How to Design your Family Tree

My great grandfather, Thomas Clint, and his sisters.

Even those who aren't deeply involved in genealogical research may want to assemble a simple family tree to illustrate their ancestors. Some photo albums and family bibles have family tree outlines that can be filled out, noting parents, grandparents and great-grandparents. Many genealogical websites offer free family tree charts that can be printed out and completed. Before creating a family tree, it is helpful to understand the basic premise.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Decide on the type of family tree to make. A basic family tree outline for ancestors is fairly straightforward and standard in design. It lists only direct ancestors, such as parents and grandparents, and does not include all relatives, such as siblings, cousins or aunts and uncles. Creating a family tree of descendants is not as simple, for it begins with an ancestor and works down, listing their children, children's children and so forth. Unlike a standard family tree outline for ancestors, there is no one-size-fits-all chart for descendants.

2. Choose between three or four generations to display. If designing a family tree for display, plan to show three or four generations. Adding more generations will require more space and isn't practical for display. If you don't intend to display your family tree, the general outline will still be applicable when outlining your family tree. The paper or poster should be divided into equal columns, with a column for each generation.

3. Choose the starting person. If it is your ancestor family tree, you will be the starting person. Insert your name (or the name of the starting person) into the first column, to the far left. Vertically your name should be placed in the center of the page. Include the full name and birth date of the starting person.

4. Add parent's names. In the second column from the left insert the names of the starting person's father and mother. In each generation the father's name will be first (on top) and the mother's name second (under the father's name). The father's name should be listed in the second column, vertically higher than the starter person's name. The mother's name should be listed in the second column, vertically lower than the starter person's name. A vertical line should connect the spouses, with a horizontal line from the center of the vertical line, leading to their child (the starter person).

5. Move over one column to the right. In the third column from the left the names of the parent's parents should be listed, in the same fashion as in the previous column. Names listed in columns should be evenly spaced, and the appropriate lines should connect spouses and then lead to their child. Continue adding generations to each column. The parents of the people listed in a column will always be those included in the column to the immediate right. The children of the people listed in a column, will always be those included in the column to the immediate left.

6. Include vital statistics. When possible, always include the following information by each person on the family tree: Date and place of birth, marriage and death. If you are creating a family tree for display, adding photographs for each person on the tree will add interest to the poster.