How To

How to Trace Your Family Tree

Contributor
By eHow Contributing Writer
(20 Ratings)

There are many different ways to arrange your lineage into a family tree, which depicts the family's genealogy. The methods listed below are three of the most popular.

Difficulty: Moderate
Instructions

Things You'll Need:

  • Family Pedigree Sheets
  • Genealogy Books
  • Picture Frames
  • Genealogy Software

    Descendant Chart in Text Form

  1. Step 1

    Write "1" and the name of the progenitor at the top of your paper.

  2. Step 2

    Go to the next line, indent a little, and write the name of his wife.

  3. Step 3

    Drop to the next row, indent even more and write "2" and the name of the oldest child.

  4. Step 4

    Add the second child's name on the next line, also preceded by "2" and indented the same amount as the first child.

  5. Step 5

    Repeat for all children.

  6. Step 6

    Duplicate these steps until you reach the descendants in the present time.

  7. Step 7

    Include dates and places of birth, death and marriage next to each name.

  8. Descendant Chart in Graphic Form

  9. Step 1

    Begin this type of chart with the progenitor of a line and track descendants through successive generations.

  10. Step 2

    Write at the top of your paper, side by side, the names of the first husband and wife you'd like to document; include dates and places of birth, marriage and death.

  11. Step 3

    Draw a box around each name and connect them with a horizontal line, indicating marriage.

  12. Step 4

    Draw a vertical line down from the progenitors.

  13. Step 5

    Connect this line to the names of their children, which should fall on the second row.

  14. Step 6

    Add the name of each child's spouse, indicating matrimony with a horizontal connecting line.

  15. Step 7

    Include the necessary birth, death and marriage information for each person you include.

  16. Step 8

    Repeat this documentation for succeeding generations until you reach the present time.

  17. Ascendant Chart (also known as Ancestor Diagram)

  18. Step 1

    Search your house or ask family members if they have a genealogy chart before you begin researching on your own - you may save lots of time.

  19. Step 2

    Begin this diagram with you, then chart your ancestors backward in time.

  20. Step 3

    Write your name halfway down on the left side of a piece of paper turned horizontally; include the date and place of your birth.

  21. Step 4

    Print your father's name above and to the right of your name. Include the dates and places of his birth, marriage and, if applicable, death.

  22. Step 5

    Write your mother's name below and to the right of your name. Add the dates and places of her birth, marriage and, if appropriate, death.

  23. Step 6

    Write the name of your paternal grandfather above and to the right of your father's name, including all necessary information mentioned above.

  24. Step 7

    Write the name of your paternal grandmother below and to the right of your father's name, adding appropriate details.

  25. Step 8

    Repeat this pattern of information for your maternal grandparents and for all other ancestors you wish to trace.

Tips & Warnings
  • Ancestor diagrams only track direct bloodlines, omitting "collateral" branches, which include siblings, aunts/uncles and nieces/nephews.
  • It's customary to write the father's name above the mother's name in this sort of pedigree.

Comments  

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on 6/8/2009 Great article and a good reminder we should all get information down before relatives disappear.

damon501 said

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on 5/29/2009 I tried doing this a few years ago and got nowhere fast. One of my sisters has also worked on ours some and got a lot further with it than I ever thought about getting with mine. She has a different Mom than I do, so it will come out some different. Anyway this is a good piece of writing that you have. Damon

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on 4/19/2009 Thank you. This was helpful

emily82989 said

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on 3/10/2009 great article!

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on 10/23/2007 This has been the hardest research I've ever attempted! I have Cherokee ancestors that hid their race and changed their names and assimilated white ways to avoid relocation and persecution, so that's where it ends.

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