FamilySearch Record Hints

To access the James Tanner video click here.

Types of Record Hints

Algorithmic Matching

For years, hints were generated by powerful algorithms comparing names, dates, places, and relationships between your tree and indexed records. These are the standard "blue icon" hints on your home page and person pages.

AI-Powered Discovery

Today, Artificial Intelligence enhances this process. AI can now "read" unindexed handwritten records (like land deeds) and find "tree extending" hints that suggest entirely new people to add to your family.

Challenge #1

Find Algorithmic Hints and AI-Powered Hints
- On the homepage of FamilySearch
- On at least one ancestor's Person Page

What you do with a hint matters!

Attach Record

Attaching correct sources improves what is known about an ancestor and improves the effectiveness of FamilySearch in giving future hints for that ancestor.
(Type I error) Attaching an incorrect source to an ancestor generates further incorrect hints, confuses the story of the ancestor, and complicates the correction process.

Not a Match

Identifying a source as "not a match," improved the experience of other patrons because FamilySearch no longer offers it for consideration.
(Type II error) Classifying a source as 'not a match" not only removes that match as an offering, it removes other suggestions

Do nothing

When unsure, leave it alone. Someone else may be able to accurately determine if the source matches the ancestor or if it is does not.

Challenge of this Workshop:

Develop Strategies to recognize:

If a source matches an ancestor
- - then attach
If a source is not a match
- - then list as "not a match"
If there is insufficient info to decide
- - then leave it alone.

Step 0:

Go to Person Page

(Often you will find the Hint on the Person Page, but if you found it on the Homepage, go to the Person Page.)

Step 1:

Compare the Hint's summary card to the Person Page to complete the 30-Second Review:

Name: Is it the same or a reasonable variation?
Dates: Does the birthdate align?
Places: Does the birthplace or residence make sense?
Relationships: Do the listed family members match?

While on the Person Page, click the Hint and view the summary card.

Ask the question: What is the probability this hint belongs to a different person?

Challenge: 30-Second Review

Complete the 30-Second Review for a hint in your tree.

Given the results of your review, what is the probability this hint belongs to a different person?

Step 2

Interrogate the Evidence in the Source Linker.

When you click "Review and Attach," the Source Linker opens. The historical record is on the left; your Family Tree information is on the right.

Your goal is to systematically compare every piece of data.

Recheck the four points of 30-second review.

30-Second Review:

Name: Is it the same or a reasonable variation?
Dates: Does the birthdate align?
Places: Does the birthplace or residence make sense?
Relationships: Do the listed family members match?

Challenge: Use Source Linker

Open the Source Linker for your hint.

Systematically compare every piece of data.

Does the data hold up under the 30-second review standard?

Note: The "Gold Standard":

Always View the Original Image (when available)

There is often a thumbnail view of the original, which is clickable to view an enlarged version. If there is no original image, it may be that the original is an index or another type of document without images.

Carefully examine the original record to make sure the information extracted is correct.

Here is Brother Tanner's example of an original document view, from his 13 January 2026 presentation.

In this original document, accessed on 09 Aug 2026, we are invited to, not only "Carefully examine the original record to make sure the information extracted is correct," but also to make corrections to the AI-generated index.

Evolving FamilySearch

FamilySearch continued to expand its use of AI for transcription and translation of documents.

James Tanner suggests that, if not provided by FamilySearch, a transcription and/or translation can be obtained from outside AI engines. He suggests using Gemini.

Challenge: Original document in hint

Find a hint that has a viewable original document. View the document.

Pitfalls and Tactics

James Tanner identifies Common Pitfalls and suggests Expert Tactics while responding to a hint.

Consider two concepts:

Naming issues
Accuracy of FamilySearch

What you do matters and what others have already done effect the hints you receive.

View snippet from James Tanner video.

Challenge: Similar Names

Two part challenge

Search the Family Tree for Johannes Johanesson born in 1827. How many are there?
Do a similar search for one of your ancestors.

Data Quality Score

What Is the Data Quality Score?

First, it’s helpful to say what this tool is not. The data quality score does not measure the person on the profile—for example, the score doesn’t indicate the person's character or worth. In addition, the data quality score does not measure the genealogical skill of the people who have contributed to the profile.

The data quality score does measure the quality of information in a profile and suggest ways to improve it. This tool measures four aspects of quality.

Data Completeness: Is vital information (birth, christening, death, and burial or cremation) present and complete?
Source Tagging: Are sources tagged to support the information on the profile?
Source Consistency: Are sources attached? Is the information on the profile consistent with these sources?
Conflict-Free Data: Is the profile information free of data conflicts, such as a child being christened before birth or an individual marrying after his or her death?

Details available here.

Challenge: Data Quality Score

Check the data quality score on more than one of your ancestors.

Steps:

Open the Person Page for the ancestor.
Click on the quality score.

Step 1 & 2 along with Challenges 1 to 5 looks at the evidence. Based on that eviidence, Step is is the verdict.

Step 3: Determine the verdict

Attach proof
Dismiss false leads
Not enough evidence, leave for someone else

Attach proof

When the evidence confirms a match, formally attach the source to preserve your findings.

Add new information: Click "Add" to transfer any new data (like a residence) from the record to the Family Tree profile.
Write a Reason Statement: In the reason box, state what the source verifies. (Example: "Verifies birth date, residence in 1900, and relationship with husband and children.")
Click Attach: Finalize the connection for the focus person.
Repeat for everyone: The beauty of hints is attaching the same source to all family members on the record (spouse, children) without retyping the reason.

Beware of Type I errors.

The `Dismiss Verdict'

When the hint is not a match, dismissing it is just as important as attaching a correct one. This prevents other researchers from attaching the record by mistake and helps refine the hinting system.

Beware of Type II errors.

Challenge: Did you make a verdict?

From the previous steps and challenges, can you resolve a hint? Do it now.

Review James Tanner's Video

The BYU Library Family History Center archives a wealth of instructional videos.

The content of this workshop comes from Evaluating FamilySearch Record Hints by James L. Tanner.

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