Using the free index Users will be able to conduct a number of searches for individuals. There will be the option of giving a range of years if the precise age of the individual is not known. A soundex match to identify names with similar phonetics, such as Brown and Browne. Where users give a full forename the system will return matching synonyms and abbreviations. If this first basic search returns too many results then an advanced search is available using a variety of other fields to refine your search such as occupation and where born .
Users can also search on an address or place, an institution or vessel.
Place names will be transcribed as they are written on the original returns. Welsh place names will not be bi-lingual but as written on the returns.