| How do you determine which type of family tree | | | | direct bloodline. |
| you want before you begin researching? | | | | Descendant Family Tree Chart |
| Everyone putting together their family history is | | | | A Descendant Family Tree Chart is the opposite |
| faced with certain choices. Who to include in the | | | | of the Pedigree Chart. This type of chart starts |
| research? Where do I begin to research? These | | | | with an ancestral couple pretty far back in the |
| are all important questions that will determine the | | | | family history and then lists the descendants of |
| type of chart you decide to build. | | | | that ancestral couple generation by generation |
| When you are researching your family tree, you | | | | until the present. Usually the Descendant Chart is |
| may just start out by finding out about | | | | created after the Pedigree Chart is complete as a |
| grandparents and great grandparents but to find | | | | way to illustrate all known descendants of all lines |
| out who they really were and to find out those | | | | of the family. The Descendant Chart can then |
| little, but important facts, you might want to | | | | become the outline for writing the family history. |
| consider broadening your research. There are | | | | Family Lineage Family Tree Chart |
| several ways that you can do that, and below | | | | The family lineage family tree chart is similar to |
| you'll find out about all the different charts that | | | | the pedigree chart but for one difference. In a |
| you can follow. | | | | family lineage chart, you would include the siblings |
| What is a family tree chart? | | | | of your direct lineage or pedigree. So you would |
| A family tree by definition is a diagram of | | | | include your aunts and uncles, great aunts and |
| someone's ancestry. So in essence it's a map or | | | | uncles and so on. This gives a more complete |
| chart showing the members of a family, their | | | | picture of the family rather than just focusing on |
| relationship to one another and even the dates of | | | | your direct bloodline. |
| birth, marriage and death. But a family tree is so | | | | Family lineage charts are very helpful in identifying |
| much more than that. Or it can be. Depending on | | | | your family members and helps to keep all your |
| the type of tree you choose to create, it could | | | | ancestors organized. It also is an excellent way to |
| include all the relatives, spouses and even friends | | | | find out about relationships between members of |
| and neighbors of a family. | | | | your pedigree and their siblings which can lead to |
| The types of Family Tree Charts | | | | you finding out more interesting facts about your |
| Mapping out your ancestry is a time consuming | | | | family. |
| activity that involves close attention to detail and | | | | Where to Start? |
| a desire to find the answers to those burning | | | | If you are just starting your genealogy search |
| questions of who am I? And where did I come | | | | you might consider developing a Pedigree Chart |
| from? Before you begin, you need to know that | | | | before you get too deep into your research. One |
| not all charts are made the same. | | | | problem that novice genealogists encounter is |
| Pedigree, Direct Lineage or Ascendant Family | | | | they get excited about the research and end up |
| Tree Chart | | | | losing track of who and what they are |
| The Pedigree Family Tree Chart is sometimes | | | | researching. Although the research always turns |
| called a Direct Lineage or Ascendant Family Tree. | | | | up interesting facts and stories, you might get |
| This is perhaps the most common type and the | | | | frustrated that you wasted time or didn't get to |
| one most people think of when referring to family | | | | the ancestors you had hoped to find in the time |
| trees. The pedigree chart begins with you (or a | | | | you allotted for research. If you keep track of |
| parent, or grandparent) and then follows a single | | | | names, dates and places of your direct family line |
| bloodline or family name back through the | | | | on a Pedigree Chart, you are less likely to get |
| generations as far back as you can go. | | | | confused and go off on searches you don't need |
| If you are researching your pedigree with both | | | | to do. |
| your mother's and your father's bloodline, your | | | | Free Printable Family Tree Charts |
| pedigree chart would start with you, then your | | | | Get started right away by downloading a free |
| parents would be listed, then both sets of grand | | | | printable family tree chart. Then begin by filling in |
| parents would come next, then all four sets of | | | | all the information you already know like your |
| great grand parents and so on. | | | | name, your parent's names, your grandparent's |
| If you are researching your father's surname and | | | | names and so on. Now you have the beginning of |
| bloodline, the pedigree chart starts with you, then | | | | an excellent Pedigree Family Tree Chart and a |
| next on the chart would be your parents, then | | | | guide for your research. Your first research step |
| your father's parents, then your grandfather's | | | | after filling out the chart as much as you can, is |
| parents and so on. In any case, the pedigree | | | | to interview your parents and grandparents if |
| chart is the most common and is an excellent | | | | possible and don't forget that aunts, uncles, |
| starting point for budding genealogists and for | | | | cousins and siblings are a good source of |
| anyone interested in tracing their history and their | | | | information too. Good luck and have fun! |