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FN - family name

HL7 Component Table - FN - family name
Seq# Description Data Type Usage Vocabulary Length C.LEN Flags
FN
1 Surname ST R
 50
2 Own Surname Prefix ST O
 20
3 Own Surname ST O
 50
4 Surname Prefix from Partner/Spouse ST O
 20
5 Surname from Partner/Spouse ST O
 50

Components: <Surname (ST)> & <Own Surname Prefix (ST)> & <Own Surname (ST)> & <Surname Prefix from Partner/Spouse (ST)> & <Surname from Partner/Spouse (ST)>


FN-1: Surname (ST)

Definition: The atomic element of the person's family name. In most Western usage, this is the person's last name.

FN-2: Own Surname Prefix (ST)

Definition: Internationalization usage for Germanic languages. This component is optional. An example of a <surname prefix> is the "van" in "Ludwig van Beethoven". Since the <surname prefix> doesn't sort completely alphabetically, it is reasonable to specify it as a separate sub-component of the PN and extended PN data types (XPN and XCN).

Note: Subcomponents <own surname prefix>, <own surname>, <surname prefix from partner/spouse> and <surname from partner/spouse> decompose complex Germanic names such as “Martha de Mum-van Beethoven”. If these subcomponents are valued, the <surname> subcomponent should still be fully valued for backward compatibility, i.e., ^de Mum-van Beethoven&de&Mum&van&Beethoven^.
Also, for clarity, the <last name prefix> has been renamed to <own surname prefix>.


FN-3: Own Surname (ST)

Definition: The portion of the surname (in most Western usage, the last name) that is derived from the person's own surname, as distinguished from any portion that is derived from the surname of the person's partner or spouse. This component is optional.

If the person's surname has legally changed to become (or incorporate) the surname of the person's partner or spouse, this is the person's surname immediately prior to such change. Often this is the person's "maiden name".

FN-4: Surname Prefix from Partner/Spouse (ST)

Definition: Internationalization usage for Germanic languages. This component is optional. An example of a <surname prefix> is the “van” in "Ludwig van Beethoven". Since the <surname prefix> doesn't sort completely alphabetically, it is reasonable to specify it as a separate sub-component of the PN and extended PN data types (XPN and XCN).

Note: Subcomponents <own surname prefix>, <own surname>, <surname prefix from partner/spouse> and <surname from partner/spouse> decompose complex Germanic names such as “Martha de Mum-van Beethoven”. If these subcomponents are valued, the <surname> subcomponent should still be fully valued for backward compatibility, i.e., ^de Mum-van Beethoven&de&Mum&van&Beethoven^.”
Also, for clarity, the <last name prefix> has been renamed to <own surname prefix>.


FN-5: Surname from Partner/Spouse (ST)

Definition: The portion of the person's surname (in most Western usage, the last name) that is derived from the surname of the person's partner or spouse, as distinguished from the part derived from the person's own surname. This component is optional.

If no portion of the person's surname is derived from the surname of the person's partner or spouse, this component is not valued. Otherwise, if the surname of the partner or spouse has legally changed to become (or incorporate) the person's surname, this is the surname of the partner or spouse immediately prior to such change.