diff --git a/dist/jquery.bootgrid.js b/dist/jquery.bootgrid.js
index 6d2a001..5b3769d 100644
--- a/dist/jquery.bootgrid.js
+++ b/dist/jquery.bootgrid.js
@@ -728,12 +728,15 @@ function renderSearchField()
             var that = this,
                 tpl = this.options.templates,
                 timer = null, // fast keyup detection
-                currentValue = "",
+                currentValue = this.searchPhrase,
                 searchFieldSelector = getCssSelector(css.searchField),
                 search = $(tpl.search.resolve(getParams.call(this))),
                 searchField = (search.is(searchFieldSelector)) ? search :
                     search.find(searchFieldSelector);
 
+            // populate search field if initial search phrase provided
+            $(searchField).val(currentValue);
+
             searchField.on("keyup" + namespace, function (e)
             {
                 e.stopPropagation();
@@ -1000,7 +1003,7 @@ var Grid = function(element, options)
     this.converter = null; // The converter for the column that is marked as identifier
     this.rowCount = ($.isArray(rowCount)) ? rowCount[0] : rowCount;
     this.rows = [];
-    this.searchPhrase = "";
+    this.searchPhrase = this.options.initialSearchPhrase || "";
     this.selectedRows = [];
     this.sortDictionary = {};
     this.total = 0;
diff --git a/src/internal.js b/src/internal.js
index 0cebaf7..98a648e 100644
--- a/src/internal.js
+++ b/src/internal.js
@@ -718,12 +718,15 @@ function renderSearchField()
             var that = this,
                 tpl = this.options.templates,
                 timer = null, // fast keyup detection
-                currentValue = "",
+                currentValue = this.searchPhrase,
                 searchFieldSelector = getCssSelector(css.searchField),
                 search = $(tpl.search.resolve(getParams.call(this))),
                 searchField = (search.is(searchFieldSelector)) ? search :
                     search.find(searchFieldSelector);
 
+            // populate search field if initial search phrase provided
+            $(searchField).val(currentValue);
+
             searchField.on("keyup" + namespace, function (e)
             {
                 e.stopPropagation();
diff --git a/src/public.js b/src/public.js
index 2d143c4..62bd50a 100644
--- a/src/public.js
+++ b/src/public.js
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ var Grid = function(element, options)
     this.converter = null; // The converter for the column that is marked as identifier
     this.rowCount = ($.isArray(rowCount)) ? rowCount[0] : rowCount;
     this.rows = [];
-    this.searchPhrase = "";
+    this.searchPhrase = this.options.initialSearchPhrase || "";
     this.selectedRows = [];
     this.sortDictionary = {};
     this.total = 0;