Skip to content
  • Start free trial
Accessed via cache: false
  1. Findmypast Help
  2. Exploring family records
  3. Searching for records on Findmypast

How do I use name variants when searching on Findmypast?

To account for transcription errors, nicknames and different languages in our records, Findmypast has a name variant tool which you can use to broaden your searches. When name variance is applied, we’ll search, not only for the search term you entered but similar derivatives too. For example, a search for ‘William’ with name variance applied will bring back results for William, Will, Liam, Billy, Wm, Wilhelm and so on. 

Findmypast’s name variant tools are available on all category, subcategory and record set search pages and you can apply them to first names, last names or both.

Was this article helpful?