If you are looking in just one place, say what it is. If you are sure, ask to search on a specific name only. There are two main kinds of records. Orginal records are the details written at the time in documents such as church registers. Some original records, such as Censuses, only become available after 100 years under a rule which protects people's privacy.
Compiled records are collections put together by researchers.
It is easier and quicker to use compiled records, because someone has already arranged and printed them. They are usually well indexed, whereas the order of original records reflects their purpose, not the interests of genealogists. Make sure all the pieces fit. It's like a jigsaw. If you force a piece into the wrong place, you won't find anything else that fits - or you will add more wrong pieces to the first mistake.