I have found that the official index at www.1911census.co.uk/ is far easier to search, and allows more options, than the choices given on Findmypast. Once the details are found on the official index, they can be put into Findmypast to pay for the scan there if preferred.

1. www.1911census.co.uk/
2. Under "Search the 1911 census" click on "Full person search" at the bottom of the box.
3. Click on "Show advanced fields" at the bottom of "Search the 1911 census".

This shows the full range of options.
Make sure "Variants of name" is marked, because abbreviations of names may be used, a second forename left off, or two forenames reversed. Surnames may be misspelt, or wrongly read by the index compiler.

Don't fill in too many boxes. If born in the Isle of Man that is usually enough to add at "Place of birth", with a range of years for the birthdate, and leave all others (apart from names) empty.

If there are no results, you can search by EITHER forename(s) OR surname, preferably with an exact year for birth, and b.IoM. That way you can pick up the ones with spelling mistakes.

When you have one person in a family identified you can often use the index information to find all the other members in the household with the same surname. Put the District given in the "Location" (from drop down list), remove the First name(s), remove the year of birth - leaving only the surname, and write the identified person's first name(s) as given, at "Other members of the household" near the bottom of the list.

Sue