Techniques of record searching As you search the various records containing information about your immigrant(s), keep the following principles in mind: Search for the entire family Search broad time periods Search wide geographic areas Search every location where they lived Search variant spellings of names Note references to previous residences Watch for neighbors and friends Understand the record's limitations Seek and use indexes Actually, these techniques apply to any kind of record searching in your genealogical or family history quest. However, they are particularly appropriate with immigrants. Indeed, the following discussion shows how they apply specifically to immigrant origins research.