Family historians use a handful of standard charts. They show the same people in different ways, and each is good at something different.
Ancestor family tree
The picture most people imagine: you at the bottom, your parents above, then grandparents and great-grandparents, like the branches of a tree. It is easy for anyone to read and looks good framed, but the top row gets crowded after four generations. Get a 4-generation family tree template.
Pedigree chart
The working chart of genealogy. You are number 1 on the left, and your ancestors branch to the right. Every person has a number: your father is 2, your mother 3, and the parents of person n are 2n and 2n + 1. The numbers stay the same on every chart, so researchers can say "ancestor 12" and everyone knows who they mean. Get a pedigree chart.
Fan chart
A pedigree in a half circle: you in the middle, each generation a ring. It is the best way to see five or six generations on one page and spot the gaps in your research at a glance. Get a fan chart.
Descendant chart
The opposite direction: one couple at the top and all their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren below. Popular for family reunions and anniversaries.
Family group sheet
Not a tree but a form for one couple and their children, with room for dates, places and sources. Genealogists keep one for each family in their tree.
Which one should I make?
- For a gift, a school project or the wall: an ancestor family tree.
- For research: a pedigree chart, plus a fan chart to see the big picture.
The family tree maker draws all three ancestor charts from the same names, so you can switch between them in one click.