How Family Trees Work
A family tree tracks the connections within a specific family. The family tree may include several generations, depending on how much information can be acquired. A family tree can be personalized to cover different types of information on each family member listed. You can record birth dates, birth places, marriages, offspring, siblings and cousins. A family tree is a simple way to determine family associations.
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Facts
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A family tree can come in many different forms but overall, it is a useful way of tracking a family's genealogy. Family trees have been used over the centuries to prove connections, relationships and places of origin. While basic information like first and last name can be easy to find, once you go further back in your family tree, it may be difficult to identify information like place of birth, date of birth and death, and marriage. There are numerous online sites that can provide family-history information. There are also sites that will build your family tree for you if you find yourself struggling or lacking significant amounts of information.
Pedigree Chart
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The most standard family tree is a pedigree chart. The chart begins with an individual and includes parents, grandparents, great-grandparents and so forth. The mark of a pedigree chart is the specific numbering system it follows. The first person listed is number one. Number one's father is two and the mother is three. The father of two is four and the mother of two is five. Similarly, the father of three is six and the mother is seven. To acquire the male number, simply double the number given to the child. To acquire the female number, double the child's number and add one. A pedigree chart can list as little or as much family information as you choose.
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Ahnentafel List
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An ahnentafel list presents the pedigree chart in list form. Because the ahnentafel list uses the same numbering system as a pedigree chart, it may be easier to first create the pedigree chart and then convert the information into the ahnentafel list. The list begins with one and the father's side is easy to follow; simply double his number (4, 8, 16, 32). To follow your father's mother's side, simply add one to the previous numbers listed (5, 9, 17, 33). The same concept is applied to your mother's side. To follow her father, double her number (6, 12, 24, 48) and to follow her mother's side add one to the previous numbers (7, 13, 25, 49). An ahnentafel list should include date of birth and death, place of birth and marriage if the information is available.
Genogram
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A genogram is also a chart but uses symbols instead of numbers. The genogram includes connections within and between families and can be particularly helpful because it includes medical history. Because of the medical information, genograms were originally used by doctors and psychiatrists, but they can also help an individual track and identify specific health problems within her family.
Photo Montage
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A photo montage is best used on smaller pedigree charts. Including a picture with each person listed will add a visual component to your family tree. However, because the pictures take so much room, a photo montage is not recommended for a family tree going back several generations.
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