p=18.72}}</ref>
* Clerical titles, academic titles, military titles and [[honorifics]] should not be used in sorting. For example, [[Martin Luther King Jr.]] is sorted <code><nowiki>{{DEFAULTSORT:King, Martin Luther Jr.}}</nowiki></code> and without the titles "Doctor" or "Reverend", for his academic and clerical achievements.<ref>{{Harvnb|Chicago Manual of Style|2003|p=18.39}}</ref>
* Surnames beginning with ''Mac'' or ''Mc'' are sorted as they are spelled. [[Douglas MacArthur]] is sorted <code><nowiki>{{DEFAULTSORT:MacArthur, Douglas}}</nowiki></code> and [[Malcolm McDowell]] is sorted <code><nowiki>{{DEFAULTSORT:McDowell, Malcolm}}</nowiki></code>.<ref>{{Harvnb|Chicago Manual of Style|2003|p=18.71}}</ref> This is also British standard (BS 3700:1988)<ref>{{Harvnb|Butcher's copy-editing|2006|p=195}}</ref> and [[ISO 999]]:1996 standard for preparing indexes.
* Names with particles or prefixes are a complex field and there are exceptions and inconsistencies. Examples of particles are ''af'', ''al'', ''dall'', ''da'', ''de'', ''della'', ''di'', ''do'', ''dos'', ''du'', ''el'', ''la'', ''o'', and ''von''. Whether or not to include the particle in sorting can be up to the individual's personal preference, traditional cultural usage or the customs of one's nationality.
** Generally, [[Dutch names|Dutch]], [[French names|French]], [[German names|German]], [[Italian names|Italian]], [[Portuguese names|Portuguese]], [[Spanish names|Spanish]], and [[Swedish name|Swedish]] names do not include lowercase particles in sorting, but do include uppercase particles. For example, [[Otto von Bismarck]] is sorted <code><nowiki>{{DEFAULTSORT:Bismarck, Otto von}}</nowiki></code>, [[Jean de La Fontaine]] is sorted <code><nowiki>{{DEFAULTSORT:La Fontaine, Jean de}}</nowiki></code>, and [[Alberto Di Chiara]] is sorted <code><nowiki>{{DEFAULTSORT:Di Chiara, Alberto}}</nowiki></code>.
** American, Australian, Canadian, and English names generally sort on the prefix, regardless of capitalization. However, there are discrepancies between different sources on whether to sort on the prefix or not.<ref>{{Harvnb|Chicago Manual of Style|2003|p=18.69}}</ref><ref>{{Harvnb|IFLA|1996|pp=252–253}}</ref><ref>{{Harvnb|Indexing Books|2005|p=169}}</ref>{{clarify|date=November 2018|reason=We don't care. The purpose of this page is to provide sorting advice, not write an article about how others out in the world do sorting. See talk page.}}
** In [[Belgium]], [[Dutch names|Dutch]]/[[Flemish people|Flemish]] and [[French names|French]]/[[Walloons|Walloon]] names sort differently by time period. For people in the [[Southern Netherlands]] (Belgium) before 1830, surnames are sorted on the body of the surname and not on the [[tussenvoegsel|prefix(es)]]. For example, [[Rogier van der Weyden]] is sorted <code><nowiki>{{DEFAULTSORT:Weyden, Rogier van der}}</nowiki></code> and [[Gérard de Lairesse]] <code><nowiki>{{DEFAULTSORT:Lairesse, Gerard de}}</nowiki></code>. In contrast, Belgian people since 1830 are sorted on the prefix. For example: [[Paul van Ostaijen]] is sorted <code><nowiki>{{DEFAULTSORT:Van Ostaijen, Paul}}</nowiki></code> and [[Christian de Duve]] is sorted <code><nowiki>{{DEFAULTSORT:De Duve, Christian}}</nowiki></code>.<ref name=pitchford>{{cite journal | url=http://theindexer.org/files/25-2/25-2-cp1_011.pdf | title=Dutch, German, Austrian, Flemish and Afrikaans names | first=Jacqueline | last=Pitchford | journal=The Indexer | volume=25 | issue=2 | date=October 2006 | accessdate=January 17, 2012 }}</ref><ref name=Harvnb29>{{Harvnb|IFLA|1996|pp=29–31}}</ref>
** In [[South Africa]] and [[Namibia]], Dutch/[[Afrikaans]] and German surnames are sorted by prefix, e.g. [[F. W. de Klerk]] is sorted <code><nowiki>{{DEFAULTSORT:De Klerk, F. W.}}</nowiki></code>.<ref name=pitchford/><ref name=Harvnb29/>
** In modern Arabic or Islamic names, the prefixes ''[[Al-|al]]'' and ''el'', regardless of capitalization, are never part of a family name for indexing. For example, [[Osama Al-Muwallad]] is sorted <code><nowiki>{{DEFAULTSORT:Muwallad, Osama}}</nowiki></code> and [[Ezzat el Kamhawi]] is sorted <code><nowiki>{{DEFAULTSORT:Kamhawi, Ezzat}}</nowiki></code>.<ref name="Arabic names" /><ref name="18.74"/>
** Sometimes the name containing the prefix is not a family name, but a description of where the person is from. In these cases, the sort value is how the entire name is spelled. For [[Peire de Corbiac]], "de Corbiac" is a description where Peire is from, the town of Corbiac. So, the name means 'Peire of or from Corbiac' and is sorted <code><nowiki>{{DEFAULTSORT:Peire de Corbiac}}</nowiki></code>.
* Sometimes a given name is combined with neither a surname nor a peerage title; it is preferable to sort on the first name in these cases. Example: for [[Augustine of Hippo]], use <code><nowiki>[[Category:Christian philosophers|Augustine of Hippo]]</nowiki></code> or simply <code><nowiki>[[Category:Christian philosophers]]</nowiki></code>.
* Some people are known primarily by their first name only. When it is not possible to set the first name alone as the article title, as with many articles in [[:Category:Brazilian footballers]], you should sort with the first name first to make the article easier to find in the categories. For example, [[Leonardo Araújo]] is commonly known as Leonardo, and should be sorted as <code><nowiki>{{DEFAULTSORT:Leonardo Araujo}}</nowiki></code>.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia_talk:WikiProject_Football/Archive_56#DEFAULTSORT | title=Defaultsort | publisher=Wikipedia | work=WikiProject Football | date=June 2011 | accessdate=January 17, 2012}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|3}}

==Bibliography==
* {{Cite book | ref=CITEREFButcher's_copy-editing2006 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LT1r8VE4E80C | title=Butcher's copy-editing: the Cambridge handbook for editors, copy-editors and proofreaders | publisher=Cambridge University Press | year=2006 | edition=4th | first1=Judith | last1=Butcher | first2=Caroline | last2=Drake | first3=Maureen | last3=Leach | isbn=0-521-84713-3 | accessdate=January 12, 2012}}
* {{Cite book | ref=CITEREFChicago_Manual_of_Style2003 | url=http://www.press.uchicago.edu/Misc/Chicago/CHIIndexingComplete.pdf | title=Indexes - A chapter from the Chicago Manual of Style | publisher=University of Chicago Press | year=2003 | edition=15th | isbn=0-226-10406-0 | accessdate=January 11, 2012}}
* {{Cite book | ref=CITEREFIFLA1996 | url=https://www.ifla.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/assets/cataloguing/pubs/names-of-persons_1996.pdf | title=Names of persons : national usages for entry in catalogue | publisher=K. G. Saur | place=Munich; New Providence; London; Paris | year=1996 | edition=4th revised and enlarged | series=UBCIM publications ; new series, vol. 16 | editor=[[International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions]] (IFLA) | isbn=3-598-11342-0 | accessdate=January 10, 2012}}
* {{Cite book | ref={{SfnRef|Indexing Books|2005}} | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=G0Eqm8FbiTMC | title=Indexing Books | publisher=University of Chicago Press | year=2005 | edition=2nd | last1=Mulvany | first1=Nancy C. | isbn=0-226-55276-4 | accessdate=January 17, 2012}}

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