diff --git a/applications/test/instant/Test-instant.C b/applications/test/instant/Test-instant.C
index f5d38b1ad7..4b6af1e121 100644
--- a/applications/test/instant/Test-instant.C
+++ b/applications/test/instant/Test-instant.C
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
     \\  /    A nd           | www.openfoam.com
      \\/     M anipulation  |
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-    Copyright (C) 2018 OpenCFD Ltd.
+    Copyright (C) 2018-2022 OpenCFD Ltd.
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 License
     This file is part of OpenFOAM.
@@ -30,11 +30,31 @@ Description
 
 #include "argList.H"
 #include "instant.H"
+#include "Pair.H"
 #include "fileNameInstant.H"
 #include "DynamicList.H"
 
 using namespace Foam;
 
+template<class T>
+Ostream& printInstant(const UList<T>& times, const label i)
+{
+    if (i >= 0 && i < times.size())
+    {
+        Info<< " (" << times[i] << ")";
+    }
+    return Info;
+}
+
+template<class T>
+Ostream& printInstant(const UList<T>& times, const Pair<label>& range)
+{
+    printInstant(times, range.first());
+    printInstant(times, range.second());
+    return Info;
+}
+
+
 // * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
 // Main program:
 
@@ -48,6 +68,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
     times.append({300.456, "def"});
     times.append({454.456, "xyz"});
     times.append({10, "ten"});
+    times.append({15, "fifteen"});
 
     {
         word timeName("twenty");
@@ -61,6 +82,19 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
     sort(times);
     Info<< "Sorted:" << times << nl;
 
+    for (const scalar val : { -0.5, 5.0, 18.0, 25.0, 450.0, 480.0 })
+    {
+        label start = instant::findStart(times, val);
+        Pair<label> range = instant::findRange(times, val);
+
+        Info<< nl
+            << "time:" << val << nl;
+        Info<< "    start:" << start;
+        printInstant(times, start) << nl;
+
+        Info<< "    range:" << range;
+        printInstant(times, range) << nl;
+    }
 
     DynamicList<fileNameInstant> files;
     files.append(fileNameInstant{});
diff --git a/src/OpenFOAM/db/Time/instant/Instant.H b/src/OpenFOAM/db/Time/instant/Instant.H
index 7d90291f6c..acb057e950 100644
--- a/src/OpenFOAM/db/Time/instant/Instant.H
+++ b/src/OpenFOAM/db/Time/instant/Instant.H
@@ -116,28 +116,17 @@ public:
     // Member Functions
 
         //- The value (const access)
-        scalar value() const noexcept
-        {
-            return val_;
-        }
+        scalar value() const noexcept { return val_; }
 
         //- The value (non-const access)
-        scalar& value() noexcept
-        {
-            return val_;
-        }
+        scalar& value() noexcept { return val_; }
 
         //- The name/key (const access)
-        const T& name() const noexcept
-        {
-            return key_;
-        }
+        const T& name() const noexcept { return key_; }
 
         //- The name/key (non-const access)
-        T& name() noexcept
-        {
-            return key_;
-        }
+        T& name() noexcept { return key_; }
+
 
         //- True if values are equal (includes SMALL for rounding)
         bool equal(scalar val) const noexcept
diff --git a/src/OpenFOAM/db/Time/instant/instant.C b/src/OpenFOAM/db/Time/instant/instant.C
index 5358ce9865..f6ee63b4a5 100644
--- a/src/OpenFOAM/db/Time/instant/instant.C
+++ b/src/OpenFOAM/db/Time/instant/instant.C
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
     \\  /    A nd           | www.openfoam.com
      \\/     M anipulation  |
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-    Copyright (C) 2011-2017 OpenFOAM Foundation
+    Copyright (C) 2011 OpenFOAM Foundation
     Copyright (C) 2018-2022 OpenCFD Ltd.
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 License
@@ -28,6 +28,8 @@ License
 
 #include "instant.H"
 #include "Time.H"
+#include "Pair.H"
+#include "UList.H"
 #include <cstdlib>  // std::atof
 #include <utility>  // std::move
 
@@ -36,6 +38,62 @@ License
 const char* const Foam::instant::typeName = "instant";
 
 
+// * * * * * * * * * * * * * Static Member Functions * * * * * * * * * * * * //
+
+Foam::label Foam::instant::findStart
+(
+    const UList<instant>& times,
+    const scalar timeVal
+)
+{
+    for (label i = 0; i < times.size(); ++i)
+    {
+        if (timeVal <= times[i].value())
+        {
+            return i;
+        }
+    }
+    return 0;
+}
+
+
+Foam::Pair<Foam::label> Foam::instant::findRange
+(
+    const UList<instant>& times,
+    const scalar timeVal,
+    const label start
+)
+{
+    Pair<label> range(start, -1);  // lower/upper
+
+    for (label i = start+1; i < times.size(); ++i)
+    {
+        if (timeVal < times[i].value())
+        {
+            break;
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            range.first() = i;
+        }
+    }
+
+    if (range.first() < 0 || range.first() >= times.size())
+    {
+        // Invalid
+        return Pair<label>(-1, -1);
+    }
+
+    if (range.first() < times.size()-1)
+    {
+        // Upper part of range within bounds
+        range.second() = range.first()+1;
+    }
+
+    return range;
+}
+
+
 // * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Constructors  * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
 
 Foam::instant::instant(scalar timeValue)
diff --git a/src/OpenFOAM/db/Time/instant/instant.H b/src/OpenFOAM/db/Time/instant/instant.H
index d4c05af601..2fcb56923f 100644
--- a/src/OpenFOAM/db/Time/instant/instant.H
+++ b/src/OpenFOAM/db/Time/instant/instant.H
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
     \\  /    A nd           | www.openfoam.com
      \\/     M anipulation  |
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-    Copyright (C) 2011-2017 OpenFOAM Foundation
+    Copyright (C) 2011 OpenFOAM Foundation
     Copyright (C) 2018-2022 OpenCFD Ltd.
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 License
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ Description
     Uses Foam::Time when formatting the name.
 
 SourceFiles
-    instants.C
+    instant.C
 
 \*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
 
@@ -47,6 +47,10 @@ SourceFiles
 namespace Foam
 {
 
+// Forward Declarations
+template<class T> class Pair;
+template<class T> class UList;
+
 /*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*\
                            Class instant Declaration
 \*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
@@ -94,6 +98,26 @@ public:
 
         //- Move construct from timeName, parsing timeName for a value
         explicit instant(word&& timeName);
+
+
+    // Helper Functions (for searching)
+
+        //- Find and return index of given start time (linear search)
+        static label findStart
+        (
+            const UList<instant>& times,
+            const scalar timeVal
+        );
+
+        //- Find lower/upper indices for given time value in list of instances
+        //- (linear search) continuing \em after the given start index.
+        //  \returns the range indices or (-1,-1) if unsuccessful.
+        static Pair<label> findRange
+        (
+            const UList<instant>& times,
+            const scalar timeVal,
+            const label start = -1
+        );
 };
 
 
diff --git a/src/fvMotionSolver/pointPatchFields/derived/timeVaryingMappedFixedValue/timeVaryingMappedFixedValuePointPatchField.C b/src/fvMotionSolver/pointPatchFields/derived/timeVaryingMappedFixedValue/timeVaryingMappedFixedValuePointPatchField.C
index 28c1e7285b..bd1473953a 100644
--- a/src/fvMotionSolver/pointPatchFields/derived/timeVaryingMappedFixedValue/timeVaryingMappedFixedValuePointPatchField.C
+++ b/src/fvMotionSolver/pointPatchFields/derived/timeVaryingMappedFixedValue/timeVaryingMappedFixedValuePointPatchField.C
@@ -337,20 +337,15 @@ void Foam::timeVaryingMappedFixedValuePointPatchField<Type>::checkTable()
         }
     }
 
-    // Find current time in sampleTimes
-    label lo = -1;
-    label hi = -1;
-
-    bool foundTime = mapperPtr_().findTime
+    // Find range of current time indices in sampleTimes
+    Pair<label> timeIndices = instant::findRange
     (
         sampleTimes_,
-        startSampleTime_,
         time.value(),
-        lo,
-        hi
+        startSampleTime_
     );
 
-    if (!foundTime)
+    if (timeIndices.first() < 0)
     {
         FatalErrorInFunction
             << "Cannot find starting sampling values for current time "
@@ -367,9 +362,9 @@ void Foam::timeVaryingMappedFixedValuePointPatchField<Type>::checkTable()
 
     // Update sampled data fields.
 
-    if (lo != startSampleTime_)
+    if (startSampleTime_ != timeIndices.first())
     {
-        startSampleTime_ = lo;
+        startSampleTime_ = timeIndices.first();
 
         if (startSampleTime_ == endSampleTime_)
         {
@@ -387,12 +382,14 @@ void Foam::timeVaryingMappedFixedValuePointPatchField<Type>::checkTable()
         }
         else
         {
+            const word& sampleTimeName = sampleTimes_[startSampleTime_].name();
+
             if (debug)
             {
                 Pout<< "checkTable : Reading startValues from "
                     <<   "boundaryData"
                         /this->patch().name()
-                        /sampleTimes_[lo].name()
+                        /sampleTimeName
                     << endl;
             }
 
@@ -402,7 +399,7 @@ void Foam::timeVaryingMappedFixedValuePointPatchField<Type>::checkTable()
                 time.caseConstant()
                /"boundaryData"
                /this->patch().name()
-               /sampleTimes_[startSampleTime_].name()
+               /sampleTimeName
                /fieldTableName_
             );
 
@@ -435,9 +432,9 @@ void Foam::timeVaryingMappedFixedValuePointPatchField<Type>::checkTable()
         }
     }
 
-    if (hi != endSampleTime_)
+    if (endSampleTime_ != timeIndices.second())
     {
-        endSampleTime_ = hi;
+        endSampleTime_ = timeIndices.second();
 
         if (endSampleTime_ == -1)
         {
@@ -450,12 +447,14 @@ void Foam::timeVaryingMappedFixedValuePointPatchField<Type>::checkTable()
         }
         else
         {
+            const word& sampleTimeName = sampleTimes_[endSampleTime_].name();
+
             if (debug)
             {
                 Pout<< "checkTable : Reading endValues from "
                     <<   "boundaryData"
                         /this->patch().name()
-                        /sampleTimes_[endSampleTime_].name()
+                        /sampleTimeName
                     << endl;
             }
 
@@ -465,7 +464,7 @@ void Foam::timeVaryingMappedFixedValuePointPatchField<Type>::checkTable()
                 time.caseConstant()
                /"boundaryData"
                /this->patch().name()
-               /sampleTimes_[endSampleTime_].name()
+               /sampleTimeName
                /fieldTableName_
             );
 
diff --git a/src/meshTools/PatchFunction1/MappedFile/MappedFile.C b/src/meshTools/PatchFunction1/MappedFile/MappedFile.C
index dfee4f281b..6b57219dfb 100644
--- a/src/meshTools/PatchFunction1/MappedFile/MappedFile.C
+++ b/src/meshTools/PatchFunction1/MappedFile/MappedFile.C
@@ -307,20 +307,15 @@ void Foam::PatchFunction1Types::MappedFile<Type>::checkTable
     }
 
 
-    // Find current time in sampleTimes
-    label lo = -1;
-    label hi = -1;
-
-    bool foundTime = mapperPtr_().findTime
+    // Find range of current time indices in sampleTimes
+    Pair<label> timeIndices = instant::findRange
     (
         sampleTimes_,
-        startSampleTime_,
         t,  //mesh.time().value(),
-        lo,
-        hi
+        startSampleTime_
     );
 
-    if (!foundTime)
+    if (timeIndices.first() < 0)
     {
         FatalErrorInFunction
             << "Cannot find starting sampling values for index "
@@ -337,9 +332,9 @@ void Foam::PatchFunction1Types::MappedFile<Type>::checkTable
 
     // Update sampled data fields.
 
-    if (lo != startSampleTime_)
+    if (startSampleTime_ != timeIndices.first())
     {
-        startSampleTime_ = lo;
+        startSampleTime_ = timeIndices.first();
 
         if (startSampleTime_ == endSampleTime_)
         {
@@ -357,12 +352,14 @@ void Foam::PatchFunction1Types::MappedFile<Type>::checkTable
         }
         else
         {
+            const word& sampleTimeName = sampleTimes_[startSampleTime_].name();
+
             if (debug)
             {
                 Pout<< "checkTable : Reading startValues from "
                     << "boundaryData"
                       /this->patch_.name()
-                      /sampleTimes_[lo].name()
+                      /sampleTimeName
                       /fieldTableName_
                     << endl;
             }
@@ -375,7 +372,7 @@ void Foam::PatchFunction1Types::MappedFile<Type>::checkTable
                /mesh.dbDir()            // region
                /"boundaryData"
                /this->patch_.name()
-               /sampleTimes_[startSampleTime_].name()
+               /sampleTimeName
                /fieldTableName_
             );
 
@@ -408,9 +405,9 @@ void Foam::PatchFunction1Types::MappedFile<Type>::checkTable
         }
     }
 
-    if (hi != endSampleTime_)
+    if (endSampleTime_ != timeIndices.second())
     {
-        endSampleTime_ = hi;
+        endSampleTime_ = timeIndices.second();
 
         if (endSampleTime_ == -1)
         {
@@ -423,12 +420,14 @@ void Foam::PatchFunction1Types::MappedFile<Type>::checkTable
         }
         else
         {
+            const word& sampleTimeName = sampleTimes_[endSampleTime_].name();
+
             if (debug)
             {
                 Pout<< "checkTable : Reading endValues from "
                     << "boundaryData"
                       /this->patch_.name()
-                      /sampleTimes_[endSampleTime_].name()
+                      /sampleTimeName
                     << endl;
             }
 
@@ -440,7 +439,7 @@ void Foam::PatchFunction1Types::MappedFile<Type>::checkTable
                /mesh.dbDir()            // region
                /"boundaryData"
                /this->patch_.name()
-               /sampleTimes_[endSampleTime_].name()
+               /sampleTimeName
                /fieldTableName_
             );
 
diff --git a/src/meshTools/triSurface/triSurfaceTools/pointToPointPlanarInterpolation.C b/src/meshTools/triSurface/triSurfaceTools/pointToPointPlanarInterpolation.C
index 0085a5a300..9ca65ef2db 100644
--- a/src/meshTools/triSurface/triSurfaceTools/pointToPointPlanarInterpolation.C
+++ b/src/meshTools/triSurface/triSurfaceTools/pointToPointPlanarInterpolation.C
@@ -398,65 +398,4 @@ Foam::wordList Foam::pointToPointPlanarInterpolation::timeNames
 }
 
 
-bool Foam::pointToPointPlanarInterpolation::findTime
-(
-    const instantList& times,
-    const label startSampleTime,
-    const scalar timeVal,
-    label& lo,
-    label& hi
-)
-{
-    lo = startSampleTime;
-    hi = -1;
-
-    for (label i = startSampleTime+1; i < times.size(); i++)
-    {
-        if (times[i].value() > timeVal)
-        {
-            break;
-        }
-        else
-        {
-            lo = i;
-        }
-    }
-
-    if (lo == -1)
-    {
-        //FatalErrorInFunction
-        //    << "Cannot find starting sampling values for current time "
-        //    << timeVal << nl
-        //    << "Have sampling values for times "
-        //    << timeNames(times) << nl
-        //    << exit(FatalError);
-        return false;
-    }
-
-    if (lo < times.size()-1)
-    {
-        hi = lo+1;
-    }
-
-
-    if (debug)
-    {
-        if (hi == -1)
-        {
-            Pout<< "findTime : Found time " << timeVal << " after"
-                << " index:" << lo << " time:" << times[lo].value()
-                << endl;
-        }
-        else
-        {
-            Pout<< "findTime : Found time " << timeVal << " inbetween"
-                << " index:" << lo << " time:" << times[lo].value()
-                << " and index:" << hi << " time:" << times[hi].value()
-                << endl;
-        }
-    }
-    return true;
-}
-
-
 // ************************************************************************* //
diff --git a/src/meshTools/triSurface/triSurfaceTools/pointToPointPlanarInterpolation.H b/src/meshTools/triSurface/triSurfaceTools/pointToPointPlanarInterpolation.H
index a6e854aa35..6f501f25d3 100644
--- a/src/meshTools/triSurface/triSurfaceTools/pointToPointPlanarInterpolation.H
+++ b/src/meshTools/triSurface/triSurfaceTools/pointToPointPlanarInterpolation.H
@@ -175,16 +175,6 @@ public:
         //- Helper: extract words of times
         static wordList timeNames(const instantList&);
 
-        //- Helper: find time. Return true if successful.
-        static bool findTime
-        (
-            const instantList& times,
-            const label startSampleTime,
-            const scalar timeVal,
-            label& lo,
-            label& hi
-        );
-
         //- Interpolate from field on source points to dest points
         template<class Type>
         tmp<Field<Type>> interpolate(const Field<Type>& sourceFld) const;
diff --git a/src/randomProcesses/noise/noiseModels/noiseModel/noiseModel.C b/src/randomProcesses/noise/noiseModels/noiseModel/noiseModel.C
index 744ce0d2be..15e3d090cf 100644
--- a/src/randomProcesses/noise/noiseModels/noiseModel/noiseModel.C
+++ b/src/randomProcesses/noise/noiseModels/noiseModel/noiseModel.C
@@ -239,26 +239,6 @@ bool Foam::noiseModel::validateBounds(const scalarList& p) const
 }
 
 
-Foam::label Foam::noiseModel::findStartTimeIndex
-(
-    const instantList& allTimes,
-    const scalar startTime
-) const
-{
-    forAll(allTimes, timeI)
-    {
-        const instant& i = allTimes[timeI];
-
-        if (i.value() >= startTime)
-        {
-            return timeI;
-        }
-    }
-
-    return 0;
-}
-
-
 Foam::fileName Foam::noiseModel::baseFileDir(const label dataseti) const
 {
     return
diff --git a/src/randomProcesses/noise/noiseModels/noiseModel/noiseModel.H b/src/randomProcesses/noise/noiseModels/noiseModel/noiseModel.H
index 254373cc73..05d8518b5d 100644
--- a/src/randomProcesses/noise/noiseModels/noiseModel/noiseModel.H
+++ b/src/randomProcesses/noise/noiseModels/noiseModel/noiseModel.H
@@ -239,11 +239,15 @@ protected:
         bool validateBounds(const scalarList& p) const;
 
         //- Find and return start time index
-        label findStartTimeIndex
+        FOAM_DEPRECATED_FOR(2022-07, "instant::findStart() static method")
+        static label findStartTimeIndex
         (
             const instantList& allTimes,
             const scalar startTime
-        ) const;
+        )
+        {
+            return instant::findStart(allTimes, startTime);
+        }
 
         //- Return the base output directory
         fileName baseFileDir(const label dataseti) const;
diff --git a/src/randomProcesses/noise/noiseModels/surfaceNoise/surfaceNoise.C b/src/randomProcesses/noise/noiseModels/surfaceNoise/surfaceNoise.C
index f338a5239f..4c5826f3f7 100644
--- a/src/randomProcesses/noise/noiseModels/surfaceNoise/surfaceNoise.C
+++ b/src/randomProcesses/noise/noiseModels/surfaceNoise/surfaceNoise.C
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@ void surfaceNoise::initialise(const fileName& fName)
 {
     Info<< "Reading data file " << fName << endl;
 
+    instantList allTimes;
     label nAvailableTimes = 0;
 
     // All reading performed on the master processor only
@@ -75,8 +76,8 @@ void surfaceNoise::initialise(const fileName& fName)
         //   the heavy lifting
 
         // Set the time range
-        const instantList allTimes = readerPtr_->times();
-        startTimeIndex_ = findStartTimeIndex(allTimes, startTime_);
+        allTimes = readerPtr_->times();
+        startTimeIndex_ = instant::findStart(allTimes, startTime_);
 
         // Determine the windowing
         nAvailableTimes = allTimes.size() - startTimeIndex_;
@@ -97,8 +98,6 @@ void surfaceNoise::initialise(const fileName& fName)
     if (Pstream::master())
     {
         // Restrict times
-        const instantList allTimes = readerPtr_->times();
-
         times_.setSize(nRequiredTimes);
         forAll(times_, timeI)
         {