In this Grantor Index from DeKalb Co. Illinois names are simply sorted by the first letter of their name but there is also a quick description of the land in the index.
In the Madison Co. NY Grantee Index all the names beginning with one letter are added chronologically but are divided by given name
Otsego Co. NY uses the "first three letter" index. They divide surnames based on the first three letters.
In this Deed Index from Middlesex Co. MA deeds are grouped under the surname of the grantee
In Hampshire Co. Massachusetts cards were kept as an index showing both grantor/grantee transactions in one place.
Vermont Town Records for Guilford, Windham Co. has this deed index in the front
Sometimes there is no Grantor or Grantee index lists - here is an example in Sullivan Co. NY so you want to look in the first pages and see if each volume has an index
Examples of Deeds
1822 Heirs of Abraham Eights in Seneca Co. NY