Relatives Around Me

Have you ever sat in a room full of people and wondered if or how you might be related to those around you? If not, you will now . . . Sorry. But, there is good news! Relatives Around Me, a new feature in the FamilySearch Family Tree app, can tell you the answer. 

How It Works 

To try the new feature, you and your potential cousin both need to be signed in to the Family Tree app and within approximately 100 feet of each other. Once signed in, select More at the bottom right of the screen (iOS) or the dropdown in the top left (Android) and then select Relatives Around Me. This opens a page with a green button that says Scan for Friends. 

Tap the green button to start scanning. Anyone signed into the app and within range will show up in a list on your device, and you will show up on theirs. Selecting the person’s name will bring up a pedigree graphic showing your common ancestor and the lines through which you both descend. Pretty cool, right?

Give It A Try 

Now, you could log into the app, start scanning, and wander around until you find a cousin. But there are better ways to use Relatives Around Me, especially in group settings. Here are some of the best scenarios to give this new feature a try: 

• Church group—Find out who in your congregation is also part of your family tree. Fun at a weekday party or activity, and useful in a Sunday class. 
• Friends—Out with friends? Check to see if you are related. You may have more in common with your friends than just hiking, reading, or a love of adorable cat videos. 

Download the app today and give it a try! To get to the Android app instead, click here.

Note: If you already have the family tree app on your phone, just click the "more" option at the bottom right of the screen and then select relatives around me.

Personal Discovery

I wanted to try this app out before class, so I grabbed my husband's cell phone and ran the app for both of us.  No surprise: his name showed up on my screen.  I tapped on his name and SURPRISE: he is my 13th cousin once removed!
Disclaimer: the app is only as good as the information in family tree.  Upon closer examination, I see that the same woman has been attached to two different husbands but she is having children at the same time.  (which is better than the third husband she was attached to... in that situation she was having children after she died!)  The real question may be, whose relative is she?  I may need to go to England to investigate...