| A family tree is basically a chart that is designed | | | | and is used to display the names of the ancestors |
| to represent the various family relationships in a | | | | of an individual. It will be much wider at the top |
| structure that resembles a normal tree. It is | | | | than the bottom. Usually in such a individual will |
| usually used to track a person's family history. | | | | appear on the left and his or her ancestors will |
| However it is sometime used in the fields of social | | | | appear on the individual's right hand side. |
| work, genealogy and medicine. In this form it is | | | | Then there is the descendant chart family tree, |
| known as genograms. | | | | that is designed to depict all the descendants of |
| The image of the tree was added to the | | | | an individual. This type of family tree is usually the |
| genogram due to the inspiration provided by the | | | | narrowest at the top. |
| medieval art of the Tree of Jesse. It was used to | | | | A family tree can feature a lot of themes. It can |
| illustrate Christ's Genealogy as a prophecy done | | | | feature all the descendants related to a single |
| by Isaiah. | | | | figure as well as all of his or her known ancestors. |
| The tree was then used outside the Bible for the | | | | It can also feature a lot of people with a particular |
| first time, to represent the full family relationships | | | | surname. |
| of the classical Gods as featured in Genealogia | | | | Another popular theme is the one which features |
| deorum gentilium. It was made in the year 1360. | | | | all the people who hold a certain office, such as |
| The genealogical data can be represented in a lot | | | | the king of Germany. This usually relies on the |
| of formats when presented. You can present it | | | | dynastic marriages and is used to maintain the link |
| as a pedigree chart or an ancestor chart. The | | | | between the various dynasties. |
| features the oldest generations at its top and the | | | | In short, a family tree is the ideal method for an |
| newest generations at it bottom. | | | | individual to trace his or her ancestral roots to the |
| Usually the most common form of a family tree | | | | first member of their family. |
| is an ancestry chart. It resembles a proper tree | | | | |