SEARCH STRATEGY - FamilySearch Community Trees are primarily lineage-linked, sourced genealogies contributed by partners. Many trees have attached documents and images.

From the Home screen searches are across all trees. The default search for names is "Contains" - which generates a search for any name which includes what has been entered.

From this page (home screen) click on See Community Trees. Here you will find a description of each tree and a SEARCH button , that when clicked will take you directly to an alphabetical list of every individual in that tree. From the list you can click any name for the full view of the record. Click on the Search icon for a People Search within that tree. You may also select a different tree to search by clicking on the pull-down Tree list.

ADVANCED SEARCH provides powerful search options. The default for most fields is "Contains". However the pull down menu provides other options like Soundex (for variant name spellings). The more fields of information entered limits the results. Try less information first.

AKA's (Also Known As) - many individuals, have alternate names which can be searched by clicking on Other Search Criteria and scroll down to AKA's or Also Known As and enter the names in the FACTS - Contains fields (with no other information in any other fields).

ARISTOCRATIC NAMES - How to search "aristocratic names" that include titles (especially French and German). Many of the names in the Royal and Noble Houses of Europe were entered in a name string, this means the information was typed into the given name field and/ or title field with no surname listed.

     NAME STRING EXAMPLE: Antoine de Crussol, comte de Crussol vicomte d'Uzes, duc d'Uzes

          Given Name Field: Antoine de Crussol
          Surname Field: Nothing was entered
          Suffix Title Field: comte de Crussol vicomte d'Uzes, duc d'Uzes.

From the Community Trees Home Page select "Advanced Search" - use the strategies in the examples below to find your ancestor. Search Strategies Suggestions for Antoine de Crussol, comte de Crussol vicomte d'Uzes, duc d'Uzes:

1. Try: First Name: field using contains in the second field type Antoine together with the Death Year: equals 1573

2. Try: First Name: field using contains in the second field type Antoine, the results are not in strict alphabetical order but Antoine will be on the list

3. Try: First Name: field using contains in the second field type Crussol (or de Crussol). Antoine de Crussol will be on the list

4. Try: First Name: field using contains in the second field type d'Uzes. This results will not will list Antoine but will find many of his relatives

NAMES: Many individuals in the Royal and Noble Houses of Europe and the British Isles Community Trees are known by many different names and titles. The alternate search strategy for these valuable trees is to use "Other Search Criteria" and scroll down to Name - Fact - Contains and enter the alternate spelling (with no other information in any other fields). See FamilySearch Wiki for additional search strategies for Medieval Families.

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