A family tree starts with what you already know and grows one generation at a time. You do not need a subscription or special software to make a good one: a few conversations, some careful notes and a clear chart go a long way.
1. Start with yourself
Write down your full name, date and place of birth. Then do the same for your brothers and sisters, your parents and your grandparents, as far as you know. Leave gaps empty; they are your to-do list.
2. Ask your relatives
Older relatives are the best source you have. Ask them about:
- full names, including middle names and maiden names (the surname a woman was born with);
- years and places of birth, marriage and death;
- where the family lived and moved, and why;
- old photos, letters, family Bibles and documents, which often list births and marriages.
Record the conversation or take notes, and write down who told you what. Memories are valuable but not always exact.
3. Check the facts
Look for records that confirm names and dates: birth, marriage and death certificates, census records, obituaries and gravestones. In the United States, the National Archives and the free FamilySearch website are good places to start.
4. Choose a chart
- A family tree with you at the bottom and your ancestors above is the easiest to read and the nicest to frame.
- A fan chart fits the most people on one page, up to six generations.
- A pedigree chart numbers every ancestor, which keeps research organized.
5. Draw it
Type the names into the family tree maker and print a PDF, or print a blank template and write them in by hand. Put fathers on the left and mothers on the right of each pair, and add the years of birth and death under each name.
Tips
- Write women under their maiden name; it is the name you will find in their birth records.
- Use the same date format everywhere, like 1931–2005.
- Keep a copy of your tree file and share it with relatives; they will fill in gaps you did not know about.