Description
Split a column containing people's names into separate columns for first name, last name etc.
Examples
Split the 'names' column into separate columns for honorifics, first names, middle names, last names and suffixes.
Inputs
One.
Options
•Select the Column with the names you wish to split.
•Check honorific(s) if names may contain honorifics/titles.
•In Custom honorifics add any honorifics that Easy Data Transform does not recognize, as a comma separated list. Case is not important.
•Check first name(s) if names may contain first names.
•Check middle name(s) if names may contain middle names.
•Check last name(s) if names may contain last names/surnames.
•Set Num last names to the number of last names expected for each name (not including particules). E.g. this will typically be 1 for UK and US names and 2 for Spanish names.
•Check suffix(es) if names may contain suffixes/post-nominal titles.
•In Custom suffixes add any suffixes that Easy Data Transform does not recognize, as a comma separated list. Case is not important.
Notes
•The Split Name transform uses various heuristics (rules of thumb) to split a name into parts. It expects each value to be a single name in the order: honorific(s) -> first name(s) -> middle name(s) -> last name(s) -> suffix(es), separated by whitespace or commas. Some of the name parts can be missing, but they must be in this order.
•Split Name cannot guarantee to be 100% accurate. For example it is impossible to know for sure if the 'Lee' In 'John Lee Hooker' is a first name, middle name or last name. In such situations it will make a guess.
•The splitting algorithm knows about:
ocommon honorifics in a range of languages, such as: 'Mr', 'Mrs', 'Miss', 'Ms', 'Herr' and 'Frau'.
omilitary, political, religious and other honorifics, such as: 'Major General' and 'Rabbi'.
o'particules' at the start of last names, such as: 'de' and 'von'.
ocommon suffixes, such as: 'MBA', 'PhD' and 'Jr'.
•If values can contain multiple names (e.g. 'Mr John Smith & Mrs Jane Smith') you will need to split the column using Split Col, before you use Split Name.
•To combine the columns created back into a single column, with additional text and in a different order, using Substitute.
See also
•Case