A surname presented with an obvious prefix should be entered as one word.
Such a surname should contain no spaces, punctuation or other marks.
If the obvious prefix is also a common given name it should be entered (1) with the prefix as the beginning of the surname and (2) with the apparent prefix as a given name.
Many typical surnames begin with a prefix which may be separated from the balance of the surname by a space, apostrophe, hyphen or other character. This standard provides such names be entered as a single word containing no spaces or punctuation. Some surnames with prefixes are:
Name with prefix Enter as:
MC DONALD MCDONALD
LA CROSSE LACROSSE
MAC DONALD MACDONALD
O’HARE OHARE
DE VITO DEVITO
SAINT ROMAIN SAINTROMAIN
VON CLOUDT VONCLOUDT
D’ANGELO DANGELO
DEL MONTE DELMONTE
VAN DEVEER VANDEVEER
DU PONT DUPONT
ST JAMES STJAMES
SANTA BELLA SANTABELLA
LE SUEUR LESUEUR
Sometimes names are presented in ways that it is difficult to tell whether an apparent prefix is a prefix or a part of a person’s given name. When the possible prefix is also a common given name, then the name should be entered twice. Once with the prefix as a part of the surname, and again with the prefix entered as a given name. Examples of name prefixes as possible middle name are:
Van Camp
Mac Intosh
Del Monte
Mack Intosh
Van de Cort
Von Cloudt
Name presented: Carl Van Demere
Would be indexed as:
VANDEMERE, CARL
DEMERE, CARL VAN
Name presented: Johnny Mack Intosh
Would be indexed as:
MACKINTOSH, JOHNNY
INTOSH, JOHNNY MACK
These rules do not apply to BUSINESS NAMES containing INDIVIDUAL NAMES
Names presented: Johnny Von Cloudt Electrical Service
Would be indexed as:
JOHNNY VON CLOUDT ELECTRICAL SERVICE
Name presented: St. James Heating & Air
Would be indexed as:
ST JAMES HEATING & AIR