Wednesday, March 14, 2007

Google's Number Range Search

If you are not sure of the year for your search query, Google allows you to search for a range of years.

Use the number range operator if you are not sure of the exact year, but do have an approximation. Just add two numbers, separated by two periods with no spaces in between, into the search box along with your search terms. This should find any mention of your keywords if it matches any one of the years in the number range.

If you search for

Robert Powers obituary 1920..1925

Google will return matches for the years 1920, 1921, 1922, 1923, 1924, and 1925.


Or search for

Jacob Wagner ship passenger list 1880..1890

Google will return match for Jacob Wagner on any passenger list between the years 1880 and 1890.

Or use the number range to search for a person and location using their year of birth and year of death.

Mary Ellen Jones Philadelphia Pennsylvania 1866..1941

The results using a Google numrange will give any occurrence of your keywords that matches one of the years in the range.


You may be more comfortable using Google syntax. Numrange: is just another way of saying the same thing and gives the same results. Note the colon after the word numrange and a dash between the years, all with no spaces in between.

Robert Powers obituary numrange:1920-1925


Google Numrange works for any type of number: years, money, zip codes, temperature, but those making genealogy searches will probably be most interested in searching a span of years.

Genealogy Google Search Ideas
Learn more Google tips and tricks for searching your ancestors.

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