How to make a family tree, step by step
Short answerTo make a family tree, start with yourself, then add your parents, grandparents and great-grandparents one generation at a time. Write down full names, dates and places for each person, ask older relatives what they remember, gather photos and documents, and note where each fact came from. Draw it on paper or build it in a family tree maker so it can grow.
Steps
Start with yourself
Write your own full name, date and place of birth. Everything else in the tree hangs from this first person.
Add your parents and siblings
Add both parents with their full names, including surnames at birth, then your brothers and sisters. Fill in what you know and leave gaps where you don’t.
Work back one generation at a time
Add your four grandparents, then your eight great-grandparents. Finish one generation before moving to the next, so mistakes don’t multiply.
Ask the oldest relatives first
Grandparents, great-aunts and older cousins often know names and places that aren’t written anywhere. Record or note what they say, with the date you asked.
Gather documents and photos
Birth, marriage and death certificates, funeral cards, family Bibles, letters and old photos confirm names and dates and often name the next generation back.
Record where each fact came from
Note the source for every date and place: a certificate, a census, a conversation with Aunt Rose. It makes the tree trustworthy and easy to check later.
Share it and keep it growing
Show the tree to relatives. Someone always spots a missing cousin or a wrong date, and others will add the branches they know best.
What to write down for each person
A useful family tree records the same core facts for everyone. Collect these first and add more as you find it.
- Full name, including middle names and the surname at birth. Women are usually recorded under their birth surname so they can be traced back to their own parents.
- Birth: date and place (town, county or region, country).
- Marriages and partnerships: who, when and where, including separations and second marriages.
- Death and burial: date and place, and the cemetery if you know it.
- A photo, even a blurry one. Faces make a tree feel like a family.
- A source for each fact, so you know what’s confirmed and what’s family lore.
Which kind of family tree to make
The shape of the tree depends on the question you’re asking.
| If you want to show | Use |
|---|---|
| Where you come from | An ancestor (pedigree) chart: you at the bottom, parents and grandparents above. See the 4-generation template. |
| Everyone who came from one couple | A descendant chart, the couple at the top and the generations below. |
| Both directions at once | An hourglass chart, ancestors above and descendants below one person. |
| Many generations in a small space | A fan chart, each generation a ring of the half circle. |
Common mistakes to avoid
- Jumping generations. Linking yourself to a famous person with the same surname before you’ve proved each parent in between.
- Trusting one source. Ages on census returns and death certificates are often wrong by a year or two. Look for a second record.
- Guessing dates as if they were certain. Write “about 1890” when you’re estimating, and keep exact dates for facts you’ve seen recorded.
- Leaving out step, half and adoptive relatives. They are part of the family story; record how each child is linked to each parent. See blended families.
- Waiting too long to ask. The relatives who remember the most are often the oldest. Talk to them first.
How big will it get?
Every generation back doubles the number of direct ancestors: 2 parents, 4 grandparents, 8 great-grandparents, 16 second great-grandparents. A five-generation ancestor chart has 31 people including you. Add siblings, partners, aunts, uncles and cousins and even a modest family passes 100 people quickly, which is why most people move from paper to a family tree maker once the tree starts to grow.
Doing this in Family Trees
In Family Trees you create a free account, add yourself, then add parents, partners, children and siblings from your own page or straight from the tree. Each person gets a round photo portrait, dates, places and a gallery. Invite relatives to view or edit, and switch between the Ancestors, Descendants, Hourglass, Fan chart and Everyone views at any time. The Free plan holds one tree of up to 100 people. The getting started guide walks through the first few minutes.
Questions
Where do I start a family tree?
Start with yourself and the people you know: your parents, siblings, grandparents. Write down full names, birth dates and places, then ask older relatives to fill in the generation above. Work back one generation at a time.
How many generations should a family tree have?
Three or four generations is a good first goal: you, your parents, grandparents and great-grandparents, which is 15 direct ancestors including you. Many families can reach that from memory and a few documents.
Should I include step and adoptive family?
Yes, if they are part of your family’s story. Record how each child is linked to each parent, by birth, adoption, step or fostering, so the tree is accurate and kind to everyone in it.
Can I make a family tree for free?
Yes. You can draw one on paper, print a free template, or use a free online family tree maker. Family Trees is free for one tree of up to 100 people, with photos and sharing.
Questions? Email support@familytreesapp.com and a person will reply.