Cousin Finder™, is a useful new genealogy feature unique to MyHeritage that uses the power of family tree matches to find members of MyHeritage who are your blood relatives -cousins- with whom you share common ancestors. Cousin Finder™ then lets you easily get in touch with them so you can collaborate and gain new insights about your shared ancestors and family history.
How does it work ?
Cousin Finder™ employs sophisticated technology to analyze your family tree and compare it to the vast network of millions of other family trees on MyHeritage. When a Smart Match is detected between your tree and another, it meticulously checks for shared direct ancestors between you and other MyHeritage members linked to that tree. If a common ancestor is found, Cousin Finder™ proudly presents those individuals as your potential cousins, unveiling exciting new branches of your family tree.
How to use Cousin Finder™
Cousin Finder™ is available on the MyHeritage website on desktop and when using a mobile web browser. Support for Cousin Finder™ on the MyHeritage mobile app will be added in the future.
To enjoy the benefits of Cousin Finder™, you need to have a family tree on MyHeritage with Smart Matches to other family trees. The larger and more detailed your family tree, the more likely Cousin Finder™ will be able to find potential matches. You can view your potential matches by visiting the "Discoveries" section of your MyHeritage account.
Accessing Cousin Finder™ from the main Myheritage navigation menu.
Cousin Finder™ will spring into action and start scanning your matches to find other MyHeritage members with whom you share a common ancestor. As soon as it’s done, it will display a list of the relatives it found, sorted by proximity, i.e., those who are most closely related to you will appear first, followed by more distant relatives.
Cousin Finder™ on the MyHeritage website
Running Cousin Finder™ on Any Individual in Your Tree
As a site manager, you can now run Cousin Finder™ not only on the individual in your site that you are associated with, but on any individual in your tree(s). You can now run it on your spouse, your cousin, and even your great-grandfather! Simply go to that individual's profile page and select Cousin Finder from the new "More actions" section in the main Details tab below the Immediate family section. This section also includes two additional shortcuts: for generating a chart or book for that individual, and for going to that individual's PedigreeMap. This feature is especially helpful when you are not associated in your tree, or you have more than one tree in your site and want to run it on yourself in the tree you are not associated with.
Cousin Finder™ on the MyHeritage website
The last update time for Cousin Finder™ is visible at the top right of your screen. You can refresh your results at any time by clicking the 'Recalculate' button.
Each relative appears on a card that offers important details about your relationship. These insights help you determine if making contact would be worthwhile.
If you decide to reach out to a match:
Use the 'Contact' button
This will open the MyHeritage Inbox
To better understand the insights that Cousin Finder™ provides, let's examine the example below.
Exploring Cousin Finder™
Each relative's card displays their name, photo, age, and country, with a link to their MyHeritage profile. DNA matches and site membership are clearly labeled. The card also indicates their activity level, showing when they joined, their last visit, tree size, and photos uploaded. Recent activity and larger trees suggest a higher likelihood of engagement.
Cousin Finder™ is based on Smart Matches™. 'More details' reveals pending and confirmed matches, linking to their lists. While Cousin Finder™ simplifies match management, reviewing Smart Matches™ periodically is advisable.
On the card's right, your relationship is shown, calculated from family tree data. Remember, the actual relationship might be closer. Clicking the relationship or 'View relationship' opens a Relationship Diagram, illustrating the connection.
The relationship diagram uniquely combines your tree and the relative's matching tree. White nodes are from your tree, while green, dashed nodes with tree icons are from theirs, representing potential additions to your own tree. Click nodes for more information, and use 'View profile' to visit their full profile page.
Relationship Diagram: Details popup
Getting back to the main card, let’s review the information displayed on the right, below the relationship.
The card shows the cousin's family branch with color coding matching your tree. An 'i' icon explains the color codes. It also lists common ancestors and their relationship to you both. Buttons at the bottom right allow you to view their tree or contact them. 'Previously contacted' appears if you've messaged them before.
Contacting a relative through Cousin Finder™
Filter and Sort menus are available to configure the Cousin Finder™ results.
Filtering on Cousin Finder™
You can filter your cousin list by specific family branches. To include relatives by marriage, enable the 'Show spouses of cousins' option, which is helpful for contacting spouses of deceased or unresponsive cousins. To exclude relatives who are already members of your family site, simply uncheck the 'Show members of your site' option. The Cousin Finder™ list can be sorted either by relationship proximity, which is the default, or alphabetically by last name, then first name.
Why should I embark on the Cousin Finder™ journey?
Cousin Finder™ is your passport to a richer family experience. It's a fantastic tool for discovering new relatives, expanding your family tree, and uncovering hidden chapters of your family history. It can also reconnect you with distant cousins you may have never known existed, fostering a sense of belonging and shared heritage. Imagine the joy of connecting with relatives who share your ancestors and discovering stories that have been passed down through generations!
Do I need to take a DNA test to unlock Cousin Finder™'s potential?
Absolutely not! Cousin Finder™ operates solely on the information within your family tree. No DNA test is required to embark on this exciting genealogical adventure. Simply build your family tree and let Cousin Finder™ do the rest!
How accurate is Cousin Finder™ in its quest for cousins?
Cousin Finder™ boasts a high degree of accuracy. However, it's important to remember that its effectiveness relies on the accuracy and completeness of your family tree. If your tree contains errors or gaps, Cousin Finder™ may not be able to identify all of your potential cousins. Ensuring your tree is as accurate and comprehensive as possible will maximize Cousin Finder™'s potential and lead to the most fulfilling discoveries.
Can I reach out to my newfound cousins through Cousin Finder™?
Absolutely! Once Cousin Finder™ reveals your potential cousins, you can connect with them directly through the MyHeritage's Inbox feature. This allows you to exchange messages, share stories, photos, and build relationships with your newfound family members. It's an incredible opportunity to forge new bonds and create lasting connections.
Is Cousin Finder™ free to use?
Yes, Cousin Finder™ is free to use and explore potential cousin matches. However, to unlock full messaging capabilities, connect with your relatives, and view the full relationship diagram showing how you and a potential cousin are connected, a MyHeritage site subscription is required.
Additional Tips for Maximizing Your Cousin Finder™ Experience
Keep Your Tree Up-to-Date: Regularly update your family tree with new information and discoveries to ensure Cousin Finder™ has the most accurate data to work with.
Collaborate with Family: Encourage your relatives to join MyHeritage and build their own family trees. This expands the network of potential matches and increases your chances of finding new cousins.
Explore Shared Matches: When you find a potential cousin, explore their family tree and see if you have any other matches in common. This can help you verify the relationship and discover even more connections.
Be Patient: Building a comprehensive family tree and connecting with new relatives takes time. Be patient and enjoy the journey of discovery.
Remember: Cousin Finder™ is just one of the many powerful tools MyHeritage offers to help you uncover your family's past and connect with your family's future.
We hope you find Cousin Finder™ useful as you continue to make strides in your family history research!
To learn more about this amazing feature, read this article on the MyHeritage Blog: Introducing Cousin Finder™: Gain DNA-Level Insights, Without a DNA Test.