User:Jnestorius/Mac and Mc together

Particular guides
What is an Index p.70 (Wheatley 1878; similar to Wheatley 1902)
 * 6. — Proper Names, with the prefix St., as St. Albans; St. John; to be arranged in the alphabet as if written in full Saint. When the word Saint represents a ceremonial title as in the case of St. Alban, St. Giles, and St. Augustine, these names to be arranged under the letters A and G respectively; but the places St. Albans,  St. Giles's, and St. Augustines will be found under the prefix Saint,  The prefixes M' and Mc to be arranged as if written in full Mac.

Century Dictionary, s.v. Mac: changed "properly" to "commonly" between 1897 and 1901 printing:
 * Mac. [< Gael, mac = Ir. mac = W. map, mab, also ap, ab, a son, = Goth, magus, a son: see may2. Cf. ap.] An element, usually a conjoined prefix, in many Scotch and Irish names of Celtic origin, cognate with the Welsh Ap-, signifying 'son,' and being thus equivalent to the Irish O’, the English son or -s, and the Norman Fitz-. The prefix is either written in full, Mac-, or abbreviated to Mc- or Mᶜ-, which in works printed in the British Isles almost invariably appears as M‘ — the contracted form being followed by a capital letter, while Mac- takes a capital after it but rarely. Thus a name may be variously spelled as Macdonald (rarely MacDonald), M‘Donald, or McDonald; so Mackenzie, M‘Kenzie, or McKenzie, etc. In catalogues, directories, etc, names with this prefix, whether written Mac-, M‘-, or Mc-, are ( properly 1889/1895/1897 — 1901/1904/1911 commonly ) entered in the alphabetical place of Mac-. Sometimes used separately for persons whose names begin with this prefix.


 * Then the Macs and the O's add their share to the woes of the compiler. It is true, of course, that the various forms: Mac, Mc, M', are all variations of one prefix. The Century Dictionary sententiously lays down the dictum: "In catalogues, directories, etc., names beginning with this prefix, whether written Mac-, Mc- or M'-, are properly entered in the alphabetical order of Mac." This would be an easy solution, but is the Century right? We are aware that it is Sir Oracle, but venture to question its conclusion. Why not with equal propriety enter the Smiths and Smythes in the order of Smith? Or the Johnsons and Johnstons in the order of the former? They are simply variations in the spelling of the same name. If we abandon the alphabetical arrangement in the case of the Macs, why be restricted to it in any? Names are not generally flexible, and most men are particular as to the peculiarities in the spelling of their patronymics. A MacDonald will feel huffy should you class him with the Macdonalds, and might even whip out his skean dhu should you put him among the McDonalds. The makeshift of treating "Mc" as a separate letter is simply a begging of the question. The principles of alphabetization should be followed out remorselessly, and the names placed in the proper alphabetical order, according as they are spelled. "Mc" should come after "Ma," and if any man insists on the "M'," let him take his place where that arrangement would naturally land him. In the " O's " let the same principle be observed. In these names the apostrophe does not count; it does not mark a prefix constituting another word. The "O" is part of the word, and the names should be alphabetized just as if the apostrophe did not exist.

(Cited as milestone in )
 * Proper names with the prefix St., as St. Albans, St. John, to be arranged in the alphabet as if written in full Saint. When the word Saint represents a ceremonial title, as in the case of St. Alban, St. Giles, and St. Augustine, these names are to be arranged under the letters A and G respectively ; but the places St. Albans, St. Giles's, and St. Augustine's will be found under the prefix Saint. The prefixes M' and Me to be arranged as if written in full Mac.
 * This rule is very frequently neglected, more particularly in respect to the neglect of the difference between Saint Alban the man and St. Albans the place.

(Reprinted in )

Indexing and Filing: A Manual of Standard Practice 1916 p.39 Nos.178-179
 * 178. Abbreviations, when they occur, should be filed as though the word or name was spelled out in full ; e.g. :
 * Wm. filed as William
 * Jos. filed as Joseph
 * Jas. filed as James
 * M' and Mc as though written Mac
 * St. Louis as Saint Louis
 * Ste as Sainte
 * S. as Sanctus
 * 179. Exception. In some instances the manufacturers of filing supplies have provided an entirely separate guide or series of guides for the Mc names, the arrangement made so as to precede surnames beginning with M. When guides are used carrying this arrangement it will be necessary to disregard the rule set forth in the preceding paragraph.

Indexing, a handbook of instruction 1921 pp.94-95
 * 6. But the chief difficulty in deciding what is the best alphabetical order is experienced in great name indexes containing both the names of individuals and the titles of firms. The rules which provide the most satisfactory solution of the problem are dealt with in special reference to these latter in Chap. VIII (6 et seq). Here it will be sufficient to point out that names beginning in Mac, Mc or M' are all treated as though uniformly of the spelling Mac — and are alphabetized according to the succeeding letters. Names having the prefix St. are regarded as having this latter "spelt out" as Saint and are placed alphabetically as :
 * Sainsbury
 * St. Aubyn
 * German names having the modified a, o or u receive alphabetical position as though spelt with a, o or u, respectively.


 * Seems to be nothing in this edition about expanding Mc; cf. BL 1982 below
 * s.40 "Transliteration of Gaelic names" pp.49–51: summarised by Nic Cóil: "prefix Ó is substituted for Ua, Uí, Ní; Mac for Mag, Mic, Oc, Nic; De for A and also Ni where name is AngloNorman; aspirate is ignored after Ui, Mic, Ni, Nic; small h before and after Ó or Mac is treated as an ordinary part of the surname; accents are retained".

(Cited as milestone in )

Progressive filing 6th ed 1955 p.11 Rule 4 (first ed 1925)
 * A surname prefix is not a separate indexing unit, A but it is considered part of the surname. These prefixes include: d', D', Da, de, De, Del, Des, Di, Du, Fitz, La, Le, M', Mac, Mc, O', St., Van, Van der, Von, Von der, and others. The prefixes M', Mac, and Mc are indexed and filed exactly as they are spelled. The prefix St. is indexed and filed as though spelled out.

Air Force Manual, Volume 181, 20 Feb 1958 Issue 4 Appendix B p.72-3 Nos.12b, 16
 * 12b "Names having the prefixes M, Mc, and Mac shall be filed together in front of all names beginning with the letter "M"."
 * 16: "20 [recte 25] division" index includes Mc and M (and merges XYZ); 60-division has Le-Li-Mc-M-Mar; 100-division has Li-Lo-McA-M-Man-Me.

Indexing Books p.37 Collison 1962:
 * Names, of course, with Gaelic prefixes — O’Shaughnessy, Mac Adam, M’Vie, etc. — are entered under the full form without references from other versions.

Commonsense cataloging; a manual for the organization of books and other materials in school and small public libraries 1965 p.163 No.10 "Names (including those beginning Mac, Mc, etc.) are always filed as written"


 * For the indexing of Irish names beginning with O, Mac, Mc, Ni, Nic, we carefully considered the advantages of entering them according to the basic element in the name and not according to the prefix (Mac Aonghusa under A, O'Brien under B, Nic Chárthaigh under C). We decided against this, in some ways attractive, plan because, owing to the coexistence of English and Irish forms of the same names, it would create practical difficulties for users of the index quite out of proportion to its logical advantages (for example Magennis would be entered under M, but the same name in its Irish form, Mac Aonghusa, under A ...).


 * Mac Foo, MacFoo, McFoo, and M'Foo sort as Mac, Macfoo, Mcfoo, Mfoo resp.; add "see also" references at start of Mac and Mc entries. [Mac Foo not explicit but implicit from "treated as a separate word" rule p.27 and "Van Stan">"VanDeMark" example p.29.]

theindexer October 1980 book reviews ELSE-Ciba ISBN 0-907187-00-5 recommendations are more sparing with punctuation, and suggest filing names exactly as spelt, without transposing prefixes, whereas Cambridge ISBN 0-521-29739-7 files Mc as Mac and transposes certain prefixes in foreign names.

theindexer April 1982 book reviews Mac and Me are treated as different sequences of letters by LC ISBN 0-8444-0347-4. BL ISBN 0-900220-83-X says 'The prefixes M', Mᶜ, Mc and Mac occurring in names of Scottish or Irish origin are filed as Mac. M', Mᶜ, Mc and Mac occurring in names of other languages are filed as given'.

Webster's standard American style manual 1985 pp.278-9 "Most common" to merge; "Another method" not to; "St." is always merged.
 * 1998 reprint p.262 same

WHO 1993
 * Names beginning with the prefix “Mac” or “Mc” should be arranged as if the letter “a” were present in all cases

Oxford Guide to Style 2002 ed. says preserve spelling Mac Mc M‘ or M’ (even if last originally a typocgraphic error family may prefer) but sort all as Mac.

Chicago
The Chicago Manual of Style
 * 1st ed 1906 p.30 No.83e:
 * Names beginning with "Mc," whether the "Mc" part is written "Mc," "Mac," "M'," or "Mac" without the following letter being capitalized (as in "Macomber"), fall into one alphabetical list, as if spelled "Mac."
 * 7th ed 1920 p.92 No.240a:
 * Names beginning with M', Mc, Mac, or St., Ste., whether the following letter is capitalized or not, should be listed as if the prefix were spelled Mac, Saint, Sainte, thus making it unnecessary for one who consults the index to look in several places to make sure of finding the name sought:
 * 11th ed 1949 p.178 No.309a as 1920
 * 13th ed 1982 p.544 18.105 as 1920
 * 14th ed 1993 p.742 17.109 "preferably .. as they appear. Alternatively ... as though the full form"; and p.750 17.131 alphabetizing by computer can handle either.
 * 15th ed 2003 p.778 18.71
 * Names beginning with Mac or Mc are alphabetized letter by letter, as they appear. (Here Chicago parts company with Merriam-Webster's Biographical Dictionary.)

Commentary
Principal documentary evidence submitted to the National Libraries Committee : volume 1 1968 p.A47 No.14: British Museum
 * Until 1968 cataloguing was governed by the Rules for Compiling the Catalogue of Printed Books, Maps and Music in the British Museum, which are a development of the rules devised in the last century. The department is now in the process of changing to the new Anglo /American Cataloguing Rules as an essential step towards wider co-operation with other institutions.

Surprisingly, there are varying styles of alphabetisation. For example, some people put "Mc" ahead of "M"; some put "Mc" and "Mac" together as if all were spelled "Mac"; others mix "Mc" and "Mac" together ahead of "M"; still others use strict alphabetization of "Mc" and "Mac" within the "M" category, using "See also" references to the other spelling.


 * [paraphrase] Mc and M' are contractions of Mac; British indexes always treat as Mac, US "some indexes "especially computer-compiled ones) and some telephone directories" don't "it should be noted" that African M' not applicable. Similarly St > Saint.


 * Post-1980 "Big Mac Battle": switch to no-merge by ALA and LoC in 1980 (no exceptions) and BSA in 1985/1988 (exceptions "nature, purpose or tradition" to forestall Scottish objections). Scottish Record Office standardises as "Mc-" for pre-1750 records. "kernel of truth when it comes to phone books, genealogical lists and other long lists of names" but otherwise usually few Mc/Mac names and often reader knows correct spelling. Compare Scandinavian Pe[t/tt]er[s/ss][o/e]n - sometimes merged in phone books but not otherwise. Software can't handle. African names. Long common in US phone books. Omitting cross-references not good practice. Claims merging makes it "more difficult" to find non-Gaelic names in the list.

MacLysaght 1969 "the practice of differentiating ... is fortunately dying out".

theindexer April 2002 I must confess to a rather pragmatic attitude to some of the recommendations in the British Standard (1996). The controversy over Mc and Mac and St and Saint is well-known and still hotly debated. I am generally of the ‘old school’, favouring indexing Mc as if it were Mac. In many indexes Macdonald and McDonald will end up a long way apart and the reader turning to Mc may miss the earlier references.

April 2005 book reviews ISBN 0-521-62181-X The Cambridge Guide to English Usage [in] the entry ‘Mac or Mc’ ... there is a substantial section on ‘Indexing names with Mac and Mc’


 * p.164 'Names with "Mac", "Mc", or "M'"' — "Some publishers' style guides" recommend merging. "Most people, though, expect an index to be arranged in alphabetical order. Thus ... [this] can be confusing. ... It is not unreasonable to ask how far we might go with this type of alphabetizing quirk." Cites Knight 1979 "rightly" on African names with M' [though Knight doesn't advocate separation], and Booth and Pigott 1988 ISBN 9781871577013 "sensible" on cross-references.
 * pp.164,262 "some publishers" require collation; p.268 indexing software can handle this

Card catalogues interleaved Mac~ Mc~ and mac~; computer catalogs don't: "Just one example of the 'old' system being more user friendly than the 'new' system."

Uncited notes

 * Patrice Mac-Mahon etc
 * Fuzzy searches

Nic Cóil 2011
Synopsis:
 * Pre-modern literal "son of", often lowercase-m "mac"; indexed by given name as not a surname
 * Mac Giolla + saint's name
 * Irish often written as Mac Foo not MacFoo or Macfoo
 * O somewhat more common than MAc in Ireland
 * O/Mac lost by early 19th century and restored later
 * "recent generations of families will all use the same spelling"
 * Some people simplify/anglicise to avoid bureaucratic headaches from variants/misspellings in official data
 * Feminine Mhic/Nic + séimhiú of main element; question of whether to index separately and/or cross-reference to/from Mac
 * Also possible to index under main element rather than Mac particle
 * "As a guide for registration officers and the public for searching the indexes of births, deaths and marriage records, Robert Matheson of the General Register’s Office published two pamphlets in Dublin in 1901 and 1909."
 * Lists of surnames (as opposed to people bearing surnames) standardise usually all Mac (sometimes all Mc — Hanks and Flavia, 1989) and sometimes add a general cross-reference from Mc, Mhic, Nic
 * "One Irish language speaker saved the contacts on his mobile phone by surname, saying ‘they’d all be under Mac or Ó if I chose to alphabetize by prefix’"
 * "According to the British Museum ‘the preponderance of O and Mac prefixes tends to render the catalogue unwieldy’ (Glynn, 1930)."
 * Íosold O’Deirg "innovative" but "not widely used" method of ordering and aligning by main element but presering prefixes by indenting
 * Mary J. Hogan 1964 survey of 9 libraries in Ireland: 6 "Surnames catalogued under prefix" 1 "Surnames catalogued under ‘main word’" 2 "Practice is to enter under prefix but the alternative might be considered"
 * Michael Durkan response to Hogan "merely a practical device with the sole merit of redistributing the large accumulation of entries under Mac and O’"
 * "An issue with Mc/Mac surnames is whether or not the user or searcher knows how the name is spelled."
 * Phonebook 2011 note "How to find a name starting with Mac, MAC or Mc.:- Names such as Macey, Machines, Macken, Macroom etc. appear in order of the fourth letter of the name. The prefixes Mac and Mc are both treated as Mac and the position of the entry is determined by the next letter in the name."
 * Relevant AACR2 is 22.5E1 "If the prefix is regularly or occasionally hyphenated or combined with the surname, enter the name under the prefix. As required, refer from the part of the name following the prefix"
 * ref IFLA manual Names of persons: national usages for entry in catalogues
 * Database sorting by any field, wildcards
 * Lists indexing programs, all of which can interfile Mac and Mc: Macrex by overridable default; Sky by "treat as Name index" checkbox; Cindex separates by default.
 * For feminine Irish names "The widely recommended solution was that ‘the main entry should be made under the masculine prefix and form, with a reference from the feminine form’ ... it could be argued that it is more appropriate for the entry to be under the form of her surname that she herself used than to cross-refer to the masculine form of her surname or to provide a generic cross-reference from the feminine prefix(es)."