The following announcement was written by Findmypast:
Findmypast releases Tree Search with instant connections and new discoveries waiting to help family trees bloom
· Major new update on Findmypast enables members to search for ancestors in other members’ family trees
· Tree Search unlocks a treasure trove of new data, with over 420 million connections in 4.5 million trees waiting to be discovered
· Members can quickly and easily grow their trees by adding common ancestors and discovering new connections
· Only deceased ancestors can be searched using this new feature
Leading family history website, Findmypast, has launched Tree Search, a new feature which gives members the ability to instantly discover ancestors, connections and stories in other members’ family trees.
Now available to all members to explore, the feature allows users to search other members’ trees to find ancestors in common, as well as merging these into their own tree to progress their research faster than ever before.
New users will be able to rapidly start and grow their family tree, while experienced members will be able to enrich their family stories further, discover new connections, and validate their already blooming family trees.
Members can find new cuttings to add to their own trees by heading to their family tree, choosing an ancestor, and then ‘Search Trees’. The clever technology pre-fills details to help you find ancestors in other trees faster. After only a few clicks, you can merge the exciting new finds to your own tree. Or, members can search for ancestors, famous faces and other people of interest via the Tree Search page.
You can also choose to contact a tree owner via Private Messaging to strike up a conversation about your shared ancestry.
Members can check they are opted into this feature by checking ‘share deceased ancestors’ under their family tree’s settings. Anyone who doesn’t wish for their deceased ancestors to appear in Tree Search can opt-out from their family tree settings at any time. Living relatives are not included in Tree Search; only those marked as deceased or over 110 years old are visible. Findmypast members with any subscription or 14-day free trial will have full access to this new feature.
Chris Brake, Head of Data Products at Findmypast said; ‘This is a huge new development for the Findmypast community, unlocking a treasure trove of new possibilities for our members, along with the opportunity to make life-changing connections. This update marks the beginning of an exciting new era at Findmypast: it’s never been easier to discover your own family story with us, and if you’ve not tried Findmypast yet, now is the perfect time to start. In time, even more will be possible with Tree Search.’