When searching for a family in an every name census (or any record that lists all family members), search for the family member whose name is the least likely to be spelled or enumerated incorrectly. It is no guarantee you will find the right people, but sometimes it’s easier to find John than it is to find Fredericka or a Noentjelena. It often is easier to find a Willm that it is to find a Trientje when the census enumerator has never heard of a either non-English name (Willm is more likely to be rendered as the more familiar Will or William while Trientje can be spelled in any of a number of incorrect ways) .
It’s not just non-English names that can be a challenge. Common one can occasionally present problems as well. Some names have quite a few diminutives that may make them harder to find if the enumerator or clerk was inclined to use shortened versions of the actual name instead of the actual name itself.
When you have all the members in a household to look for in an index or database, ask yourself which name is the most difficult to get wrong?
And start with that.
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