1. An integrated circuit device, comprising: a search engine configured to store a multi-way tree of search keys using a hierarchy of node sub-engines, wherein the hierarchy of node sub-engines each comprise a node processor and a plurality of columns of sub-nodes containing search keys associated with a corresponding level of the multi-way tree, wherein each node processor, of the hierarchy of node sub-engines, is configured to distribute an applied search key in parallel to each of a corresponding plurality of columns of sub-nodes in response to a search request and is further configured to receive sub-node search results from the corresponding plurality of columns of sub-nodes, and wherein each of the corresponding plurality of columns of sub-nodes is configured to perform a, sub-node search by identifying a respective branching key stored therein and returning a relative relationship between the applied search key and the branching key to the node processor in the same node sub-engine as the corresponding plurality of columns of sub-nodes.