Start right now - LostCousins is so easy to use!
The primary aim of LostCousins is to find people who share your ancestors - and we do this by comparing the information you enter about your relatives with the information that other members have entered. Once you've entered your information the rest is automatic - all you need to do is click the Search button.
The automated matching process is virtually 100% accurate, so you won't waste your time corresponding with people who turn out not to be related at all! This amazing accuracy is achievable only because LostCousins members enter precise information from online censuses.
We began with just one census - now we support the 1880 US Census, the 1881 Census of Canada, the 1841 and 1881 Censuses of England & Wales, and the 1881 Census of Scotland. We'll add censuses from other countries as they become available online.
Most of these censuses are available online at the free FamilySearch site, but the 1841 England & Wales census, and the 1881 Scotland census are only available at subscription sites.
The Help & Advice page has several helpful articles. Even if you're an experienced researcher "Key Tips for Census Success" is well worth reading - and for anyone new to online research it is essential.
Otherwise just follow the simple steps below:
Step One: Find your relatives on the census
The article "Key Tips for Census Success" on the Help & Advice page has an illustrated guide to searching the census at the free FamilySearch site, which is the best place for beginners to start. However, if you are already familiar with one of the other census sites there's no reason why you shouldn't use that instead - but first check the article for advice that is specific to your chosen site.
Whichever census site you use, it's absolutely crucial that you note the references that identify the precise page of the census where you've found the information for your relatives. At the FamilySearch site these references are always shown near the bottom of the Household Record page; at other sites you'll find that they are part of the transcription. Here's what you should be looking for:
England & Wales 1841: Piece, Book, Folio, Page
England & Wales 1881: Piece, Folio, Page
Scotland 1881: Volume (or Registration number), Enumeration District, Page
United States 1880: NA Film number (or Roll), Page
Canada 1881: District, Sub-District (if any), Division (if any), Page, Household number
Step Two: Enter your relatives
The My Ancestors page is where you record the information for the relatives you have found on the census. When you click the Search button all the relatives you've entered will be compared against all of the relatives entered by other LostCousins members - that's potentially billions of comparisons, yet thanks to the wonders of modern technology it takes only a few seconds.
To enter a relative click 'Add new entry' at the top of the page, then select the appropriate census from the drop-down list - the form will change according to your selection.
Entering relatives is particularly easy if you have a printed copy of the relevant Household Record page from the FamilySearch site, but you'll probably find an equivalent page at your chosen site. Note: the most accurate transcriptions of the 1841 and 1881 Censuses of England & Wales can be found at findmypast.com (and there you can search the 1881 Census free).
Whichever source you use, it's crucial that for the 1880 and 1881 censuses you enter your relatives' information precisely as it has been transcribed, and not as it appears on the handwritten census page. This ensures that two members entering the same person enter the same information. It may seem strange to enter the data that is wrong or incomplete, but ironically it's the only way to ensure 100% accurate matching!
How to save time
Once you've entered the first person in a household it's quick and easy to enter other members of the household - just click the + symbol at the end of the line, and most of the information will be filled in automatically.
Step Three: Search for your cousins
Click the Search button. The matching process is entirely automatic - you don't have to do anything except wait a few seconds. We'll tell you how many matches we've found, and highlight each of the relatives involved with a red tick. Check your My Cousins page and make contact with your new-found cousin!
Note: the member who makes the first contact must be a subscriber.
Initial contact is made through the site, and only when both members have agreed to make contact will you each find out the other person's name; similarly we don't give out your email address unless both of you agree. You can continue to communicate with your new-found relatives through the LostCousins site if that's what you prefer.
What Next?
You'll probably want to share with your new cousin some of the information you've collected about your family's history. No doubt you'll each want to know how the other person is descended from your common ancestors.
With luck you'll find that your cousin can solve some of the mysteries you've encountered when researching your family. And as you get to know each other better you might decide to exchange old family photos and other items that have been passed down the generations (but don't send the originals - make copies or, ideally, scan them in and send them by email).
Now that you've found someone who shares your research interest you might even decide to collaborate on future research.
How can I improve my chances?
The more relatives you enter from the census, the more matches there are likely to be.
And while it is important to enter your direct ancestors, it's most often other relatives who will provide the link to your lost cousins, especially the brothers, sisters, and cousins who by the time of the census had families of their own.
What else can I do?
Encourage your friends, work colleagues, and relatives to join - after all, it's free to register. The more people who enter details of their ancestors, the more matches will be made. Let's face it, your personal recommendation will mean far more than any advertising we could possibly do!
Remember that although some other family history sites attempt to bring together people who are researching the same surnames, only LostCousins offers such a high probability that they will actually be related. Our research shows that this is something that is really important to people.
Should you recommend the LostCousins site on family history forums and bulletin boards? Yes, provided that it doesn't contravene the rules. However, because many boards are international, be sure to point out that currently LostCousins can only help people who had relatives (not necessarily direct ancestors) living in the US, Britain or Canada in 1880-81, or in England & Wales in 1841.
Lastly - if you have any ideas that could make LostCousins even better, please drop them into the Suggestion Box. There's a monthly prize for the best suggestion!
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