If you are specifically referring to a Wikitree search, this is what I do.
I write the surname into the Last Name box on the main page, (or at the top of any other profile page) which brings up a list of all the profiles with that last name - as well as some variations of that name. Then I use Edit and Find from the browser menu, to search for the country, location, year, or whatever it is I am looking for. It may take a while longer, but I often get to find what I want or at least learn that the person I am looking for is NOT yet on Wikitree.