| The internet allows us to view many different | | | | informative and decorative. For example, in most |
| examples of family trees. They range in style | | | | European countries, they include the coat of arms |
| from simple charts, designed strictly to provide | | | | worn by each of the ancestors and the individual. |
| information, to decorative, artistic creations | | | | Most go back only four generations. To go back |
| suitable for framing and displaying. | | | | further would make the top row very cluttered, |
| The tree design can be used to show an | | | | unless the painting was very large. |
| individual's ancestors or to show an individual's | | | | Today, we have many options for recording our |
| descendants. Usually, if an individual's ancestors are | | | | family's names. Software packages that include |
| to be displayed, the individual's name is recorded | | | | designer templates ranging from the simple to the |
| at the base of the tree or on the trunk. The | | | | complex are available for an affordable price. The |
| "branches" extend upwards and out. The tree is | | | | software makes doing the research easier, too. |
| wider on the top and narrower on the bottom. | | | | In most cases, the tree is used as a background. |
| If an individual's descendants are to be recorded, | | | | Names may be included on the leaves or in a |
| the tree design can still be used. Think of the | | | | linear fashion, extending from the tree. |
| shape of a Christmas tree and you'll understand. | | | | The fan style is another popular option for |
| The top or peak of the tree would be the | | | | ancestral trees. Your name would be the "handle" |
| individual's name. His or her children would be listed | | | | of the fan. Your ancestors' names would appear |
| next, followed by grandchildren, | | | | in the blades of the fan. |
| great-grandchildren, etc. So, the tree would be | | | | With the right software, you can choose the size |
| wider near the trunk and narrower at the top. | | | | and color of the fan. As you continue to enter |
| Some of the oldest examples of family trees are | | | | names, the fan becomes wider. |
| found in the Bible and in records pertaining to the | | | | Much of today's software includes numerous |
| Chinese dynasties. The British and other royal | | | | examples of family trees of famous people and |
| families have recorded their family's histories as | | | | common surnames. You can learn about the origin |
| well. | | | | of your surname. For example, if you happen to |
| One of the oldest examples of an artistically | | | | be a "Rose", your ancestors originally lived in Roos |
| pleasing descendant tree is the "Jesse tree", which | | | | in Yorkshire, before migrating to Scotland. |
| shows images of the descendants of Jesse of | | | | If you live in the US, you can easily find out when |
| Bethlehem, father of David, an ancestor of Jesus | | | | and where your family's name first appeared in |
| Christ. A stained-glass window showing the image | | | | the country. For example, the Roses first settled |
| can be seen in Chartres Cathedral. It was created | | | | in Virginia and New England in 1635. Sometimes, it |
| in 1145 AD. | | | | is easier to work forward from probable |
| The longest known tree is the one that includes | | | | ancestors than it is to work backwards to reach |
| Confucius, who was the descendant of King Tang, | | | | them. |
| the first ruler of the Shang dynasty. It dates back | | | | Experienced genealogy researchers have published |
| to 1675 BC, spans 80 generations and currently | | | | many examples of family trees online. You can |
| includes over 2 million names. | | | | start your experience by investing in some good |
| Some examples of family trees are both | | | | software. |