The International Genealogical Index (IGI) is a partial index to vital records from around the world. Some of the information may have come from microfilm copies of the original records. Because the original records may have been updated by the record custodians, you may find additional, more accurate information in the original records. You may also be able to obtain official copies of the original records by contacting the appropriate record custodian, some of whom are listed on the main IGI website. Back to the Top Tips for Searching the International Genealogical Index It may seem that the combinations listed below are very complicated, but in fact they give you many options for searching which is very useful when you have only partial information. The site is easy to use and should you leave out a required piece of information you will be prompted and told which piece of data you must include. It is really very user friendly. You may search for any combination of first and last names for the individual, parents, and spouse. You may search for just a last name. Up to 200 results will be displayed on a page. Click Next to look at the other results. For common surnames, fill in additional fields to improve your search results. You will get better results if you enter an individual’s first name and last name. First and last names are standardized so that spelling variations are retrieved in the results. Back to the Top Search for Children of the Same Parents To search for children of the same parents, enter: The region. The father’s first and last name. The mother’s first name (the mother’s last name is optional). Narrow Your Search You may now use the following to make your search more specific: Event Year range (If you select a year range, you must provide a year in the year box.) Year Region Use exact spelling (If you check Use exact spelling, you may not list parents, spouse, event, or year.) Batch number & Film number Batch and film number (If a record contains both a batch number and a film number, then use only the batch number for your search. If you enter the film number, the search will be invalid. Film number searches are valid only when there is no batch number.) Back to the Top If you choose birth or christening as the event, you must also enter one of the following options: Last name, region First name, last name, region First name, last name, father’s first name, region First name, last name, father’s last name, region First name, last name, father’s first and last name, region First name, last name, mother’s first name, region First name, last name, mother’s last name, region First name, last name, mother’s first and last name, region If you choose marriage as the event, you must also enter one of the following options: Last name, region First name, last name, region First name, last name, spouse’s first name, region First name, last name, spouse’s last name, region First name, last name, spouse’s first and last name, region If you choose death as the event, you must also enter one of the following options: Last name, region First name, last name, region Back to the Top What Searches Are Invalid? FamilySearch will not search for a first name only. Batch and film number searches. If a record contains both a batch number and a film number, then use only the batch number for your search. If you enter the film number, the search will be invalid. Film number searches are valid only when there is no batch number. Middle names. FamilySearch will ignore middle names unless you check the Use exact spelling box. When you check Use exact spelling, the search will look for the individual's first, middle, and last name exactly as you listed it. If you check Use exact spelling, you may not list parents, spouse, event, or year. You may not get the results you want if you list parents' names and a spouse's name in the same search. Most records from the International Genealogical Index contain either parents' names or a spouse's name but not both. As you can see from the screen shot at the top of this page, there are many other options for you to check out. These are listed down the left side of the screen shot. Each of these are really worth looking at, as they provide other avenues of possible research. If you are researching Americans in your family, then the Social Security Death Index can be useful. Have a look now at the real thing IGI Family Search page This is the Home Page of the IGI Happy hunting! Back to the Top