Understanding What a Family Tree Chart Is
A family tree chart is a visual diagram that shows how family members are connected across generations. It displays relationships between parents, children, siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and other relatives. The chart typically starts with one ancestor at the top or center and branches downward to show descendants, though some family trees work sideways or in other directions depending on the design you choose.
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The basic structure uses lines and boxes to represent people and their connections. Each person gets their own box containing their name, birth year, death year (if applicable), and sometimes additional details like birthplace or occupation. Lines connecting the boxes show the relationships—horizontal lines often connect married couples, while vertical lines show parent-child relationships.
Family tree charts come in many sizes and styles. A simple chart might show just three generations of your immediate family. A complex chart could span six or more generations and include hundreds of relatives. Some people create charts focusing on a single surname, while others track multiple family lines that have married together over time.
The purpose of creating a family tree varies from person to person. Some people want to understand their heritage and cultural background. Others research family trees for genealogical interest or to preserve family history. Some create them for practical reasons, like understanding genetic predispositions to certain health conditions or clarifying inheritance matters. Regardless of your reason, a family tree becomes a valuable record you can share with relatives and pass down to future generations.
Practical takeaway: Before you start, decide what type of family tree you want to create—will it focus on one surname, show all your ancestors back several generations, or center on your immediate family? Understanding your goal helps you determine the scope and detail level you'll need.
Gathering Information About Your Family Members
The foundation of any family tree chart is accurate information about your relatives. Gathering this data requires reaching out to family members, checking documents, and sometimes using public records. Start by making a list of what you already know: names, birth dates, death dates, birthplaces, and marriage information for people in your family.
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Contact older family members who may have institutional knowledge. Grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins often remember details about family history that aren't written down anywhere. Have a conversation with them and take notes. Ask specific questions like "What was Grandpa's full name?" "Where was Dad born?" and "What year did your parents marry?" Record their answers carefully, as family memories vary and people sometimes recall dates differently.
Search through family documents you may have access to. These include birth certificates, marriage licenses, death certificates, divorce papers, old photographs with names and dates written on the back, family Bible records where births and marriages were recorded, and old letters or journals. If you don't have originals, ask relatives if they have copies. Many families keep documents in a box or file without organizing them—you may discover useful information just by asking around.
Check what records may be available through local and county government offices. Birth, death, and marriage records are typically stored at the county level where the event occurred. You can often request copies by contacting the vital records office in that county. Online databases like Ancestry.com, FamilySearch.org (which is free), and other genealogy websites contain millions of historical records you can search, though some require payment or subscriptions.
Consider DNA testing if you want to confirm biological relationships or discover unknown relatives. Companies like AncestryDNA and 23andMe offer tests that can connect you with distant relatives who have also tested. This information can help fill gaps in your family tree and verify connections you're uncertain about.
Practical takeaway: Create a checklist of information you need for each person you're adding to your family tree: full name, birth date, birth location, marriage date, marriage location, spouse's name, death date, death location, and occupation. This ensures you collect consistent information across all family members.
Choosing the Right Format and Tools for Your Chart
You have several options for creating a family tree chart, ranging from simple pen-and-paper methods to sophisticated software programs. Each approach has benefits and drawbacks, so consider what works best for your needs, technical comfort level, and budget.
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Drawing a family tree by hand using pencil and paper is free and requires no technical skills. You can use a large sheet of paper, poster board, or even wallpaper to give yourself plenty of space. Start by writing names in boxes and drawing lines to show connections. The downside is that hand-drawn trees are difficult to edit if you discover new information or want to add more relatives. Changes require erasing or redrawing entire sections.
Word processing programs like Microsoft Word or Google Docs allow you to create family trees using text boxes and lines. You have more flexibility than drawing by hand, and you can easily edit and rearrange elements. However, these programs aren't specifically designed for genealogy, so creating professional-looking charts requires patience and formatting skills. Templates are available online that give you a starting point.
Dedicated genealogy software programs are specifically designed for family tree creation. Programs like Family Tree Maker, Legacy, and Gramps (which is free) include features that make organizing large amounts of family data much easier. These programs typically allow you to enter information once and automatically generate different types of charts and reports. They often include research tools, the ability to attach documents and photos, and options to export your data in standard formats.
Online genealogy websites like Ancestry.com, MyHeritage, and FamilySearch.org let you build family trees directly on their platforms. Many are free or offer free basic versions. These sites have the advantage of vast databases of historical records you can search to verify information. You can also share your tree with relatives and collaborate on building it together. The trade-off is that your information is stored on someone else's servers, and you may have less control over privacy settings.
Mobile apps for genealogy let you work on your family tree from your phone or tablet. Apps like Ancestry, MyHeritage, and FamilySearch have mobile versions. These are convenient for adding information on the go or sharing with relatives, but your phone's small screen may make detailed work difficult.
Practical takeaway: Start with free or low-cost options before investing in expensive software. Try FamilySearch.org or Google Docs templates first. As your project grows and you understand what features you need, you can upgrade to more advanced tools.
Organizing Information and Creating Your Chart Structure
Once you have information about your family members, you need to organize it in a way that makes sense for your chart. The structure you choose depends on your goal and which ancestors or relatives you want to emphasize.
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A patrilineal chart follows the male line of a family, starting with one ancestor and showing all descendants through male children. This approach was traditionally used to track family names, since in many cultures children take their father's surname. If your goal is to show how a particular surname developed and spread through a family, a patrilineal chart works well. However, it excludes female relatives and their descendants, so it doesn't show the complete family picture.
A matrilineal chart follows the female line instead. This might be useful if you want to trace your connection to your grandmother's line or understand your mother's family history. Like patrilineal charts, this approach focuses on one line and excludes others.
A bilateral or complete family tree shows all ancestors and relatives regardless of whether they are male or female. This approach is more comprehensive and gives a fuller picture of your family connections. It requires more research and organizational effort, but many people find it more meaningful because it includes all family members equally.
A descendant chart starts with one ancestor at the top and shows all their descendants below. This works well if you want to see how a particular person's family grew over generations. For example, you might start with your great-grandparents and show all their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
An ancestor chart (sometimes called a pedigree chart) starts with you at the bottom and shows all your ancestors going backward in time. This is helpful for understanding your own family background and heritage. Pedigree charts typically show several generations of your direct ancestors—parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, and sometimes further back.
Before drawing your chart, sketch out the structure on paper. Decide who will be at the top or starting point. Figure out how many generations you want to include. Identify which relatives you'll show and which you might leave out to keep the chart manageable. Count roughly